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Article|22 Aug 2025|OPEN
High-quality genome assembly of Impatiens noli-tangere reveals key insights into α-linolenic acid biosynthesis and metabolic volatiles 
Ning Xu1 , Fan Kang2 , Yanan Deng1 , Bin Xia2 , Yujia Yang2 , Shengyan Chen2 , Shuo Sun1 , Yulu Zhao1 , Miao He2 , , Huiyan Gu1 , and Yunwei Zhou,3 ,
1School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
2College of Landscape Architecture, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
3College of Horticulture, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, Jilin, China
*Corresponding author. E-mail: hemiao@nefu.edu.cn,ghuiyan@nefu.edu.cn,yunweizh@jlau.edu.cn

Horticulture Research 12,
Article number: uhaf216 (2025)
doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhaf216
Views: 210

Received: 22 Jan 2025
Accepted: 18 Aug 2025
Published online: 22 Aug 2025

Abstract

Impatiens noli-tangere accumulates abundant α-linolenic acid (ALA) and its metabolic volatiles, which hold significant potential for applications in healthcare and agriculture. However, the genetic basis underlying their biosynthesis has not been systematically investigated. Here, we present a high-quality genome assembly for I. noli-tangere (614.46 Mb). Despite a high repetitive sequence content (70.46%), it avoided excessive expansion due to the efficient elimination of long terminal repeat retrotransposons. Phylogenomic analyses revealed that I. noli-tangere experienced two whole-genome duplication (WGD) events, with WGD-derived genes predominating in oil biosynthesis. Notably, IntFAD3, a WGD-duplicated fatty acid desaturase, was identified as a key seed-specific gene for ALA biosynthesis. Its regulation by the transcription factor IntbZIP38 was functionally validated through yeast one-hybrid, luciferase, β-glucuronidase, and transgenic functional assays. Furthermore, (E)-2-hexenal, the predominant ALA-derived volatile in leaves, exhibited potent antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea (minimum inhibitory concentration: 0.188 ml/l), with its biosynthesis linked to Int13-HPL. These findings provide genomic and functional insights into ALA biosynthesis and metabolic volatiles in I. noli-tangere, supporting its potential in sustainable agriculture and bioactive compound development.