First Draft Genome Resource for the Tomato Black Leaf Mold Pathogen Pseudocercospora fuligena

Area of Science:

• Plant Pathology
• Genomics
• Mycology

Background:

• * Pseudocercospora fuligena causes black leaf mold, a significant disease affecting tomatoes in tropical and subtropical areas.
• * Limited genomic resources exist for P. fuligena, hindering research and disease management.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To report the first genome assembly for Pseudocercospora fuligena.
• * To provide essential genomic resources for future studies on this important tomato pathogen.

Main Methods:

• * Whole-genome sequencing and assembly.
• * Gene prediction and annotation.
• * Analysis of key gene families, including effectors and carbohydrate-active enzymes.

Main Results:

• * A 50.6 Mb genome assembly was generated, comprising 348 contigs (N50 = 0.407 Mb).
• * 13,764 protein-coding genes were predicted with high completeness (98% BUSCO).
• * Identified 179 candidate effectors, 445 carbohydrate-active enzymes, and 30 secondary metabolite gene clusters.

Conclusions:

• * The P. fuligena genome assembly provides a valuable resource for genomic research.
• * This resource will facilitate comparative genomics and population studies to improve black leaf mold management strategies.