Genome sequencing and annotation of alfalfa ZM4_V2.0 (PRJCA031790)
This dataset includes a high-quality genome and raw data of alfalfa. We discovered dramatic gene content variation in autotetraploid alfalfa, with only 20.1% of genes present on all four haplotypes. We term the 53.3% of these that are core genes conserved across the Medicago genus as tetra-copy core genes. These tetra-copy core genes are significantly enriched in both genes associated with climate adaptation (1.60-fold) and differentially expressed genes (1.61-fold), relative to other genes. Paradoxically, they also carry a higher genetic burden, with 80.1% of deleterious variants located in coding regions.