Global diversity analysis of plant-associated Pseudopithomyces fungi reveals a single species producing the toxin associated with facial eczema in livestock: Pseudopithomyces toxicarius sp. nov.
Pseudopithomyces isolates were spore-purified from ryegrass obtained from New Zealand farms in 2022, and from roadside collections in 2019 and 2020. International isolates including all available types, and historic isolates deposited in the International Collection of Microorganisms from Plants (ICMP) were also analysed. All isolates were whole genome shotgun sequenced. Sequencing instruments used were Illumina NovaSeq 4000 and PacBio RS II.