The Unique Homothallic Mating-Type Loci of the Fungal Tree Pathogens Chrysoporthe syzygiicola and Chrysoporthe zambiensis from Africa

Genes (Basel). 2023 May 26;14(6):1158. doi: 10.3390/genes14061158.

Abstract

Chrysoporthe syzygiicola and C. zambiensis are ascomycete tree pathogens first described from Zambia, causing stem canker on Syzygium guineense and Eucalyptus grandis, respectively. The taxonomic descriptions of these two species were based on their anamorphic states, as no sexual states are known. The main purpose of this work was to use whole genome sequences to identify and define the mating-type (MAT1) loci of these two species. The unique MAT1 loci for C. zambiensis and C. syzygiicola consist of the MAT1-1-1, MAT1-1-2, and MAT1-2-1 genes, but the MAT1-1-3 gene is absent. Genes canonically associated with opposite mating types were present at the single mating-type locus, suggesting that C. zambiensis and C. syzygiicola have homothallic mating systems.

Keywords: Chrysoporthe; ascomycete; homothallic; mating-type.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ascomycota* / genetics
  • Genes, Mating Type, Fungal / genetics
  • Trees* / genetics

Supplementary concepts

  • Chrysoporthe syzygiicola
  • Chrysoporthe zambiensis

Grants and funding

This research was jointly funded by industry partners of the Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute, Pretoria, South Africa), Forestry South Africa, the DSI/NRF Center of Excellence in Plant Health Biotechnology, and the University of Pretoria, South Africa.