A chromosome-level genome assembly of the polyembryonic endoparasitoid Macrocentrus cingulum

Polyembryony is a unique reproductive pattern, where multiple genetically identical offspring develop from a single egg. Macrocentrus cingulum, a polyembryonic endoparasitoid, is one of the dominant parasitoids of the globally agricultural pest, Ostrinia furnacalis, and it can serve as a valuable model for investigating the mechanisms of polyembryony. However, the previously published genome of M. cingulum remains highly fragmented, limiting comprehensive studies of its biological characteristics. Here, we present a chromosome-level genome assembly of M. cingulum using PacBio HiFi and Hi-C sequencing. This genome assembly is approximately 151.93 Mb with a contig N50 of 8.42 Mb and a scaffold N50 of 16.93 Mb, organized into 9 chromosomes. The repeat sequences constitute 25.52% of the genome assembly. A total of 14,471 protein-coding genes with 98.2% BUSCO completeness were predicted, of which 12,500 genes have been annotated in public biological databases. In conclusion, this reported genome should be a valuable genomic resource for exploring macroevolutionary mechanisms underlying polyembryony, and the molecular mechanisms of polyembryony in M. cingulum.