Horizontal chromosome transfer and independent evolution drive diversification in Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. fragariae.

ABSTRACT: The genes required for host-specific pathogenicity in Fusarium oxysporum can be acquired through horizontal chromosome transfer (HCT). However, it is unknown if HCT commonly contributes to the diversification of pathotypes. Using comparative genomics and pathogenicity phenotyping, we explored the role of HCT in the evolution of F. oxysporum f. sp. fragariae, the cause of Fusarium wilt of strawberry, with isolates from four continents. We observed two distinct syndromes: one included chlorosis ('yellows-fragariae') and the other did not ('wilt-fragariae'). All yellows-fragariae isolates carried a predicted pathogenicity chromosome, 'chr^Y-frag ', that was horizontally transferred at least four times. chr^Y-frag was associated with virulence on specific cultivars and enco

SUBMITTER: Henry PM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7986148 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature