Genomics survey of hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus, the causative agent of ash dieback (part of the NORNEX consortium project)
Understanding the pathogenic nature ash dieback fungus Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus  The aim of this work is to understand how the pathogenic form of H. pseudoalbidus arose, why it is such an aggressive pathogen, and the nature of its life cycle. We will acquire in-depth genome and transcriptome information for the fungus. Genome sequences of up to 30 isolates of the fungus from the UK and Europe, and multiple isolates of the related non-pathogenic fungus H. albidus will be generated. H. pseudoalbidus (anamorph Chalara fraxinea) was reported in Poland in the 1990s and has now spread widely across W Europe. Genome sequences will 1) reveal the origins of the pathogen, 2) provide markers to allow the spread of different strains to be followed, 3) identify whether the rapid spread is due to crosses with indigenous H. albidus, 4) identify potential virulence factors such as secreted effectors that may be crucial to the invasive nature of the pathogen, 5) underpin interpretation of transcriptomic data . Comparison of UK isolates to isolates from continental Europe at a whole-genome level will be highly informative. We propose to generate sequences from isolates both within the UK and from wider Europe, complementary to existing sequencing efforts by our collaborators in Europe.