Effector gene reshuffling involves dispensable mini-chromosomes in the wheat blast fungus.

ABSTRACT: Newly emerged wheat blast disease is a serious threat to global wheat production. Wheat blast is caused by a distinct, exceptionally diverse lineage of the fungus causing rice blast disease. Through sequencing a recent field isolate, we report a reference genome that includes seven core chromosomes and mini-chromosome sequences that harbor effector genes normally found on ends of core chromosomes in other strains. No mini-chromosomes were observed in an early field strain, and at least two from another isolate each contain different effector genes and core chromosome end sequences. The mini-chromosome is enriched in transposons occurring most frequently at core chromosome ends. Additionally, transposons in mini-chromosomes lack the characteristic signature for inactivation by repeat-induce

SUBMITTER: Peng Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6741851 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature