title: Genome-Wide Analysis in Three Fusarium Pathogens Identifies Rapidly Evolving Chromosomes and Genes Associated with Pathogenicity.
abstract: Pathogens and hosts are in an ongoing arms race and genes involved in host-pathogen interactions are likely to undergo diversifying selection. Fusarium plant pathogens have evolved diverse infection strategies, but how they interact with their hosts in the biotrophic infection stage remains puzzling. To address this, we analyzed the genomes of three Fusarium plant pathogens for genes that are under diversifying selection. We found a two-speed genome structure both on the chromosome and gene group level. Diversifying selection acts strongly on the dispensable chromosomes in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici and on distinct core chromosome regions in Fusarium graminearum, all of which have associations with virulence. Members of two gene groups evolve rapidly, namely those that encode proteins with an N-terminal [SG]-P-C-[KR]-P sequence motif and proteins that are conserved predominantly in pathogens. Specifically, 29 F. graminearum genes are rapidly evolving, in planta induced and encode secreted proteins, strongly pointing toward effector function. In summary, diversifying selection in Fusarium is strongly reflected as genomic footprints and can be used to predict a small gene set likely to be involved in host-pathogen interactions for experimental verification.
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Agriculture Flagship, Centre for Environment and Life Sciences, Perth, Western Australia, Australia jana.sperschneider@csiro.au.
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sperschneider
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Agriculture Flagship, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Donald M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Gardiner
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Agriculture Flagship, Centre for Environment and Life Sciences, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Louise F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Thatcher
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Agriculture Flagship, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lyons
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Agriculture Flagship, Centre for Environment and Life Sciences, Perth, Western Australia, Australia University of Western Australia Institute of Agriculture, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Karam B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Agriculture Flagship, Black Mountain Laboratories, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Manners
authors.affiliation: CSIRO Agriculture Flagship, Black Mountain Laboratories, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D015825:Chromosomes, Fungal; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005670:Fusarium / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016681:Genome, Fungal; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins
keywords: Fusarium; dispensable chromosomes; diversifying selection; effector; evolution; fungal pathogens