Metabolite‐based genome‐wide association studies enable the dissection of the genetic bases of flavonoids, betaine and spermidine in wolfberry (Lycium)

Summary Wolfberry is a plant with medicinal and food values. However, its bioactive ingredients and the corresponding genetic bases have not been determined. Here, we de novo generated a chromosome‐level genome assembly for wolfberry, yielding a genome sequence of ~1.77 Gb with contig N 50 of 50.55 Mb and 39 224 predicted gene models. A variation map, using 307 re‐sequenced accessions, was called based on this genome assembly. Furthermore, the fruit metabolome of these accessions was profiled using 563 annotated metabolites, which separated Lycium barbarum L. and non‐ L. barbarum L. The flavonoids, coumarins, alkaloids and nicotinic acid contents were higher in the former than in the latter. A metabolite‐based genome‐wide association study mapped 156 164 significant single nucleotide polymorphisms corresponding to 340 metabolites. This included 19 219 unique lead single nucleotide polymorphisms in 1517 significant association loci, of which three metabolites, flavonoids, betaine and spermidine, were highlighted. Two candidate genes, LbUGT ( evm.TU.chr07.2692 ) and LbCHS ( evm.TU.chr07.2738 ), with non‐synonymous mutations, were associated with the flavonoids content. LbCHS is a structural gene that interacts with a nearby MYB transcription factor ( evm.TU.chr07.2726 ) both in L. barbarum and L. ruthenicum . Thus, these three genes might be involved in the biosynthesis/metabolism of flavonoids. LbSSADH ( evm.TU.chr09.627 ) was identified as possibly participating in betaine biosynthesis/metabolism. Four lycibarbarspermidines (E–G and O) were identified, and only the lycibarbarspermidines O content was higher in L. barbarum varieties than in non‐ L. barbarum varieties. The evm.TU.chr07.2680 gene associated with lycibarbarspermidines O was annotated as an acetyl‐CoA‐benzylalcohol acetyltransferase, suggesting that it is a candidate gene for spermidine biosynthesis. These results provide novel insights into the specific metabolite profile of non‐ L. barbarum L. and the genetic bases of flavonoids, betaine and spermidine biosynthesis/metabolism.