Identification of candidate host-specificity genes in Exserohilum turcicum using comparative genomics and...

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Plant Pathology
• Fungal Genetics

Background:

• Exserohilum turcicum causes distinct leaf blights in maize and sorghum.
• While the same species, strains exhibit host specificity, impacting crop yields.

Purpose of the Study:

• To sequence and de novo annotate sorghum- and maize-specific E. turcicum strains.
• To identify genetic variations and candidate genes responsible for host specificity.

Main Methods:

• PacBio Sequel II sequencing for genome assembly.
• Functional annotation using Funannotate, EffectorP, and SignalP.
• Comparative genomics and transcriptome analysis.

Main Results:

• Genome assemblies of 44-45 Mb with high BUSCO completeness.
• Identification of ten large-scale inversions and three translocations between strains.
• Candidate host-specificity genes identified through integrated genomic and transcriptomic data.

Conclusions:

• Genome sequencing provides a foundation for understanding E. turcicum host specificity.
• Comparative analysis reveals structural variations and gene duplications contributing to strain divergence.
• Identified candidate genes offer insights into the molecular mechanisms of fungal-host interactions.