Population Genomics of Macrophomina spp. Reveals Cryptic Host Specialization and Evidence for Meiotic Recombination
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Knowledge of the factors structuring populations of pathogenic fungi is fundamental to disease management efforts and basic biology. High-quality short-read sequence data were obtained for 463 Macrophomina spp. isolates collected from 91 host plant species and soil in 23 countries. Analyses revealed high diversity, admixture, and equal mating type ratios suggesting on-going recombination. Although most tested isolates could asymptomatically colonize strawberry, only isolates from a single phylogroup caused disease. In addition to strawberry, evidence for host specialization was discovered for soybean, demonstrating this broad host range pathogen contains phylogroups with cryptic specialization. Geography × isolate genotype associations were weak, suggesting these species were frequently trafficked between regions. Re-analysis using genomic data supported current species boundaries, and new molecular markers were designed to specifically identify each species. Contrary to expectations, M. phaseolina should be considered a species with both specialist and generalist populations for which meiosis can increase genetic diversity.
Authors: K. K. Pennerman, P. Goldman, C. J. Dilla-Ermita, G. Ramos, J. H. Jaime, J. Lopez-Hernandez, J. Ramos, M. Aviles, C. Borrero, A. O. Gomez, J. M. Neal, M. Chilvers, V. Ortiz, E. H. Stukenbrock, G. H. Goldman, A. Mengitsu, H. D. Lopez-Nicora, G. O. Sacher, N. Vaghefi, L. Kiss, J. P. Benz, A. R. Machado, T. E. Seijo, N. A. Peres, F. N. Martin, J. C. Broome, K. Ivors, G. S. Cole, S. J. Knapp, D. J. McFarlane, S. W. Mattner, M. Gambardella, E. Gluck-Thaler, P. M. Henry
Institutions: Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, University of California, Davis, Universidad de Sevilla, Department of Primary Industries, Michigan State University, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Universidade de São Paulo, Technical University of Munich, The Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University, The University of Melbourne, University of Southern Queensland, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, University of Florida, University of California, Santa Cruz, La Trobe University, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery
Language: English
Subfield: Cell Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,000
Funders: U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Technische Universität München, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Agricultural Research Service, Institute for Advanced Study, Technische Universität München
Awards: G2068358054, G2432360059, G473123490
OpenAlex ID: W4411439461