Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #327547
Title: Comparative genomics of the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex: biosynthetic pathways metabolite production and plant pathogenicity

Author
item MUNSTERKOTTER, MARTIN - German Research Center For Environmental Health
item NIEHAUS, EVA - Wilhelms University
item Proctor, Robert
item Brown, Daren
item SHARON, AMIR - Volcani Center (ARO)
item FREEMAN, STANLEY - Volcani Center (ARO)
item HOUTERMAN, PETRA - University Of Amsterdam
item TSAVKELOVA, ELENA - Moscow State University
item DICKSCHAT, JEROEN - University Of Bonn
item GALUSZKA, PETR - Palacky University
item GULDENER, ULRICH - German Research Center For Environmental Health
item TUDZYNSKI, BETTINA - Wilhelms University

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/2/2016
Publication Date: 4/2/2016
Citation: Munsterkotter, M., Niehaus, E.M., Proctor, R., Brown, D.W., Sharon, A., Freeman, S., Houterman, P., Tsavkelova, E., Dickschat, J.S., Galuszka, P., Guldener, U., Tudzynski, B. 2016. Comparative genomics of the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex: biosynthetic pathways metabolite production and plant pathogenicity [abstract].

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Fusarium is a huge genus of filamentous fungi causing plant diseases in a wide range of host plants that result in high economic losses to world agriculture every year. Phylogenetic studies have shown that the genus Fusarium consists of different species complexes. One of them is the “Fusarium fujikuroi” species complex (FFC) that can be grouped into three clades: the “American”, the “African”, and the “Asian” clade. The objective of the current study is the comprehensive analysis of the newly sequenced genomes of the FFC: the mango pathogen F. mangiferae and two isolates of F. proliferatum from orchid and maize, respectively, and the already available genomes of F. fujikuroi, F. verticillioides, and the more distantly related F. oxysporum. The main aspect of our analyses is the identification of genes and gene families which may be relevant for plant pathogenicity or host specificity. Our work focused on comparison of secondary metabolite gene clusters and their expression in vitro and in planta, and the evaluation of the pathogenicity of the different isolates on maize, rice, and orchids. In addition, genome wide comparative transcription analyses were performed with the five isolates of the FFC on maize by a RNAseq approach. Among differentially expressed genes were those for biosynthesis of plant hormones such as gibberellins, auxins, and cytokinins.