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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Salinas, California » Crop Improvement and Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #402391
Research Project: Disease Management and Improved Detection Systems for Control of Pathogens of Vegetables and Strawberries

Location: Crop Improvement and Protection Research

Title: A broad genomic survey of Macrophomina spp. reveals host-genotype associations and evidence of on-going recombination

Author
item PENNERMAN, KAYLA - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE)
item Goldman, Polly
item DILLA-ERMITA, JADE - University Of California
item Ramos, Gerardo
item AVILES, MANUEL - University Of Seville
item BORRERO, CELIA - University Of Seville
item GOMEZ, APOLLO - Queensland Government
item NEAL, JODI - Queensland Government
item CHILVERS, MARTIN - Michigan State University
item ORTIZLONDONO, VIVIANA - Michigan State University
item STUKENBROCK, EVA - Christian Albrechts University
item GOLDMAN, GUSTAVO - Universidad De Sao Paulo
item Mengistu, Alemu
item SEIJO, TERESA - University Of Florida
item PEREZ, NATALIA - University Of Florida
item BROOME, JENNY - Driscoll'S
item IVORS, KELLY - Driscoll'S
item COLE, GLENN - University Of California
item KNAPP, STEVE - University Of California
item MCFARLANE, DYLAN - Non ARS Employee
item MATTNER, SCOTT - Non ARS Employee
item GAMBARDELLA, MARINA - Pontifical Catholic University Of Chile
item Henry, Peter

Submitted to: International Congress of Plant Pathology Abstracts and Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/17/2023
Publication Date: 8/20/2023
Citation: Pennerman, K.K., Goldman, P.H., Dilla-Ermita, J., Ramos, G., Aviles, M., Borrero, C., Gomez, A., Neal, J., Chilvers, M., Ortizlondono, V., Stukenbrock, E.H., Goldman, G.H., Mengistu, A., Seijo, T., Perez, N., Broome, J., Ivors, K., Cole, G., Knapp, S., Mcfarlane, D., Mattner, S., Gambardella, M., Henry, P.M. 2023. A broad genomic survey of Macrophomina spp. reveals host-genotype associations and evidence of on-going recombination. International Congress of Plant Pathology, August 20-25, 2023, Lyon, France.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Macrophomina phaseolina has a broad host range, but individual isolates may be pathogenic to a limited number of hosts. Previous work demonstrated that: 1) strawberry is not susceptible to all isolates of the fungus, and 2) host specialization may have occurred among highly aggressive, strawberry-pathogenic isolates. A survey of the genus was conducted to identify host-genotype associations, pangenomic structure and mechanisms of genetic exchange. Short-read sequence data was obtained for 422 Macrophomina spp. isolates collected from 94 plants in 27 countries; 113 isolates were from strawberry, and 54 from soybean. High-quality reads were assembled and mapped to reference genomes. M. phaseolina was grouped into ten partially recombinant clades, with high admixture in some isolates suggesting on-going recombination. Three clades were biased with respect to isolate’s host of origin; 78% of strawberry-derived isolates were in a single clade, and 74% of soybean isolates were grouped into two clades. This pattern suggests that host specialization may be occurring among isolates in specific clades. Furthermore, pathogenicity tests on select isolates representing each clade suggest strawberry is only highly susceptible to isolates from the “strawberry clade”. The species appears to have a one-speed genome. This work provides insight into host specialization and evolutionary mechanisms within the economically important genus, Macrophomina.