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Richard Reinhardt - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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the genome of the recently domesticated Crop Plant sugar beet beta vulgaris
Nature, 2014Co-Authors: Juliane C Dohm, Daniela Holtgrawe, Thomas Rosleff Sorensen, Andre E Minoche, Salvador Capellagutierrez, Falk Zakrzewski, Hakim Tafer, Oliver Rupp, Ralf Stracke, Richard ReinhardtAbstract:Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris) is an important Crop of temperate climates which provides nearly 30% of the world's annual sugar production and is a source for bioethanol and animal feed. The species belongs to the order of Caryophylalles, is diploid with 2n = 18 chromosomes, has an estimated genome size of 714-758 megabases and shares an ancient genome triplication with other eudicot Plants. Leafy beets have been cultivated since Roman times, but sugar beet is one of the most recently domesticated Crops. It arose in the late eighteenth century when lines accumulating sugar in the storage root were selected from crosses made with chard and fodder beet. Here we present a reference genome sequence for sugar beet as the first non-rosid, non-asterid eudicot genome, advancing comparative genomics and phylogenetic reconstructions. The genome sequence comprises 567 megabases, of which 85% could be assigned to chromosomes. The assembly covers a large proportion of the repetitive sequence content that was estimated to be 63%. We predicted 27,421 protein-coding genes supported by transcript data and annotated them on the basis of sequence homology. Phylogenetic analyses provided evidence for the separation of Caryophyllales before the split of asterids and rosids, and revealed lineage-specific gene family expansions and losses. We sequenced spinach (Spinacia oleracea), another Caryophyllales species, and validated features that separate this clade from rosids and asterids. Intraspecific genomic variation was analysed based on the genome sequences of sea beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima; progenitor of all beet Crops) and four additional sugar beet accessions. We identified seven million variant positions in the reference genome, and also large regions of low variability, indicating artificial selection. The sugar beet genome sequence enables the identification of genes affecting agronomically relevant traits, supports molecular breeding and maximizes the Plant's potential in energy biotechnology.
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the genome of the recently domesticated Crop Plant sugar beet beta vulgaris
Nature, 2014Co-Authors: Juliane C Dohm, Daniela Holtgrawe, Thomas Rosleff Sorensen, Andre E Minoche, Salvador Capellagutierrez, Falk Zakrzewski, Hakim Tafer, Oliver Rupp, Ralf Stracke, Richard ReinhardtAbstract:A full genome sequence is presented of sugar beet Beta vulgaris, the first Plant belonging to Caryophyllales to have its genome sequenced; spinach was sequenced to enable inter-clade comparisons, and intraspecific variation was analysed by comparative genomics of a progenitor of all beet Crops and additional sugar beet accessions. Industrial production of sugar from sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) began in Europe in the early nineteenth century, and in the intervening 200 years the sugar content of the commonly used cultivars has increased from 8% to 18%. A high-quality reference genome sequence for sugar beet is published in this issue, together with that of the related spinach Plant (Spinacia oleracea) and assembled genomes from four additional sugar beet breeding lines. Information held in these genome sequences will be useful for the characterization of genes involved in sugar production and identification of targets for breeding efforts, as well as towards its application as a sustainable energy Crop. Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris) is an important Crop of temperate climates which provides nearly 30% of the world’s annual sugar production and is a source for bioethanol and animal feed. The species belongs to the order of Caryophylalles, is diploid with 2n = 18 chromosomes, has an estimated genome size of 714–758 megabases1 and shares an ancient genome triplication with other eudicot Plants2. Leafy beets have been cultivated since Roman times, but sugar beet is one of the most recently domesticated Crops. It arose in the late eighteenth century when lines accumulating sugar in the storage root were selected from crosses made with chard and fodder beet3. Here we present a reference genome sequence for sugar beet as the first non-rosid, non-asterid eudicot genome, advancing comparative genomics and phylogenetic reconstructions. The genome sequence comprises 567 megabases, of which 85% could be assigned to chromosomes. The assembly covers a large proportion of the repetitive sequence content that was estimated4 to be 63%. We predicted 27,421 protein-coding genes supported by transcript data and annotated them on the basis of sequence homology. Phylogenetic analyses provided evidence for the separation of Caryophyllales before the split of asterids and rosids, and revealed lineage-specific gene family expansions and losses. We sequenced spinach (Spinacia oleracea), another Caryophyllales species, and validated features that separate this clade from rosids and asterids. Intraspecific genomic variation was analysed based on the genome sequences of sea beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima; progenitor of all beet Crops) and four additional sugar beet accessions. We identified seven million variant positions in the reference genome, and also large regions of low variability, indicating artificial selection. The sugar beet genome sequence enables the identification of genes affecting agronomically relevant traits, supports molecular breeding and maximizes the Plant’s potential in energy biotechnology.
