The Aphelenchoides genomes reveal substantial horizontal gene transfers in the last common ancestor of free‐living and major plant‐parasitic nematodes

• DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13752
• Publication Date: 2023-01-04T06:29:59Z
• Authors: Cheng‐Kuo Lai; Yi‐Chien Lee; Huei‐Mien Ke; Min R. Lu; Wei‐An Liu; Hsin‐Han Lee; Yu‐Ching Liu; Toyoshi Yoshiga; Taisei Kikuchi; Peichen J. Chen; Isheng Jason Tsai
• Keywords: Horizontal Gene Transfer; Synteny

Aphelenchoides besseyi is a plant-parasitic nematode (PPN) in the family Aphelenchoididae capable of infecting more than 200 plant species. A. also species complex with strains exhibiting varying pathogenicity to plants. We present genome and annotations six species, four which belonged complex. Most genomes have size 44.7-47.4 Mb are among smallest clade IV, exception fujianensis, has 143.8 one largest. Phylogenomic analysis successfully delimited into oryzae pseudobesseyi revealed reduction transposon elements last common ancestor Aphelenchoides. Synteny analyses between reference indicated that three chromosomes were derived from fission fusion events. A systematic identification horizontal gene transfer (HGT) genes across 27 representative nematodes allowed us identify two major episodes acquisition corresponding IV or PPNs, respectively. These mostly lost differentially retained clades strains. HGT events acquired bacteria, followed by fungi, plants; was especially prevalent Bursaphelenchus mucronatus. Our results comprehensively improve understanding nematodes.