2017 ASHS Annual Conference

Despite the economic value of horticultural species in general and woody ornamentals in particular, the availability of genomic resources for these plants are quite sparse relative to crop species. The Cornales Genome Project is generating a high-quality reference genome assembly and annotation for Cornus florida 'Appalachian Spring' (Flowering Dogwood). This resource along with genome sequence and gene space assemblies for Asian kousa dogwood and Hydrangea macrophylla, transcriptome atlases and high-density markers form a foundation for comparative genomics research and marker-assisted breeding for dogwoods, hydrangeas and related woody ornamentals. Powdery mildew has been identified as a major threat affecting flowering dogwoods across its natural range and within the nursery and landscape industry. As a test case for genome-empowered improvement of an economically important crop, a comparative gene network approach is being employed to identify candidate genes associated variation in mildew resistance and susceptibility across flowering dogwood cultivars.