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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Athens, Georgia » U.S. National Poultry Research Center » Toxicology & Mycotoxin Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #434210
Research Project: Strategies to Reduce Mycotoxin Contamination in Animal Feed and its Effect in Poultry Production Systems

Location: Toxicology & Mycotoxin Research

Title: Genomic resources for three Sarocladium zeae isolates from maize

Author
item Satterlee, Timothy
item OLSON, DREW - University Of Georgia
item LAUREL, NIÑO - University Of Georgia
item KEMERAIT, ROBERT - University Of Georgia
item Glenn, Anthony

Submitted to: PhytoFrontiers
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/18/2026
Publication Date: 6/24/2026
Citation: Satterlee, T.R., Olson, D.E., Laurel, N.R., Kemerait, R.C., Glenn, A.E. 2026. Genomic resources for three Sarocladium zeae isolates from maize. PhytoFrontiers. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-05-26-0058-A.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHYTOFR-05-26-0058-A

Interpretive Summary: Sarocladium zeae (Sz) is a helpful fungus that lives inside maize plants, and it is often one of several fungal species that infect corn. Other prominent fungi in maize are those that produce harmful toxins that negatively impact humans and livestock (e.g., Fusarium verticillioides and Aspergillus flavus). Sz acts like a natural protector by producing its own chemical compounds, called pyrrocidines, that function to reduce the amount of harmful toxins that can contaminate the crop. In this study, high-quality DNA sequence data (genomes) for three different isolates of Sz were generated, and the three isolates were nearly identical in their genetic makeup. Over 9,600 genes were identified that provide instructions for the fungus to function, including approximately 32 groups of genes (clusters) specifically dedicated to creating those protective chemicals. These new genetic maps give scientists the tools they need to study how this fungus evolves and how it can be used more effectively to protect corn from disease and other harmful microbes.

Technical Abstract: Sarocladium zeae is a protective fungal endophyte of maize with potential as a biological control agent because of its ability to suppress mycotoxin contamination through the production of secondary metabolites such as pyrrocidines. Here, we report high-quality genome assemblies for three S. zeae isolates, with assembly sizes ranging from 31.57 Mb to 31.74 Mb, N50 values from 3.73 Mb to 3.78 Mb, and BUSCO completeness scores of >98% and >95% against the fungi and Hypocreales databases, respectively. Comparative analysis revealed high genome-wide collinearity and sequence identity among the three isolates. Genome annotation predicted >9,600 protein-coding genes assigned to >7,200 protein families, as well as 965 to 989 proteins with signal peptides, 2,225 to 2,259 transmembrane proteins, and 31 to 33 secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters. These genomes expand the genomic resources available for S. zeae and will support future studies of the species’ genome evolution, secondary metabolism, and its interactions with maize and other microbes.