Sexual recombination drives genetic diversity in eukaryotic genomes and fosters adaptation to novel environmental challenges. Although strictly asexual microorganisms are often considered as evolutionary dead ends, they comprise many devastating plant pathogens. Presently, it remains unknown how such pathogens generate the variation that is required for quick evolution arms race with their hosts. Here, we show extensive chromosomal rearrangements pathogenic fungus Verticillium dahliae...

Genomic plasticity enables adaptation to changing environments, which is especially relevant for pathogens that engage in "arms races" with their hosts. In many pathogens, genes mediating virulence cluster highly variable, transposon-rich, physically distinct genomic compartments. However, understanding of the evolution these compartments, and role transposons therein, remains limited. Here, we show are major driving force adaptive genome fungal plant pathogen Verticillium dahliae We...

The plant immune system is activated by microbial patterns that are detected as nonself molecules. Such recognized receptors cytoplasmic or localized at the plasma membrane. Cell surface represented receptor-like kinases (RLKs) frequently contain extracellular leucine-rich repeats and an intracellular kinase domain for activation of downstream signaling, well proteins (RLPs) lack this signaling domain. It therefore hypothesized RLKs required RLPs to activate signaling. Cf-4 Ve1 tomato (...

Summary During tomato leaf colonization, the biotrophic fungus Cladosporium fulvum secretes several effector proteins into apoplast. Eight effectors have previously been characterized and show no significant homology to each other or fungal genes. To discover novel C. that might play a role in virulence, we utilized two‐dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D‐PAGE) visualize secreted during –tomato interactions. Three were identified: CfPhiA, Ecp6 Ecp7. CfPhiA shows found on...

Abstract Vascular wilts caused by soil-borne fungal species of the Verticillium genus are devastating plant diseases. The most common species, dahliae and albo-atrum, have broad host ranges notoriously difficult to control. Therefore, genetic resistance is preferred method for disease Only from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) has a locus been cloned, comprising Ve1 gene that encodes receptor-like protein-type cell surface receptor. Due lack suitable model protein (RLP)-mediated signaling in...

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have increased the scalability, speed, and resolution of genomic and, thus, revolutionized studies. However, eukaryotic genome initiatives typically yield considerably fragmented assemblies. Here, we assessed various state-of-the-art assembly strategies in order to produce a contiguous complete assembly, focusing on filamentous fungus Verticillium dahliae. Compared with Illumina-based assemblies V. dahliae genome, hybrid that also include...

Summary Tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum ) Cf resistance genes confer hypersensitive response (HR)‐associated to strains of the pathogenic fungus Cladosporium fulvum that express matching avirulence Avr gene. Previously, we identified an A vr4 ‐ r esponsive t omato (ART) gene is required for Cf‐4 / Avr4 ‐induced HR in Nicotiana benthamiana as demonstrated by virus‐induced silencing (VIGS). The encodes a CC‐NB‐LRR type (R) protein analogue have designated NRC1 N B‐LRR equired HR‐associated c ell...

The perception of pathogen-derived elicitors by plants has been suggested to involve phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase-C (PI-PLC) signalling. Here we show that PLC isoforms are required for the hypersensitive response (HR) and disease resistance. We characterised tomato [Solanum lycopersicum (Sl)] gene family. Six Sl PLC-encoding cDNAs were isolated their expression in infection with pathogenic fungus Cladosporium fulvum was studied. found significant regulation at transcriptional...

Chitin-binding lysin motif (LysM) effectors contribute to the virulence of various plant-pathogenic fungi that are causal agents foliar diseases. Here, we report LysM soil-borne fungal vascular wilt pathogen Verticillium dahliae. Comparative genomics revealed three core conserved in a collection V. dahliae strains. Remarkably, and contrast with previously studied other plant pathogens, no expression was monitored planta taxonomically diverse panel host plants. Moreover, targeted deletion...

Significance Microbes secrete a diversity of molecules into their environment to mediate niche colonization. During host ingress, plant pathogenic microbes effector proteins that facilitate disease development, many which deregulate immune responses. We recently demonstrated pathogens additionally exploit effectors with antibacterial activities manipulate beneficial microbiota promote Here, we show the fungal pathogen Verticillium dahliae has co-opted an ancient antimicrobial protein, likely...

The fungal genus Verticillium contains ten species, some of which are notorious plant pathogens causing vascular wilt diseases in host plants, while others known as saprophytes and opportunistic pathogens. Whereas the genome V. dahliae, most pathogen genus, has been well characterized, evolution speciation other members received little attention thus far. Here, we sequenced genomes nine haploid spp. to study evolutionary trajectories their divergence from a last common ancestor. Frequent...

Vascular wilts caused by Verticillium spp. are destructive plant diseases affecting hundreds of hosts. Only a few causal agents vascular wilt diseases, which V. dahliae is the most notorious pathogen, and several genomes available. In contrast, tricorpus mainly known as saprophyte agent opportunistic infections. Based on hybrid approach that combines second third generation sequencing, near-gapless genome assembly was obtained. With comparative genomics, we sought to identify genomic...

