Introduction: Major advancements in DNA sequencing methods introduced in the first decade of the new millennium initiated a rapid expansion of sequencing studies, which yielded a tremendous amount of DNA sequence data, including whole sequenced genomes of various species, including plants. A set of novel sequencing platforms, often collectively named as "next-generation sequencing" (NGS) completely transformed the life sciences, by allowing extensive throughput, while greatly reducing the necessary time, labor and cost of any sequencing endeavor.
Purpose: of this paper is to present an overview NGS platforms used to produce the current compendium of published draft genomes of various plants, namely the Roche/454, ABI/SOLiD, and Solexa/Illumina, and to determine the most frequently used platform for the whole genome sequencing of plants in light of genotypization of immortelle plant.
Materials and methods: 45 papers were selected (with 47 presented plant genome draft sequences), and utilized sequencing techniques and NGS platforms (Roche/454, ABI/SOLiD and Illumina/Solexa) in selected papers were determined. Subsequently, frequency of usage of each platform or combination of platforms was calculated.
Results: Illumina/Solexa platforms are by used either as sole sequencing tool in 40.42% of published genomes, or in combination with other platforms - additional 48.94% of published genomes, followed by Roche/454 platforms, used in combination with traditional Sanger sequencing method (10.64%), and never as a sole tool. ABI/SOLiD was only used in combination with Illumina/Solexa and Roche/454 in 4.25% of publications.
Conclusions: Illumina/Solexa platforms are by far most preferred by researchers, most probably due to most affordable sequencing costs. Taking into consideration the current economic situation in the Balkans region, Illumina Solexa is the best (if not the only) platform choice if the sequencing of immortelle plant (Helichrysium arenarium) is to be performed by the researchers in this region.
Keywords: base sequence; high-throughput nucleotide sequencing; plant genome.