Work

Whole-Genome sequencing and phylogenomic analyses of Alternaria japonica and A . telliensis (Section Japonicae )

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Species of Alternaria are necrotrophic fungi responsible for leaf spot diseases on a wide range of cultivated and wild plants.Species delimitation within this genus, however, often relies on morphological features and a limited set of molecular markers, which can constrain phylogenetic resolution at finer taxonomic scales.This is the case for Alternaria telliensis, a species recently described from Algeria and subsequently reported in Iran, whose relationships within section Japonicae require clarification.To provide a higher resolution framework for this species, we performed whole-genome sequencing, assembly, and BUSCO completeness assessment for type strains of A. telliensis (CBS 145643) and A. japonica (CBS 118390), using Oxford Nanopore Technologies MinION sequencing.The genome assembly of A. telliensis spans 34.4 Mbp across 132 contigs, with an N50 of 2.2 Mbp and a GC content of 50.94%.The A. japonica assembly comprises 33.5 Mbp in 196 contigs, with an N50 of 1.6 Mbp and a GC content of 51.47%.Phylogenomic analysis places A. telliensis alongside A. japonica within section Japonicae.These genomic data support the classification of A. telliensis and contribute to clarifying taxonomic relationships within the genus Alternaria.

Source: Journal of Genomics

DOI: 10.7150/jgen.142347

Authors: Roumaissa Barkat, Nabahat Bessadat, Justine Colou, Philippe Simoneau

Institutions: Université Oran 1 Ahmed Ben Bella, Institut Agro Rennes-Angers, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Institut de Recherche en Horticulture et Semences, Université d'Angers

Language: English

Topic: Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases

Subfield: Plant Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $434