Genomic characterization and analysis of Fusarium Solani isolate 1-Jan, a novel pathogenic strain infecting Penaeus...

Fusarium species are pathogens affecting the broodstock of farm-raised Fannabin prawns, resulting in significant economic losses. However, the genomic characteristics and pathogenic mechanisms of these causative Fusarium strains remain incompletely understood. We isolated a novel Fusarium strain, designated 1-Jan, from diseased prawns and confirmed its pathogenicity through artificial infection experiments. Whole-genome sequencing was performed using both PacBio and Illumina platforms. The assembled genome is 51.8 Mb in size, consisting of 54 scaffolds with an N50 length of 1,974 kb. Gene prediction using AUGUSTUS identified 9,769 putative genes. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that strain 1-Jan is closely related to Fusarium solani JS-169 and Nectria haematococca. Candidate pathogenicity genes were identified through annotation against the PHI, FCPD, DFVF, and CAZy databases, yielding 1,101, 126, 479, and 497 hits, respectively. Within the 1-Jan genome, SNP mutations were identified in 737 potential pathogenicity genes, and 859 out of 4,255 single-copy genes were classified as potentially pathogenic. Additionally, 95 of the 967 genes unique to strain 1-Jan were predicted to be involved in pathogenicity. The genome sequence of the 1-Jan strain and the pathogenicity-related genes identified in this study provide valuable insights into the molecular basis of Fusarium-induced diseases in prawns and offer insights for improving the management of fungal infections in aquaculture.