Genome-wide informative microsatellite markers and population structure of Fusarium virguliforme from Argentina and the USA

Authors: DA SILVA, LEANDRO LOPEZ - Orise Fellow; TIAN, HUAN - Purdue University; Schemerhorn, Brandi; XU, JIN-RONG - Purdue University; Cai, Guohong

Submitted to: The Journal of Fungi
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/12/2023
Publication Date: 11/16/2023
Citation: Da Silva, L., Tian, H., Schemerhorn, B.J., Xu, J., Cai, G. 2023. Genome-wide informative microsatellite markers and population structure of Fusarium virguliforme from Argentina and the USA. The Journal of Fungi. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9111109.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9111109

Interpretive Summary: Soybean sudden death syndrome (SDS) is a serious disease causing substantial yield loss for soybean producers in South and North America. Four Fusarium species were identified as the causal agents of SDS. In North America, SDS is primarily caused by F. virguliforme and this pathogen also contributes substantially to SDS in Argentina. In this study, we used data mining to identify 29 informative molecular markers called microsatellites in this pathogen. Sixteen markers were used to study genetic diversity and population structure of this pathogen from Argentina and the USA. We identified three clusters, with one genetically diverse cluster only found in the USA and the other two clusters found in all four sampled states in Argentina and all five sampled states in the USA. Based on our population study, we provided recommendation of the best strains to be used in breeding programs for the development of soybean cultivars resistant to SDS.

Technical Abstract: Soybean sudden death syndrome (SDS) is a serious disease causing substantial yield loss for soybean producers in South and North America. While four Fusarium species were identified as the causal agents, F. virguliforme is the primary SDS-causing pathogen in North America and it also contributes substantially to SDS in Argentina. In this study, we used comparative genomics approach and identified 29 informative microsatellite markers in F. virguliforme. Sixteen of the 29 markers were used to investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of this pathogen in a collection of 90 strains from Argentina and the USA. A total of 37 multilocus genotypes (MLGs) were identified, 10 from Argentina and 27 from the USA. Only the most dominant MLG (MLG2) was shared by both countries. Analyses showed that these MLGs likely belonged to three clusters, an ancestral cluster that was only found in the USA, and two dominant clusters that were presented in all four sampled states in Argentina and five sampled states in the USA. Additional studies are required to determine the origin of this pathogen. Based on our population study, we recommended the best strains to be used in breeding programs for the development of soybean cultivars for resistance to F. virguliforme.