A 20‐kb lineage‐specific genomic region tames virulence in pathogenic amphidiploid Verticillium longisporum

• DOI: 10.1111/mpp.13071
• Publication Date: 2021-05-06T18:03:02Z
• Authors: Rebekka Harting; Jessica Starke; Harald Kusch; Stefanie Pöggeler; Isabel Maurus; Rabea Schlüter; Manuel Landesfeind; Ingo Bulla; Minou Nowrousian; Ronnie de Jonge; Gertrud Stahlhut; Katharina J. Hoff; Kathrin P. Aßhauer; Andrea Thürmer; Mario Stanke; Rolf Daniel; Burkhard Morgenstern; Bart P. H. J. Thomma; James W. Kronstad; Susanna A. Braus‐...; Gerhard H. Braus
• Keywords: Verticillium; Synteny

Amphidiploid fungal Verticillium longisporum strains Vl43 and Vl32 colonize the plant host Brassica napus but differ in their ability to cause disease symptoms. These represent two V. lineages derived from different hybridization events of haploid parental strains. carry same-sex mating-type genes both lineages. similarly penetrate roots, asymptomatic proliferation planta is lower than virulent Vl43. The highly conserved genomes include less 1% unique genes, karyotypes 15 or 16 chromosomes display changed genetic synteny due substantial genomic reshuffling. A 20 kb lineage-specific (LS) region apparently originating dahliae-related ancestor specific for symptomatic encodes seven including putative transcription factors. Either partial complete deletion this LS did not reduce virulence led induction even more severe symptoms rapeseed. This suggests that insertion genome mediates virulence-reducing functions, limits damage on plant, therefore tames being virulent.