DOI: 10.5061/dryad.tdz08kqbp
title: Genome and transcriptome-based identification and expression profiling of chemosensory gene families across developmental stages and tissues in <em>Sirex noctilio</em> (Hymenoptera: Siricidae)

description: The Sirex woodwasp (Sirex noctilio; Hymenoptera: Siricidae) is among the
 most destructive invasive pests affecting Pinus plantations worldwide.
 Chemosensory systems offer promising targets for pest control strategies,
 and the identification and characterization of chemosensation genes in
 non-model, economically significant insects such as S. noctilio is an
 important first step towards the development of such control methods. Here
 we sequenced and assembled a draft genome of S. noctilio and performed
 RNA-sequencing of 15 olfactory and non-olfactory tissues to study the
 expression patterns of chemosensation-related genes. Specific genes, such
 as SnocOR16 and SnocSNMP1, displayed tissue- and sex-specific expression
 patterns, making them particularly intriguing for their potential roles in
 chemosensation and oviposition. As woodwasps and their related lineages
 form a sister group to the majority of other Hymenoptera, including
 Apocrita, insights into their gene repertoires are crucial for tracing the
 evolutionary history of chemosensory multigene families of this
 ecologically and economically significant insect order. This study
 enhances our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying S.
 noctilio chemosensation, paving the way for further research in chemical
 ecology and the functional characterization of S. noctilio chemosensation
 genes.
description: # Genome and transcriptome-based identification and expression profiling
 of chemosensory gene families across developmental stages and tissues in
 *Sirex noctilio* (Hymenoptera: Siricidae) Dataset DOI:
 [10.5061/dryad.tdz08kqbp](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.tdz08kqbp) ##
 Description of the data and file structure Principle Investigator Contact
 Information ``` Name: Alisa Postma Institution: Forestry and Agricultural
 Biotechnology Institute, University of Pretoria Email:
 alisa.postma@fabi.up.ac.za ``` Alternate Contact Information ``` Name:
 Bernard Slippers Institution: Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology
 Institute, University of Pretoria Email: bernard.slippers@fabi.up.ac.za
 ``` ### Dataset Overview This dataset contains the genome assembly data
 generated and used in the manuscript, Genome and transcriptome-based
 identification and expression profiling of chemosensory gene families
 across developmental stages and tissues in *Sirex noctilio* (Hymenoptera:
 Siricidae), currently under review. Here we sequenced and assembled a
 draft genome of S. noctilio. The assembled genome consisted of 6215
 contigs with a total size of 185 Mbp and an N50 length of 825 kbp. The
 assembly has a BUSCO completeness score of 95.4%. Annotation of the genome
 assembly resulted in 20,629 predicted genes. The first reported draft
 genome assembly of *S. noctilio* was produced in this study.  ####
 Description of the data and file structure The contigs making up the
 assembled genome and predicted proteins are in a fasta file, which is a
 plain-text file used in Bioinformatics to store nucleotide or protein
 sequences. The format consists of a header line starting with &gt;
 followed by lines of the sequence. ### Files and variables File:
 Sirex_assembly_May2017_nopipe_nosize.fasta Description: Genome assembly in
 FASTA format consisting of long DNA scaffold sequences.
 File: Sirex.maker.annotation2017.curated.final2.gtf Description: Genome
 annotation file in gtf format. This file maps where genes, exons, and
 protein-coding regions are located along scaffold1, indicating which
 strand they are on, how exons are connected, and which prediction method
 supported each gene model.
 File: Sirex_assembly_May2017.all.maker.proteins.SNOC.notrailing.fasta
 Description: Predicted protein sequences from annotation of the Sirex
 genome assembly in fasta format. The wide variation in length and
 composition reflects different protein types, including secreted peptides,
 transcription factors (rich in Lys/Arg), enzymes, membrane proteins, and
 repeat-rich regulatory proteins. ## Code/software Genome assembly,
 annotation and protein sequence data can be viewed as plain text files.