Accessory Chromosome-Acquired Secondary Metabolism in Plant Pathogenic Fungi: The Evolution of Biotrophs Into Host-Specific Pathogens.

ABSTRACT: Accessory chromosomes are strain- or pathotype-specific chromosomes that exist in addition to the core chromosomes of a species and are generally not considered essential to the survival of the organism. Among pathogenic fungal species, accessory chromosomes harbor pathogenicity or virulence factor genes, several of which are known to encode for secondary metabolites that are involved in plant tissue invasion. Accessory chromosomes are of particular interest due to their capacity for horizontal transfer between strains and their dynamic "crosstalk" with core chromosomes. This review focuses exclusively on secondary metabolism (including mycotoxin biosynthesis) associated with accessory chromosomes in filamentous fungi and the role accessory chromosomes play in the evolution of secondary me

SUBMITTER: Witte TE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8102738 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature