Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Understanding the Development of Compensatory Pathways in a Mutant Malaria Parasite Harbouring Hypomorphic Allele of Plant-Like Kinases
Published on: November 22, 2024
First complete chromosomal organization of a protozoan plant parasite (Phytomonas spp.)
Clotilde Marín1, Blandine Alberge, Michel Dollet
1CIRAD, Department Biological Systems, Research Unit 29 Etiology of Wilts, TA A-29/F, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, Montpellier, France.
Abstract:
Phytomonas spp. are members of the family Trypanosomatidae that parasitize plants and may cause lethal diseases in crops such as Coffee Phloem necrosis, Hartrot in coconut, and Marchitez sorpresiva in oil palm. In this study, the molecular karyotype of 6 isolates from latex plants has been entirely elucidated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and DNA hybridization. Twenty-one chromosomal linkage groups constituting heterologous chromosomes and sizing between 0.3 and 3 Mb could be physically defined by the use of 75 DNA markers (sequence-tagged sites and genes). From these data, the genome size can be estimated at 25.5 (+/-2) Mb. The physical linkage groups were consistently conserved in all strains examined. Moreover, the finding of several pairs of different-sized homologous chromosomes strongly suggest diploidy for this organism. The definition of the complete molecular karyotype of Phytomonas represents an essential primary step toward sequencing the genome of this parasite of economical importance.
Related Concept Videos
Diversity of Protists II
Diversity of Protists I
Bacterial Phylum Planctomycetes
Diversity of Protists III
Overview of Protists
Diversity of Protists IV