Juliane C Dohm - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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the genome of the recently domesticated Crop Plant sugar beet beta vulgaris
Nature, 2014Co-Authors: Juliane C Dohm, Daniela Holtgrawe, Thomas Rosleff Sorensen, Andre E Minoche, Salvador Capellagutierrez, Falk Zakrzewski, Hakim Tafer, Oliver Rupp, Ralf Stracke, Richard ReinhardtAbstract:Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris) is an important Crop of temperate climates which provides nearly 30% of the world's annual sugar production and is a source for bioethanol and animal feed. The species belongs to the order of Caryophylalles, is diploid with 2n = 18 chromosomes, has an estimated genome size of 714-758 megabases and shares an ancient genome triplication with other eudicot Plants. Leafy beets have been cultivated since Roman times, but sugar beet is one of the most recently domesticated Crops. It arose in the late eighteenth century when lines accumulating sugar in the storage root were selected from crosses made with chard and fodder beet. Here we present a reference genome sequence for sugar beet as the first non-rosid, non-asterid eudicot genome, advancing comparative genomics and phylogenetic reconstructions. The genome sequence comprises 567 megabases, of which 85% could be assigned to chromosomes. The assembly covers a large proportion of the repetitive sequence content that was estimated to be 63%. We predicted 27,421 protein-coding genes supported by transcript data and annotated them on the basis of sequence homology. Phylogenetic analyses provided evidence for the separation of Caryophyllales before the split of asterids and rosids, and revealed lineage-specific gene family expansions and losses. We sequenced spinach (Spinacia oleracea), another Caryophyllales species, and validated features that separate this clade from rosids and asterids. Intraspecific genomic variation was analysed based on the genome sequences of sea beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima; progenitor of all beet Crops) and four additional sugar beet accessions. We identified seven million variant positions in the reference genome, and also large regions of low variability, indicating artificial selection. The sugar beet genome sequence enables the identification of genes affecting agronomically relevant traits, supports molecular breeding and maximizes the Plant's potential in energy biotechnology.
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the genome of the recently domesticated Crop Plant sugar beet beta vulgaris
Nature, 2014Co-Authors: Juliane C Dohm, Daniela Holtgrawe, Thomas Rosleff Sorensen, Andre E Minoche, Salvador Capellagutierrez, Falk Zakrzewski, Hakim Tafer, Oliver Rupp, Ralf Stracke, Richard ReinhardtAbstract:A full genome sequence is presented of sugar beet Beta vulgaris, the first Plant belonging to Caryophyllales to have its genome sequenced; spinach was sequenced to enable inter-clade comparisons, and intraspecific variation was analysed by comparative genomics of a progenitor of all beet Crops and additional sugar beet accessions. Industrial production of sugar from sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) began in Europe in the early nineteenth century, and in the intervening 200 years the sugar content of the commonly used cultivars has increased from 8% to 18%. A high-quality reference genome sequence for sugar beet is published in this issue, together with that of the related spinach Plant (Spinacia oleracea) and assembled genomes from four additional sugar beet breeding lines. Information held in these genome sequences will be useful for the characterization of genes involved in sugar production and identification of targets for breeding efforts, as well as towards its application as a sustainable energy Crop. Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris) is an important Crop of temperate climates which provides nearly 30% of the world’s annual sugar production and is a source for bioethanol and animal feed. The species belongs to the order of Caryophylalles, is diploid with 2n = 18 chromosomes, has an estimated genome size of 714–758 megabases1 and shares an ancient genome triplication with other eudicot Plants2. Leafy beets have been cultivated since Roman times, but sugar beet is one of the most recently domesticated Crops. It arose in the late eighteenth century when lines accumulating sugar in the storage root were selected from crosses made with chard and fodder beet3. Here we present a reference genome sequence for sugar beet as the first non-rosid, non-asterid eudicot genome, advancing comparative genomics and phylogenetic reconstructions. The genome sequence comprises 567 megabases, of which 85% could be assigned to chromosomes. The assembly covers a large proportion of the repetitive sequence content that was estimated4 to be 63%. We predicted 27,421 protein-coding genes supported by transcript data and annotated them on the basis of sequence homology. Phylogenetic analyses provided evidence for the separation of Caryophyllales before the split of asterids and rosids, and revealed lineage-specific gene family expansions and losses. We sequenced spinach (Spinacia oleracea), another Caryophyllales species, and validated features that separate this clade from rosids and asterids. Intraspecific genomic variation was analysed based on the genome sequences of sea beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima; progenitor of all beet Crops) and four additional sugar beet accessions. We identified seven million variant positions in the reference genome, and also large regions of low variability, indicating artificial selection. The sugar beet genome sequence enables the identification of genes affecting agronomically relevant traits, supports molecular breeding and maximizes the Plant’s potential in energy biotechnology.
