Chromosome‐level de novo genome assembly of the predatory mite Neoseiulus barkeri : insights into genes associated with adaptation to environmental stress

BACKGROUND: The phytoseiid mite Neoseiulus barkeri is a commercially produced natural enemy widely utilized in China. N. barkeri exhibits remarkable adaptability to adverse conditions, while the underlying mechanisms remain unclear due to the lack of genomic resources. RESULTS: In this study, we provided a chromosome-level de novo genome assembly of N. barkeri. The assembled genome was 235.75 Mb with a contig N50 of 26.55 Mb. High-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) scaffolding assigned 99.88% of the bases to four chromosomes. A high proportion of benchmarking universal single-copy orthologs (BUSCOs) and core eukaryotic genes (CEGs) were detected, indicating a high level of completeness in the genome assembly. Additionally, repetitive elements accounted for 22.30% of the genome, and a total of 15 176 protein-coding genes were annotated. Comparative genomic analysis revealed several rapidly evolving orthologous groups in N. barkeri associated with detoxification, immunity, and oxidative stress. Furthermore, our research identified and conducted a gene family analysis of cytochrome P450 monooxygenase, ATP-binding cassette transporter, serine protease inhibitors, Toll pathway, and glutathione synthetase related to adaptation to environmental stress. CONCLUSION: These results provide a valuable foundation for studying the adaptive evolutionary patterns of phytoseiid mites. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.