Genome streamlining in a minute herbivore that manipulates its host plant

摘要: The tomato russet mite, Aculops lycopersici, is among the smallest animals on earth. It a worldwide pest and can potently suppress host's natural resistance. We sequenced its genome, first of an eriophyoid, explored whether there are genomic features associated with mite's minute size lifestyle. At only 32.5 Mb, genome yet reported for any arthropod and, reminiscent microbial eukaryotes, exceptionally streamlined. has few transposable elements, tiny intergenic regions, remarkably intron-poor, as more than 80% coding genes intronless. Furthermore, in accordance ecological specialization theory, this defense-suppressing herbivore extremely reduced environmental response gene families such those involved chemoreception detoxification. Other losses associate species' highly derived body plan. Our findings accelerate understanding evolutionary forces underpinning metazoan life at limits small physical size.