Resistance in tomato against race 1 strains of the fungal vascular wilt pathogens Verticillium dahliae and V. albo-atrum is mediated by Ve locus. This locus comprises two closely linked inversely oriented genes, Ve1 Ve2, which encode cell surface receptors extracellular leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein (eLRR-RLP) type. While mediates resistance through monitoring presence recently identified Ave1 effector, no functionality for Ve2 has been demonstrated tomato. contain 37 eLRRs share...

Abstract Chitin is a major structural component of fungal cell walls and acts as microbe‐associated molecular pattern (MAMP) that, on recognition by plant host, triggers the activation immune responses. To avoid these responses, Septoria tritici blotch (STB) pathogen wheat, Zymoseptoria , secretes LysM effector proteins. Previously, effectors Mg1LysM Mg3LysM were shown to protect hyphae against host chitinases. Furthermore, Mg3LysM, but not Mg1LysM, was suppress chitin‐induced reactive...

Plant pathogens secrete effector proteins to support host colonization through a wide range of molecular mechanisms, while plant immune systems evolved receptors recognize effectors or their activities mount responses halt pathogens. Importantly, plants do not act as single organisms, but rather holobionts that actively shape microbiota determinant health. The soil-borne fungal pathogen Verticillium dahliae was recently demonstrated exploit the VdAve1 manipulate promote vascular wilt disease...

Starships form a recently discovered superfamily of giant transposons in Pezizomycotina fungi, implicated mediating horizontal transfer diverse cargo genes between fungal genomes. Their elusive nature has long obscured their significance, and impact on genome evolution remains poorly understood. Here, we reveal surprising abundance diversity the phytopathogenic fungus Verticillium dahliae. Remarkably, dominate plastic genomic compartments involved host colonization, are enriched...

Plant pathogens continuously evolve to evade host immune responses. During colonization, many fungal secrete effectors perturb such responses, but these in turn may become recognized by receptors. To facilitate the evolution of effector repertoires, as elimination effectors, genes often reside genomic regions that display increased plasticity, a phenomenon is captured two-speed genome hypothesis. The vascular wilt fungus Verticillium dahliae displays with extensive presence/absence...

The genus Verticillium contains 10 species of plant-associated fungi, some which are notorious pathogens. evolved by frequent chromosomal rearrangements that contribute to genome plasticity. Centromeres instrumental for separation chromosomes during mitosis and meiosis, failed centromere functionality can lead anomalies. Here, we used a combination experimental techniques identify characterize centromeres in each the species. Intriguingly, could strongly associate single repetitive element...

The initial interaction of a pathogenic fungus with its host is complex and involves numerous metabolic pathways regulatory proteins. Considerable attention has been devoted to proteins that play crucial role in these interactions, an emphasis on so-called effector molecules are secreted by the invading microbe establish symbiosis. However, contribution other types molecules, such as glycans, less well appreciated. Here, we present random genetic screen enabled us identify 58 novel candidate...

Population genetic structures illustrate evolutionary trajectories of organisms adapting to differential environmental conditions. Verticillium stem striping disease on oilseed rape was mainly observed in continental Europe, but has recently emerged the United Kingdom. The is caused by hybrid fungal species longisporum that originates from at least three separate hybridization events, yet hybrids between progenitor A1 and D1 are responsible for striping. We reveal a hitherto un-described...

Hybridization is an important evolutionary mechanism that can enable organisms to adapt environmental challenges. It has previously been shown the fungal allodiploid species Verticillium longisporum, causal agent of verticillium stem striping in rapeseed, originated from at least three independent hybridization events between two haploid species. To reveal impact genome duplication as a consequence hybridization, we studied and transcriptome dynamics upon V. longisporum events, represented...

Abstract Background DNA methylation is an important epigenetic control mechanism that in many fungi restricted to genomic regions containing transposable elements (TEs). Two methyltransferases, Dim2 and Dnmt5, are known perform at cytosines fungi. While most ascomycete encode both only few functional studies have been performed species both. Methods In this study, we report analysis of Dnmt5 the plant pathogenic fungus Verticillium dahliae . Results Our results show Dim2, but not or putative...

ABSTRACT Allopolyploidization, genome duplication through interspecific hybridization, is an important evolutionary mechanism that can enable organisms to adapt environmental changes or stresses. This increased adaptive potential of allopolyploids be particularly relevant for plant pathogens in their quest host immune response evasion. Allodiploidization likely caused the shift range fungal pathogen Verticillium longisporum , as V. mainly infects Brassicaceae plants contrast haploid spp. In...

ABSTRACT Selection pressure impacts genomes unevenly, as different genes adapt with differential speed to establish an organism’s optimal fitness. Plant pathogens co-evolve their hosts, which implies continuously adaption evade host immunity. Effectors are secreted proteins that mediate immunity evasion, but may also typically become recognized by immune receptors. To facilitate effector repertoire alterations, in many pathogens, reside dynamic genomic regions thought display accelerated...