Lifestyle Transitions in Fusarioid Fungi are Frequent and Lack Clear Genomic Signatures

• DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msac085
• Publication Date: 2022-04-14T11:08:30Z
• Authors: Rowena Hill; Richard J.A. Buggs; Dang Toan Vu; Ester Gaya
• Keywords: Monophyly

The fungal genus Fusarium (Ascomycota) includes well-known plant pathogens that are implicated in diseases worldwide, and many of which have been genome sequenced. also encompasses other diverse lifestyles, including species found ubiquitously as asymptomatic-plant inhabitants (endophytes). Here, we produced structurally annotated assemblies for five endophytic strains, the first whole-genome data chuoi. Phylogenomic reconstruction closely related genera revealed multiple frequent lifestyle transitions, major exception being a monophyletic clade mutualist insect symbionts. Differential codon usage bias increased optimisation separated sensu stricto from allied genera. We performed computational prediction candidate secreted effector proteins (CSEPs) carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes)-both likely to be involved host-fungal interaction-and sought evidence their frequencies could predict lifestyle. However, phylogenetic distance described gene variance better than did. There was no significant difference CSEP, CAZyme, or repertoires between phytopathogenic although did find some copy number variation may contributing pathogenicity. Large numbers accessory CSEPs (i.e., present more one taxon but not all) comparatively low strain-specific suggested there is limited specialisation among associated species. half core genes under positive selection identified specific CAZymes predicted positively selected on certain lineages. Our results depict fusarioid fungi prolific generalists highlight difficulty predicting pathogenic potential group.