Isolation, genome analysis and tissue localization of Ceratobasidium theobromae, a new encounter pathogen of cassava in Southeast Asia.

ABSTRACT: In Southeast Asia (SEA) fastidious fungi of the Ceratobasidium genus are associated with proliferation of sprouts and vascular necrosis in cacao and cassava, crops that were introduced from the tropical Americas to this region. Here, we report the isolation and in vitro culture of a Ceratobasidium sp. isolated from cassava with symptoms of witches' broom disease (CWBD), a devastating disease of this crop in SEA. The genome characterization using a hybrid assembly strategy identifies the fungus as an isolate of the species C. theobromae, the causal agent of vascular streak dieback of cacao in SEA. Both fungi have a genome size > 31 Mb (G+C content 49%), share > 98% nucleotide identity of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) and > 94% in genes used for species-level identification. Using RN

SUBMITTER: Gil-Ordonez A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11300614 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature