Chromosome-level genome assembly of Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot

As a globally recognized predatory mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot is known for its highly effective control of pest mites. Also, as a model species in Phytoseiidae, P. persimilis possesses unique biological characteristics, such as the first offspring developing into a male with a strict sex sequence. However, the genetic mechanisms have not been fully unrevealed yet. To lay the groundwork for genetic research, we presented a high-quality chromosomal genome of P. persimilis with PacBio HiFi and Hi-C data. The total length of genome is 214.23 Mb, of which 190.48 (88.91%) is anchored on 4 chromosomes. The scaffold N50 is 57.95 Mb and the BUSCO (Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs) completeness is 98.3%. Repeat elements comprise 27.59% (59.10 Mb) of the genome. The genome contained 15,847 predicted protein-coding genes, 12,344 of which were annotated for function. This high-quality genome of P. persimilis would allow us to explore the genetic mechanism underlying the biological characteristics of the Phytoseiidae species, and provide possibilities for the industrial optimization of commercial predatory mites in the future.