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Updated: Nov 6, 2025

Bacterial Leaf Infiltration Assay for Fine Characterization of Plant Defense Responses using the Arabidopsis thaliana-Pseudomonas syringae Pathosystem
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Accessory Chromosome-Acquired Secondary Metabolism in Plant Pathogenic Fungi: The Evolution of Biotrophs Into

Thomas E Witte1,2, Nicolas Villeneuve1,2, Christopher N Boddy2

  • 1Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa Research and Development Centre, Ottawa, ON, Canada.

Frontiers in Microbiology
|May 10, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Filamentous fungi accessory chromosomes carry virulence genes, influencing plant invasion and toxin production. Their horizontal transfer and interaction with core chromosomes drive the evolution of secondary metabolite gene clusters.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Genomics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Accessory chromosomes are non-essential, strain-specific DNA elements in fungi.
  • These chromosomes often harbor genes for pathogenicity and secondary metabolites, including mycotoxins.
  • Accessory chromosomes are known for horizontal transfer and interaction with core genomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review secondary metabolism, including mycotoxin biosynthesis, on accessory chromosomes in filamentous fungi.
  • To explore the role of accessory chromosomes in the evolution of secondary metabolite gene clusters.
  • To highlight the utility of integrating metabolomics and genomics for gene cluster identification.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on accessory chromosomes and secondary metabolism.
  • Analysis of studies integrating untargeted metabolomics and genome sequencing.
  • Examination of biosynthetic gene clusters for secondary metabolites, including mycotoxins.

Main Results:

  • Accessory chromosomes are crucial for virulence and secondary metabolite production in pathogenic fungi.
  • Horizontal transfer and core chromosome interactions contribute to accessory chromosome evolution.
  • Untargeted metabolomics and genome sequencing effectively link secondary metabolites to their accessory chromosome-located biosynthetic gene clusters.
  • Studies in *Alternaria* and *Fusarium* reveal insights into toxin biosynthesis and enzyme evolution.

Conclusions:

  • Accessory chromosomes are key drivers of fungal pathogenicity and secondary metabolite diversity.
  • Understanding accessory chromosome evolution is vital for managing fungal diseases.
  • Integrated omics approaches are powerful tools for discovering fungal secondary metabolite pathways.
Keywords:
Alternaria host specific toxinsAlternaria pathotypesFusariumRIPaccessory chromosomesbiosynthetic gene clustersmetabolomicssecondary metabolites

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