Medicinal Plant Research 2024, Vol.14, No.2, 71-84 http://hortherbpublisher.com/index.php/mpr 71 Feature Review Open Access Unveiling the Genome of Chrysanthemum morifolium: Adaptive Evolution and Medicinal Value Lanjie Xu, Yongliang Yu, Zhengwei Tan, Chunming Li, Qing Yang, Hongqi Yang, Xiaoyu Su, Yao Sun, Huizhen Liang Institute of Chinese Herbal Medicine, He'nan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, 450002, Henan, China Corresponding author: lhzh66666@163.com Medicinal Plant Research, 2024, Vol.14, No.2 doi: 10.5376/mpr.2024.14.0006 Received: 08 Feb., 2024 Accepted: 12 Mar., 2024 Published: 25 Mar., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Xu et al., This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Xu L.J., Yu Y.L., Tan Z.W., Li C.M., Yang Q., Yang H.Q., Su X.Y., Sun Y., and Liang H.Z., 2024, Unveiling the genome of Chrysanthemum morifolium: adaptive evolution and medicinal value, Medicinal Plant Research, 14(2): 71-84 (doi: 10.5376/mpr.2024.14.0006) Abstract This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the genomics of Chrysanthemum morifolium, covering its genetic linkage map construction, whole-genome assembly, and transcriptomics research findings. It highlights key genes and regulatory networks involved in Chrysanthemum morifoliumdevelopment and the accumulation of medicinal components. The study explores the application value of genomics research in improving Chrysanthemum morifoliumquality and commercial value. High-throughput sequencing technology has identified key genes controlling the biosynthesis of compounds such as flavonoids, which are crucial for enhancing the plant's medicinal activity. Functional molecular markers accelerate the process of targeted breeding. Research in whole-genome and comparative genomics has elucidated the cultivation and evolutionary history of Chrysanthemum morifolium. Genetic linkage maps have identified QTLs for inflorescence and leaf traits, promoting marker-assisted selection in breeding programs. Polyploidy and DNA methylation contribute to its adaptability and resilience. The study analyzes the regulatory mechanisms of Chrysanthemum morifolium's active medicinal components, such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, and terpenoids, and their roles in therapeutic effects. The study is expected to provide a road map for future research and applications in traditional medicine and modern healthcare, combining genomic data with traditional breeding techniques to accelerate the development of new varieties with strong disease resistance, broad adaptability, and high medicinal efficacy. Keywords Chrysanthemum morifolium; Genomic research; Genetic map; Adaptive evolution; Medicinal value 1 Introduction Chrysanthemum morifolium, a perennial herbaceous plant of Chrysanthemumgenus in the family of Asteraceae, is not only a traditional famous flower in China but also one of the world's four major cut flowers. Native to China, Chrysanthemum morifolium has been cultivated for over 2,000 years, with more than 3,000 recorded varieties. There are 780 medicinal varieties across approximately 155 genera. The Asteraceae family is one of the largest plant families encompassing approximately 24,000~35,000 species (Song et al., 2018). Based on its applications, Chrysanthemum morifolium can be categorized into medicinal, ornamental, tea, and edible uses. It is rich in flavonoids, triterpenoids, and volatile oils, and possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-bacterial properties (Pan et al., 2023). Chrysanthemum morifoliumis an important economic crop with a wide cultivation range and high economic value due to its medicinal properties. The 2020 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia includes “Boju”, “Gongju”, “Chuju”, “Huai Ju”, and “Hangju”. Although “Jiju”, “Qiju”, “Chuanju”, and “Fubaiju” are not listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, they are still commonly found in the market. Among them, Hangbaiju (Chrysanthemum morifolium'Hangbaiju') is one of the Source Plants of “Zhe Ba Wei (Eight Genuine Herbs of Zhejiang)” (Pan et al., 2023). Chrysanthemum morifoliumis a unique plant with medicinal properties, playing a crucial role in the development of human civilization and society, much like staple crops. With the advent of high-throughput sequencing technology and the development of genomics focused on medicinal plants, numerous genes involved in the synthesis and regulation of secondary metabolites have been identified. These genes provide genetic elements for the biosynthesis of compounds with various effects, enabling the biosynthesis of an increasing number of medicinal monomers. Sequencing and analysis of the complete chloroplast genomes of different Chrysanthemum
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