Lori R Shapiro - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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an introduced Crop Plant is driving diversification of the virulent bacterial pathogen erwinia tracheiphila
Mbio, 2018Co-Authors: Lori R Shapiro, Joseph N Paulson, Brian J Arnold, Erin D Scully, Olga Zhaxybayeva, Naomi E Pierce, Jorge Rocha, Vanja Klepacceraj, Kristina HoltonAbstract:ABSTRACT Erwinia tracheiphila is the causal agent of bacterial wilt of cucurbits, an economically important phytopathogen affecting few cultivated Cucurbitaceae host Plant species in temperate eastern North America. However, essentially nothing is known about E. tracheiphila population structure or genetic diversity. To address this shortcoming, a representative collection of 88 E. tracheiphila isolates was gathered from throughout its geographic range, and their genomes were sequenced. Phylogenomic analysis revealed three genetic clusters with distinct hrpT3SS virulence gene repertoires, host Plant association patterns, and geographic distributions. Low genetic heterogeneity within each cluster suggests a recent population bottleneck followed by population expansion. We showed that in the field and greenhouse, cucumber (Cucumis sativus), which was introduced to North America by early Spanish conquistadors, is the most susceptible host Plant species and the only species susceptible to isolates from all three lineages. The establishment of large agricultural populations of highly susceptible C. sativus in temperate eastern North America may have facilitated the original emergence of E. tracheiphila into cucurbit agroecosystems, and this introduced Plant species may now be acting as a highly susceptible reservoir host. Our findings have broad implications for agricultural sustainability by drawing attention to how worldwide Crop Plant movement, agricultural intensification, and locally unique environments may affect the emergence, evolution, and epidemic persistence of virulent microbial pathogens. IMPORTANCEErwinia tracheiphila is a virulent phytopathogen that infects two genera of cucurbit Crop Plants, Cucurbita spp. (pumpkin and squash) and Cucumis spp. (muskmelon and cucumber). One of the unusual ecological traits of this pathogen is that it is limited to temperate eastern North America. Here, we complete the first large-scale sequencing of an E. tracheiphila isolate collection. From phylogenomic, comparative genomic, and empirical analyses, we find that introduced Cucumis spp. Crop Plants are driving the diversification of E. tracheiphila into multiple lineages. Together, the results from this study show that locally unique biotic (Plant population) and abiotic (climate) conditions can drive the evolutionary trajectories of locally endemic pathogens in unexpected ways.
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an introduced Crop Plant is driving diversification of the virulent bacterial pathogen erwinia tracheiphila
bioRxiv, 2018Co-Authors: Lori R Shapiro, Joseph N Paulson, Brian J Arnold, Erin D Scully, Olga Zhaxybayeva, Naomi E Pierce, Jorge Rocha, Vanja Klepacceraj, Kristina Holton, Roberto KolterAbstract:Erwinia tracheiphila is the causal agent of bacterial wilt of cucurbits, an economically important phytopathogen affecting few cultivated Cucurbitaceae host Plant species in temperate Eastern North America. However, essentially nothing is known about E. tracheiphila population structure or genetic diversity. To address this shortcoming, a representative collection of 88 E. tracheiphila isolates was gathered from throughout its geographic range, and their genomes were sequenced. Phylogenomic analysis revealed three genetic clusters with distinct hrpT3SS virulence gene repertoires, host Plant association patterns, and geographic distributions. The low genetic variation within each cluster suggests a recent population bottleneck followed by population expansion. We showed that in the field and greenhouse, cucumber (Cucumis sativus), which was introduced to North America by early Spanish conquistadors, is the most susceptible host Plant species, and the only species susceptible to isolates from all three lineages. The establishment of large agricultural populations of highly susceptible C. sativus in temperate Eastern North America may have facilitated the original emergence of E. tracheiphila into cucurbit agro-ecosystems, and this introduced Plant species may now be acting as a highly susceptible reservoir host. Our findings have broad implications for agricultural sustainability by drawing attention to how worldwide Crop Plant movement, agricultural intensification and locally unique environments may affect the emergence, evolution, and epidemic persistence of virulent microbial pathogens.
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An Introduced Crop Plant Is Driving Diversification of the Virulent Bacterial Pathogen Erwinia tracheiphila
American Society for Microbiology, 2018Co-Authors: Lori R Shapiro, Joseph N Paulson, Brian J Arnold, Erin D Scully, Olga Zhaxybayeva, Naomi E Pierce, Jorge Rocha, Kristina Holton, Vanja Klepac-ceraj, Roberto KolterAbstract:Erwinia tracheiphila is a virulent phytopathogen that infects two genera of cucurbit Crop Plants, Cucurbita spp. (pumpkin and squash) and Cucumis spp. (muskmelon and cucumber). One of the unusual ecological traits of this pathogen is that it is limited to temperate eastern North America. Here, we complete the first large-scale sequencing of an E. tracheiphila isolate collection. From phylogenomic, comparative genomic, and empirical analyses, we find that introduced Cucumis spp. Crop Plants are driving the diversification of E. tracheiphila into multiple lineages. Together, the results from this study show that locally unique biotic (Plant population) and abiotic (climate) conditions can drive the evolutionary trajectories of locally endemic pathogens in unexpected ways.Erwinia tracheiphila is the causal agent of bacterial wilt of cucurbits, an economically important phytopathogen affecting few cultivated Cucurbitaceae host Plant species in temperate eastern North America. However, essentially nothing is known about E. tracheiphila population structure or genetic diversity. To address this shortcoming, a representative collection of 88 E. tracheiphila isolates was gathered from throughout its geographic range, and their genomes were sequenced. Phylogenomic analysis revealed three genetic clusters with distinct hrpT3SS virulence gene repertoires, host Plant association patterns, and geographic distributions. Low genetic heterogeneity within each cluster suggests a recent population bottleneck followed by population expansion. We showed that in the field and greenhouse, cucumber (Cucumis sativus), which was introduced to North America by early Spanish conquistadors, is the most susceptible host Plant species and the only species susceptible to isolates from all three lineages. The establishment of large agricultural populations of highly susceptible C. sativus in temperate eastern North America may have facilitated the original emergence of E. tracheiphila into cucurbit agroecosystems, and this introduced Plant species may now be acting as a highly susceptible reservoir host. Our findings have broad implications for agricultural sustainability by drawing attention to how worldwide Crop Plant movement, agricultural intensification, and locally unique environments may affect the emergence, evolution, and epidemic persistence of virulent microbial pathogens
Thomas Rosleff Sorensen - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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the genome of the recently domesticated Crop Plant sugar beet beta vulgaris
Nature, 2014Co-Authors: Juliane C Dohm, Daniela Holtgrawe, Thomas Rosleff Sorensen, Andre E Minoche, Salvador Capellagutierrez, Falk Zakrzewski, Hakim Tafer, Oliver Rupp, Ralf Stracke, Richard ReinhardtAbstract:Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris) is an important Crop of temperate climates which provides nearly 30% of the world's annual sugar production and is a source for bioethanol and animal feed. The species belongs to the order of Caryophylalles, is diploid with 2n = 18 chromosomes, has an estimated genome size of 714-758 megabases and shares an ancient genome triplication with other eudicot Plants. Leafy beets have been cultivated since Roman times, but sugar beet is one of the most recently domesticated Crops. It arose in the late eighteenth century when lines accumulating sugar in the storage root were selected from crosses made with chard and fodder beet. Here we present a reference genome sequence for sugar beet as the first non-rosid, non-asterid eudicot genome, advancing comparative genomics and phylogenetic reconstructions. The genome sequence comprises 567 megabases, of which 85% could be assigned to chromosomes. The assembly covers a large proportion of the repetitive sequence content that was estimated to be 63%. We predicted 27,421 protein-coding genes supported by transcript data and annotated them on the basis of sequence homology. Phylogenetic analyses provided evidence for the separation of Caryophyllales before the split of asterids and rosids, and revealed lineage-specific gene family expansions and losses. We sequenced spinach (Spinacia oleracea), another Caryophyllales species, and validated features that separate this clade from rosids and asterids. Intraspecific genomic variation was analysed based on the genome sequences of sea beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima; progenitor of all beet Crops) and four additional sugar beet accessions. We identified seven million variant positions in the reference genome, and also large regions of low variability, indicating artificial selection. The sugar beet genome sequence enables the identification of genes affecting agronomically relevant traits, supports molecular breeding and maximizes the Plant's potential in energy biotechnology.
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the genome of the recently domesticated Crop Plant sugar beet beta vulgaris
Nature, 2014Co-Authors: Juliane C Dohm, Daniela Holtgrawe, Thomas Rosleff Sorensen, Andre E Minoche, Salvador Capellagutierrez, Falk Zakrzewski, Hakim Tafer, Oliver Rupp, Ralf Stracke, Richard ReinhardtAbstract:A full genome sequence is presented of sugar beet Beta vulgaris, the first Plant belonging to Caryophyllales to have its genome sequenced; spinach was sequenced to enable inter-clade comparisons, and intraspecific variation was analysed by comparative genomics of a progenitor of all beet Crops and additional sugar beet accessions. Industrial production of sugar from sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) began in Europe in the early nineteenth century, and in the intervening 200 years the sugar content of the commonly used cultivars has increased from 8% to 18%. A high-quality reference genome sequence for sugar beet is published in this issue, together with that of the related spinach Plant (Spinacia oleracea) and assembled genomes from four additional sugar beet breeding lines. Information held in these genome sequences will be useful for the characterization of genes involved in sugar production and identification of targets for breeding efforts, as well as towards its application as a sustainable energy Crop. Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris) is an important Crop of temperate climates which provides nearly 30% of the world’s annual sugar production and is a source for bioethanol and animal feed. The species belongs to the order of Caryophylalles, is diploid with 2n = 18 chromosomes, has an estimated genome size of 714–758 megabases1 and shares an ancient genome triplication with other eudicot Plants2. Leafy beets have been cultivated since Roman times, but sugar beet is one of the most recently domesticated Crops. It arose in the late eighteenth century when lines accumulating sugar in the storage root were selected from crosses made with chard and fodder beet3. Here we present a reference genome sequence for sugar beet as the first non-rosid, non-asterid eudicot genome, advancing comparative genomics and phylogenetic reconstructions. The genome sequence comprises 567 megabases, of which 85% could be assigned to chromosomes. The assembly covers a large proportion of the repetitive sequence content that was estimated4 to be 63%. We predicted 27,421 protein-coding genes supported by transcript data and annotated them on the basis of sequence homology. Phylogenetic analyses provided evidence for the separation of Caryophyllales before the split of asterids and rosids, and revealed lineage-specific gene family expansions and losses. We sequenced spinach (Spinacia oleracea), another Caryophyllales species, and validated features that separate this clade from rosids and asterids. Intraspecific genomic variation was analysed based on the genome sequences of sea beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima; progenitor of all beet Crops) and four additional sugar beet accessions. We identified seven million variant positions in the reference genome, and also large regions of low variability, indicating artificial selection. The sugar beet genome sequence enables the identification of genes affecting agronomically relevant traits, supports molecular breeding and maximizes the Plant’s potential in energy biotechnology.
Oliver Rupp - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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the genome of the recently domesticated Crop Plant sugar beet beta vulgaris
Nature, 2014Co-Authors: Juliane C Dohm, Daniela Holtgrawe, Thomas Rosleff Sorensen, Andre E Minoche, Salvador Capellagutierrez, Falk Zakrzewski, Hakim Tafer, Oliver Rupp, Ralf Stracke, Richard ReinhardtAbstract:Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris) is an important Crop of temperate climates which provides nearly 30% of the world's annual sugar production and is a source for bioethanol and animal feed. The species belongs to the order of Caryophylalles, is diploid with 2n = 18 chromosomes, has an estimated genome size of 714-758 megabases and shares an ancient genome triplication with other eudicot Plants. Leafy beets have been cultivated since Roman times, but sugar beet is one of the most recently domesticated Crops. It arose in the late eighteenth century when lines accumulating sugar in the storage root were selected from crosses made with chard and fodder beet. Here we present a reference genome sequence for sugar beet as the first non-rosid, non-asterid eudicot genome, advancing comparative genomics and phylogenetic reconstructions. The genome sequence comprises 567 megabases, of which 85% could be assigned to chromosomes. The assembly covers a large proportion of the repetitive sequence content that was estimated to be 63%. We predicted 27,421 protein-coding genes supported by transcript data and annotated them on the basis of sequence homology. Phylogenetic analyses provided evidence for the separation of Caryophyllales before the split of asterids and rosids, and revealed lineage-specific gene family expansions and losses. We sequenced spinach (Spinacia oleracea), another Caryophyllales species, and validated features that separate this clade from rosids and asterids. Intraspecific genomic variation was analysed based on the genome sequences of sea beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima; progenitor of all beet Crops) and four additional sugar beet accessions. We identified seven million variant positions in the reference genome, and also large regions of low variability, indicating artificial selection. The sugar beet genome sequence enables the identification of genes affecting agronomically relevant traits, supports molecular breeding and maximizes the Plant's potential in energy biotechnology.
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the genome of the recently domesticated Crop Plant sugar beet beta vulgaris
Nature, 2014Co-Authors: Juliane C Dohm, Daniela Holtgrawe, Thomas Rosleff Sorensen, Andre E Minoche, Salvador Capellagutierrez, Falk Zakrzewski, Hakim Tafer, Oliver Rupp, Ralf Stracke, Richard ReinhardtAbstract:A full genome sequence is presented of sugar beet Beta vulgaris, the first Plant belonging to Caryophyllales to have its genome sequenced; spinach was sequenced to enable inter-clade comparisons, and intraspecific variation was analysed by comparative genomics of a progenitor of all beet Crops and additional sugar beet accessions. Industrial production of sugar from sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) began in Europe in the early nineteenth century, and in the intervening 200 years the sugar content of the commonly used cultivars has increased from 8% to 18%. A high-quality reference genome sequence for sugar beet is published in this issue, together with that of the related spinach Plant (Spinacia oleracea) and assembled genomes from four additional sugar beet breeding lines. Information held in these genome sequences will be useful for the characterization of genes involved in sugar production and identification of targets for breeding efforts, as well as towards its application as a sustainable energy Crop. Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris) is an important Crop of temperate climates which provides nearly 30% of the world’s annual sugar production and is a source for bioethanol and animal feed. The species belongs to the order of Caryophylalles, is diploid with 2n = 18 chromosomes, has an estimated genome size of 714–758 megabases1 and shares an ancient genome triplication with other eudicot Plants2. Leafy beets have been cultivated since Roman times, but sugar beet is one of the most recently domesticated Crops. It arose in the late eighteenth century when lines accumulating sugar in the storage root were selected from crosses made with chard and fodder beet3. Here we present a reference genome sequence for sugar beet as the first non-rosid, non-asterid eudicot genome, advancing comparative genomics and phylogenetic reconstructions. The genome sequence comprises 567 megabases, of which 85% could be assigned to chromosomes. The assembly covers a large proportion of the repetitive sequence content that was estimated4 to be 63%. We predicted 27,421 protein-coding genes supported by transcript data and annotated them on the basis of sequence homology. Phylogenetic analyses provided evidence for the separation of Caryophyllales before the split of asterids and rosids, and revealed lineage-specific gene family expansions and losses. We sequenced spinach (Spinacia oleracea), another Caryophyllales species, and validated features that separate this clade from rosids and asterids. Intraspecific genomic variation was analysed based on the genome sequences of sea beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima; progenitor of all beet Crops) and four additional sugar beet accessions. We identified seven million variant positions in the reference genome, and also large regions of low variability, indicating artificial selection. The sugar beet genome sequence enables the identification of genes affecting agronomically relevant traits, supports molecular breeding and maximizes the Plant’s potential in energy biotechnology.