Draft genome sequences of 20 Aspergillus flavus isolates from corn kernels and cornfield soils in Louisiana

Authors: GEBRU, SOLOMON - Us Food & Drug Administration (FDA); MAMMEL, MARK - Us Food & Drug Administration (FDA); GANGIREDLA, JAYANTHI - Us Food & Drug Administration (FDA); TARTERA, CARMEN - Us Food & Drug Administration (FDA); Cary, Jeffrey; Moore, Geromy; Sweany, Rebecca

Submitted to: Microbiology Resource Announcements
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/28/2020
Publication Date: 9/21/2020
Citation: Gebru, S.T., Mammel, M.K., Gangiredla, J., Tartera, C., Cary, J.W., Moore, G.G., Sweany, R.R. 2020. Draft genome sequences of 20 Aspergillus flavus isolates from corn kernels and cornfield soils in Louisiana. Microbiology Resource Announcements. 9(38):e00826-20. https://doi.org/10.1128/MRA.00826-20.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/MRA.00826-20

Interpretive Summary: Aspergillus (A.) flavus is a common soil-dwelling fungus that is also capable of infecting certain oilseed plants where it can produce a number of compounds that can be toxic and carcinogenic to animals and humans. In order to gain a better understanding of why some A. flavus isolates are more often associated with the plant whereas others are more commonly found in the soil, we report the draft genome sequences of 20 A. flavus isolates from Louisiana corn kernels and cornfield soils. Analysis of the genomic sequence data will help to identify the presence of genes in crop- vs soil-associated isolates that may play a role in the ability of the fungus to adapt to these two different ecological niches.

Technical Abstract: Aspergillus flavus is a common saprophyte and opportunistic fungal pathogen that infects plants, animals and humans. It also produces numerous toxic and non-toxic secondary metabolites. Here we report the draft genome sequences of 20 A. flavus isolates, belonging to 16 vegetative compatibility groups, from Louisiana corn kernels and cornfield soils.