Location: Mycotoxin Prevention and Applied Microbiology Research
Project Number: 5010-42000-053-001-R
Project Type: Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Oct 1, 2017
End Date: Jul 31, 2022
Objective:
The objectives of the proposed research is to 1) utilize the wealth of existing and incoming Fusarium genomic and phenotypic data to identify key evolutionary patterns underlying the diversity of Fusarium species; and 2) create a highly resolved phylogeny of the genus that can be directly applied to identification and diagnostics of new and known Fusarium pathogens and toxin producers.
Approach:
A new phylogeny of the entire genus wil be created based on >70 known informative genes. Patterns of gene cluster evolution associated with mycotoxin production in Fusarium will be evaluated, and these patterns will be associated with the production of specific mycotoxins. Evolutionary patterns underlying additional phenotypes, including those associated with morphological traits, ecology, and plant host associations, will also be investigated. The data and results will be applied to an integrated electronic monograph of the genus Fusarium.
