Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » West Lafayette, Indiana » Crop Production and Pest Control Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #157955
Title: THE MYCOSHPAERELLA SEQUENCING INITIATIVE

Author
item Goodwin, Stephen - Steve
item MCDONALD, BRUCE - INST PLANT SCI, ZURICH
item KEMA, GERT - PLANT RES INTL, WAGENINGE

Submitted to: International Symposium on Septoria/Stagonospora Disease of Cereals
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/28/2003
Publication Date: 12/7/2003
Citation: Goodwin, S.B., Mcdonald, B.A., Kema, G.H. 2003. The mycoshpaerella sequencing initiative. In: Global Insights into the Septoria and Stagonospora Diseases of Cereals. International Symposium on Septoria/Stagonospora Disease of Cereals, December 8-12, 2003, Tunis, Tunisia. p. 149-151.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Tools for genomic analysis are developing at an astonishing pace. However, being able to make full use of these tools for fungal pathogens requires access to a sequenced genome. This will not only permit rapid scientific advancement, but is necessary to be competitive for future funding. The goal of the Mycosphaerella sequencing initiative is to promote the sequencing of: 1) M. graminicola; 2) M. fijiensis; and 3) other species as needed for comparative genomics analyses. Although previous independent efforts represent a considerable public resource, a coordinated, cooperative, large-scale global effort is needed to achieve the ultimate goal of a complete genome sequence. The Mycosphaerella sequencing initiative was launched formally from a series of discussions at the 22nd Fungal Genetics Conference in Asilomar, CA. The next step will be to submit a proposal to sequence the genome of M. graminicola to the NSF-USDA Microbial Genome Sequencing Program during December of 2003. In addition to sequencing the genomes of M. graminicola and M. fijiensis, other species can be chosen for sequencing to represent the full range of evolutionary diversity within the genus, including anamorphs. From analysis of a phylogenetic tree based on sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region of the ribosomal DNA, other species with high priority for sequencing could include a species of Cercospora such as C. zeae-maydis or C. beticola, a species with a Dothistroma anamorph such as M. pini, another tree pathogen such as Lecanosticta acicola (teleomorph M. dearnessii), and a species of Cladosporium such as C. iridis (M. macrospora). This list should be refined and expanded as needed with comprehensive phylogenetic analyses and input from the scientific community.