A population-level invasion by transposable elements triggers genome expansion in a fungal pathogen.

ABSTRACT: Genome evolution is driven by the activity of transposable elements (TEs). The spread of TEs can have deleterious effects including the destabilization of genome integrity and expansions. However, the precise triggers of genome expansions remain poorly understood because genome size evolution is typically investigated only among deeply divergent lineages. Here, we use a large population genomics dataset of 284 individuals from populations across the globe of Zymoseptoria tritici, a major fungal wheat pathogen. We built a robust map of genome-wide TE insertions and deletions to track a total of 2456 polymorphic loci within the species. We show that purifying selection substantially depressed TE frequencies in most populations, but some rare TEs have recently risen in frequency and li

SUBMITTER: Oggenfuss U 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8445621 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature