10KP: A phylodiverse genome sequencing plan

1Based on the success of the 1KP (1000 Plants) Initiative, an international multidisciplinary consortium that sequenced and analyzed transcriptomes from more than 1000 species of green plants representing most of the known diversity within Viridiplantae, we are now aiming to sequence complete genomes from more than 10,000 plants and protists. 10KP will address fundamental questions in plant evolution and diversity, providing data on more than 10,000 species representing every major clade of embryophytes (land plants), green algae (chlorophytes and streptophytes), and protists (photosynthetic and heterotrophic). For embryophytes, we will sequence nonflowering plants (bryophytes, lycophytes, ferns, and gymnosperms) and flowering plants (angiosperms). In addition to green algae, we will also sequence diverse clades of photosynthetic and heterotrophic protists, representing some of the most enigmatic and unexplored eukaryotic microbes. This project was launched at the XIXth International Botanical Congress (2017, Shenzhen, China) and was covered by a Science News release in July 2017.

2Following the Bermuda Principles and the Fort Lauderdale Agreement, this project will make the resulting genomics data freely available. In the spirit of the Toronto Data Release Workshop and Statement recommendation, which encourages large-scale sequencing projects to produce a citable statement for their data and intentions for downstream analyses and publications, we present this marker paper to outline our overall plans and explain how interested parties can get involved.

3The basic goal of 10KP is to build an annotated reference genome for a member of every genus of the Viridiplantae (land plants and green algae), as well as a phylodiverse set of species representing both photosynthetic and heterotrophic protists. These data will provide a wealth of information to address fundamental questions across the plant/eukaryotic tree of life, e.g., enabling studies of phylogeny, origin/acquisition and diversification of specific traits, gene and genome duplication, correlation between genomic and morphological changes, and convergent evolution of important genetic networks. The scope and quantity of data produced by 10KP will allow researchers to develop new techniques that address fundamental questions in evolution and comparative genomics.

4We will complete this project over the next 5 years (2018–2023), including sample acquisition, sequencing, genome assembly, analyses, and (initial) publications. Major supporters include BGI-Research, the nonprofit division of BGI-Shenzhen, and China National GeneBank (CNGB), an open nonprofit scientific platform that is managed by BGI-Shenzhen.

5Through 10KP, we hope to foster imaginative and high-quality research that addresses major questions in plant and protist biology while also, indirectly, demonstrating the value of both preserving and investigating biodiversity. Our effort is meant to complement, not replace, research programs supported through other funding agencies worldwide. We are open to collaborations with all interested research groups.

6The number of extant species of Viridiplantae and protists is unknown. An estimate for embryophytes, gleaned from various databases (Table 1), is that there are at least 380,000 known species representing approximately 23,562 genera in 667 families; however, Govaerts estimated a higher number. For green algae and photosynthetic protists, approximately 40,000 species have been described, and predictions for species yet to be described range from 25,000 to 100,000. In the case of heterotrophic eukaryotic microbes, estimates are much less clear; approximately 440,000 species have been described, most of which (approximately 400,000) are fungi. The reality is that much of eukaryotic microbial diversity remains unexplored and the number of genera and species is essentially unknown.

7Fewer than 300 green plants and protists have had their genomes sequenced and published. The vast majority of the tree of life remains unexplored at the level of complete genomes. 10KP will fill this gap. Specifically, we will sequence genomes from at least 8000 seed-plant genera (Figure 1), at least 1000 nonseed plant genera (Figure 2), at least 1000 green algae, and at least 3000 photosynthetic and heterotrophic protists (Figure 3). The total number of species sequenced will exceed 10,000—the moniker 10KP is essentially a milestone toward a larger goal. We anticipate sequencing a proportionately larger number of eudicot genomes, given that this clade comprises nearly 75% of all angiosperm species (Figure 4). Many of the genomes to be sequenced are cornerstones for addressing important and longstanding questions in biology and evolution, while others represent unexplored potential for medicinal compounds and/or the discovery of high-value natural products. Some representative species from diverse clades are shown (Figures 5–7).

8For embryophytes, we are expecting a community effort with sample submission and processing online (Figure 8). The species sampling will be coordinated by Douglas E. Soltis and Pamela S. Soltis (flowering plants) and Sean W. Graham (nonflowering plants). For this part, we will prioritize the sequencing in 2 stages: Stage 1. Create family-level high-quality reference genomes, ideally with chromosome-scale assemblies to facilitate comparative and evolutionary genomics research across the green tree of life.Stage 2. Increase the sample density to the genus level, while recognizing that many genera are likely not monophyletic. For some of the larger genera, we may sequence 2 or more distantly related species. Note that we will accept samples for genus-level sequencing even during the first phase of the project when we are focused on family-level sequencing, but these samples may be not processed immediately. We will, however, conduct appropriate quality controls before freezing the samples for later sequencing.

9Stage 1. Create family-level high-quality reference genomes, ideally with chromosome-scale assemblies to facilitate comparative and evolutionary genomics research across the green tree of life.

10Stage 2. Increase the sample density to the genus level, while recognizing that many genera are likely not monophyletic. For some of the larger genera, we may sequence 2 or more distantly related species. Note that we will accept samples for genus-level sequencing even during the first phase of the project when we are focused on family-level sequencing, but these samples may be not processed immediately. We will, however, conduct appropriate quality controls before freezing the samples for later sequencing.

11For green algae (chlorophytes and streptophytes) and photosynthetic protists, all samples will be channelled through public culture collections, specifically the Culture Collection of Algae at the University of Cologne (http://www.ccac.uni-koeln.de/) managed by Michael Melkonian and Barbara Melkonian, to ensure uniform quality control. For heterotrophic protists, project coordination will be led by researchers at the Centre for Comparative Genomics & Evolutionary Bioinformatics at Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada (J. M. Archibald).

12Annotated genome sequences will be released through the CNGB website (http://db.cngb.org/cnsa) and accompanied by regular submissions of peer-reviewed GigaScience “data release” publications that provide independent quality assessment and give credit/authorships to the appropriate sample providers. Data releases will occur on a regular basis (e.g., quarterly) once the data satisfy one of a series of tiered quality assessments (e.g., gene-sized contigs, sufficient for synteny analysis, chromosome-scale assembly). Additional increases in sample density may be coordinated with the larger Earth Biogenome Project, which will likely encompass at least another half decade of effort. A brief workflow for the 10KP is described (Figure 9).

13It is essential that proper sample documentation be provided. This includes vouchers for taxonomic verification (embryophytes and eukaryotic microbes are dealt with differently), provenance data (detailing the source, origin, and geo-location of the species for sequencing), and prior informed consent for genome sequencing and data release (from appropriate authorities in compliance with the Nagoya protocol). For green algae and photosynthetic protists, the biological specimen is the strain (with unique numerical identifier) kept in a public repository (culture collection); no strain will be sequenced in 10KP that has not previously been deposited in a public culture collection. For heterotrophic protists, the situation is more difficult as many are difficult to grow and protist collections often lack the resources to keep these difficult strains in a living state. Good communication within the 10KP consortium and with external partners will be critical.

14All of the sequencing will be conducted on BGI’s low-cost high-accuracy high-throughput MGISEQ platform, in combination with newly developed linked-read technologies (e.g., 10X genomics or BGI’s single-tube long fragment reads phasing technology). These approaches require much smaller amounts of DNA (only 2 ng/library) than traditional methods but they also require high-quality high-molecular-weight (>50 kb) extractions. The dominant alternative is the traditional “hierarchical shotgun” strategy with a series of mate-pair large-insert libraries. However, this approach requires a much larger amount of DNA (e.g., >100 μg), which is prohibitive for many plant species. We note that while our stated goal is to build high-quality reference genomes, transcriptome data are important for genome annotation; if live tissues are available, we will also sequence transcriptomes.

1510KP will also consider collaborative proposals that build on the existing dataset and generate new data using the MGISEQ platform. The aim of these projects should be to go beyond covering the diversity of species and, instead, to address important questions in basic and applied science. Up to 20% of the 10KP sequencing capacity will be devoted to these collaborations. Potential collaborators who wish to launch major subprojects within 10KP should provide a brief (maximum 5 pages) proposal as examplified in the supplementary template (proposal template for subprojects included as supplementary file).

16Supplementary file, proposal template.docx.

1710KP: 10,000 Plants Genome Sequencing Project; CNGB: China National Gene Bank.

18S.C., W.S., Y.F., H.Y., X.L., and X.X. are employees of BGI Shenzhen. The authors otherwise declare that they have no competing interests.