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Phylogenomics and gene selection in Aspergillus welwitschiae: Possible implications in the pathogenicity in Agave

Gabriel Quintanilha-Peixoto1, Marina Püpke Marone2, Fábio Trigo Raya2

  • 1Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Genomics
|October 28, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Genomic analysis reveals Aspergillus welwitschiae, a sisal pathogen, has a conflicting molecular identity and recently diverged from Aspergillus niger. Key genes under selection may impact its pathogenicity in sisal plants.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Plant Pathology
  • Evolutionary Genomics

Background:

  • Aspergillus welwitschiae causes bole rot, impacting sisal fiber production in Brazil.
  • This saprotrophic fungus has a wide host range, but its evolutionary history and strain diversity are poorly understood.
  • Previous research confirmed A. welwitschiae as the sole cause of sisal bole rot.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the evolutionary relationships and genomic diversity of Aspergillus welwitschiae strains.
  • To identify genes under positive selection that may contribute to pathogenicity in sisal.
  • To clarify the molecular identity and phylogenetic position of A. welwitschiae.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative genomics analysis of 40 Aspergillus strains.
  • Phylogenetic analysis to determine evolutionary divergence times.
  • Analysis of positive selection in specific gene families.

Main Results:

  • Conflicting molecular identity of A. welwitschiae was revealed.
  • One sisal-infecting strain shares a recent common ancestor with Aspergillus niger, diverging approximately 833,000 years ago.
  • Genes involved in siderophore transport, sodium-calcium exchange, and PEBPs showed evidence of positive selection.

Conclusions:

  • The study highlights the complex evolutionary history of A. welwitschiae.
  • Selected genes, including those for siderophore transporters, sodium-calcium exchangers, and PEBPs, may play a role in the fungus's pathogenicity on sisal.
  • Further research is needed to elucidate the functional impact of these selected genes on sisal bole rot disease.
Keywords:
Bole rot diseaseComparative genomicsSaprotrophSiderophoreSodium‑calcium exchangers

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