On November 24, 2014, a research team led by Professor Huang Laiqiang, Director of the Bio-Medical Research Center at the School of Life and Health Sciences, Tsinghua University Shenzhen Graduate School, along with the team of Professor Liu Zhongjian, Director of the National Orchid Center, and others, published a paper titled "The Genome Sequence of the Orchid Phalaenopsis equestris" in the prestigious academic journal Nature Genetics. This paper presents the world's first full genome sequence and analysis of an orchid species. The paper was also selected as the cover article for Nature Genetics.

In this study, the team chose the representative and horticulturally important species Phalaenopsis equestris for whole-genome sequencing. After several years of effort, they overcame technical challenges, including high heterozygosity, to complete the assembly and analysis of the entire genome sequence, obtaining a high-precision genome map and a wealth of genetic information. Gene prediction revealed that Phalaenopsis equestris has 29,431 protein-coding genes. Interestingly, the average intron length of these protein-coding genes reaches 2,922 base pairs, significantly longer than the average intron length in any other plant genome to date. Further analysis showed that the abundance of transposable elements in the introns of Phalaenopsis equestris is the main reason for the exceptionally long introns. In heterozygous regions of the genome, genes related to self-incompatibility pathways are particularly enriched, which will be highly beneficial for further understanding the self-incompatibility mechanisms in orchids. The complete genome sequence map of Phalaenopsis equestris obtained in this study is the first of its kind for both an orchid species and a CAM (Crassulacean Acid Metabolism) plant, revealing many important traits. This discovery holds significant scientific and practical value.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ng.3149