Functional annotation and comparative analysis of four Botrytis cinerea mitogenomes reported from Punjab, Pakistan

Tehsin Fatma1, Haris Ahmed Khan1, Aqeel Ahmed1

  • 1Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences (ASAB), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), 44000 Islamabad, Pakistan.

Insights

This study details the complete assembly and characterization of four Botrytis cinerea mitogenomes, revealing insights into fungal evolution and grey mold variations in Pakistan.

Area of Science:

  • Fungal genomics
  • Mitochondrial DNA analysis
  • Plant pathology

Background:

  • Botrytis cinerea causes grey mold, a significant disease in horticultural plants.
  • Mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) are crucial for understanding fungal evolution.
  • Investigating mitogenome variation aids in understanding pathogen populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assemble, characterize, and compare four Botrytis cinerea mitogenomes.
  • To provide a detailed annotation of these mitogenomes.
  • To investigate variation patterns within B. cinerea strains from Pakistan.

Main Methods:

  • High-throughput sequencing of four B. cinerea isolates (Kst5C, Kst14A, Kst32B, Kst33A).
  • Complete genome assembly and annotation.
  • Comparative analysis of mitogenomic features.

Main Results:

  • Successfully assembled and annotated four B. cinerea mitogenomes with lengths ranging from 55,226 bp to 77,303 bp.
  • Identified conserved genes (rRNA, respiration proteins) and variable elements (tRNA, introns, homing endonucleases).
  • Comparative analyses revealed significant differences among the four mitogenomes.

Conclusions:

  • This is the first detailed annotation of B. cinerea mitogenomes from Pakistan, focusing on strawberry grey mold.
  • The findings provide a foundation for rapid evolutionary and population pattern analysis of B. cinerea.
  • Mitogenome data is essential for understanding the genetic diversity and evolution of this important plant pathogen.