| Autor: |
Zambounis A; Hellenic Agricultural Organization-DIMITRA (ELGO-DIMITRA), Institute of Plant Breeding and Genetic Resources, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece., Maniatis EI; Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece., Mincuzzi A; Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, Italy., Gray N; Centre for Crop and Disease Management, Department of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Perth 6102, Australia., Hossain M; Centre for Crop and Disease Management, Department of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Perth 6102, Australia., Tsitsigiannis DI; Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece., Paplomatas E; Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 11855 Athens, Greece., Ippolito A; Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70126 Bari, Italy., Schena L; Department of Agriculture, Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria, 89124 Reggio Calabria, Italy., Hane JK; Centre for Crop and Disease Management, Department of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, Perth 6102, Australia. |
| Abstrakt: |
This study describes the first genome sequence and analysis of Coniella granati , a fungal pathogen with a broad host range, which is responsible for postharvest crown rot, shoot blight, and canker diseases in pomegranates. C. granati is a geographically widespread pathogen which has been reported across Europe, Asia, the Americas, and Africa. Our analysis revealed a 46.8 Mb genome with features characteristic of hemibiotrophic fungi. Approximately one third of its genome was compartmentalised within 'AT-rich' regions exhibiting a low GC content (30 to 45%). These regions primarily comprised transposable elements that are repeated at a high frequency and interspersed throughout the genome. Transcriptome-supported gene annotation of the C. granati genome revealed a streamlined proteome, mirroring similar observations in other pathogens with a latent phase. The genome encoded a relatively compact set of 9568 protein-coding genes with a remarkable 95% having assigned functional annotations. Despite this streamlined nature, a set of 40 cysteine-rich candidate secreted effector-like proteins (CSEPs) was predicted as well as a gene cluster involved in the synthesis of a pomegranate-associated toxin. These potential virulence factors were predominantly located near repeat-rich and AT-rich regions, suggesting that the pathogen evades host defences through Repeat-Induced Point mutation (RIP)-mediated pseudogenisation. Furthermore, 23 of these CSEPs exhibited homology to known effector and pathogenicity genes found in other hemibiotrophic pathogens. The study establishes a foundational resource for the study of the genetic makeup of C. granati , paving the way for future research on its pathogenicity mechanisms and the development of targeted control strategies to safeguard pomegranate production. |
