A chromosome-level genome assembly of Caligula japonica as a resource for evolutionary studies in Lepidoptera

Caligula japonica, a forestry pest known for its destructive impact on various trees, has recently shown prom-ise as a potential natural medical mesh biomaterial in the medical industry. However, the lack of genomic resources has hindered in-depth studies on the karyotype evolution and functional genomics of this species. In this study, we conducted high-throughput sequencing of the C. japonica genome, yielding the first chromosome-level assembly. We successfully assembled a high-quality genome of 584,537,256 bp with Contig N50 of 12 Mb and 31 chromosomes. About 342 Mb repeat sequences were identified, accounting for 59.16% of C. japonica genome. Genome annotation by de novo gene prediction and homologous gene search yields 20,887 protein-coding genes. Furthermore, a phylogenetic analysis of gene families linked to detoxification and chemosensory revealed a pronounced expansion in the P450, ABC, and GR gene families within C. japonica and Bombyx mori. The genome obtained in this research will provide data basis support for research on resource utilization of C. japonica and to progress comparative genomic analyses and evolutionary adaptability in Lepidoptera.