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Group:
Eudicot
Size:
2 – 25 meters in height
Distribution:
The jackalberry tree (Diospyros mespiliformis) is widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, occurring from West Africa to Southern Africa. In Southern Africa, it is found in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Angola, Namibia, Malawi, Botswana and South Africa, particularly in the Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West and KwaZulu-Natal provinces.
PromethION Sequencing Report:
Output:
21.99 Gigabases
Approximate N50:
18.41 kilobases
Assembly N50:
368.16 kilobases
Contig number:
6 122
Draft Genome Assembly Statistics:
Assembler used:
Hifiasm
Genome Length:
1.36 Gigabases
BUSCO completeness score (single and duplicated genes):
94.5% [S: 82%, D: 12.5%]
BUSCO database:
eukaryota
Importance:
The jackalberry tree (Diospyros mespiliformis) is an ecologically and culturally important South African species, particularly in the north-eastern provinces. It provides food and habitat for wildlife, supports riverbank stabilisation and soil conservation, and is traditionally used to treat ailments such as stomach pain, diarrhea and respiratory infections. As no genomic resources currently exist for this species, genome sequencing will provide valuable data for conservation, ecological research and future applications.
Sample Contributor contact details:
Eshchar Mizrachi
University of Pretoria
Date Published:
2026-07-20
Photo credit:
© Y. Mgwatyu
Flora
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