Comparative genomics of endophytic fungi Apiospora malaysiana with related ascomycetes indicates adaptation attuned to lifestyle choices with potential sustainable cellulolytic activity.

ABSTRACT: Ascomycetes fungi produce carbohydrate-active enzymes that are prized in the biofuel industry. Comparative genome analysis of endophytic fungus Apiospora malaysiana with seven other closely related high quality genomes of endophytic and pathogenic organisms reveal that effectors and pathogenicity-related genes are predominantly localized within rapidly evolving gene-sparse regions rather than in the conserved region. This suggests bipartite genome architecture where the rapidly evolving region plays a role in host adaptation. Endophytic fungi adapt to plant invasion by enriching enzymes that degrade cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and pectin. In contrast, we observed that pathogenic fungi, especially N. oryzae, show a reduced number of secondary metabolites biosynthesis and catabolic gen

SUBMITTER: Kant S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12202052 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature