Genome sequence of the medicinal and ornamental plant Digitalis purpurea reveals the molecular basis of flower color variation

Digitalis purpurea (foxglove) is a widely distributed ornamental plant and the producer of the biomedical compound digoxin. Here, we present a long read sequencing-based genome sequence of a red flowering D. purpurea plant and a corresponding prediction of gene models. The high assembly continuity is indicated by the N50 of 4.3 Mbp and the completeness is supported by discovery of about 96% complete BUSCO genes. This genomic resource paves the way for an in-depth investigation of the flower pigmentation of D. purpurea. Structural genes of the anthocyanin biosynthesis and the corresponding transcriptional regulators were identified. The comparison of red and white flowering plants revealed a large insertion in the anthocyanidin synthase gene in white flowering plants that most likely renders this gene non-functional and could explain the loss of anthocyanin pigmentation. In addition, the anthocyanin biosynthesis activator MYB5 shows a 18 bp deletion in white flowering plants that results in the loss of 6 amino acids in the protein. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest.