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Biological and Genomic Insights into Fusarium acuminatum Causing Needle Blight in Pinus tabuliformis

Summary

Researchers identified a fungus called Fusarium acuminatum as the cause of needle blight disease affecting Chinese pine trees in northern China. They studied how this fungus grows and sequenced its entire genome to understand how it damages the trees. The findings help explain the disease and provide tools to develop better ways to protect and treat infected pine trees.

Background

Pinus tabuliformis (Chinese pine) is an important garden plant in northern China with ecological and economic significance. Pine needle blight disease has emerged as a severe problem affecting ornamental and timber value. While various pathogens cause pine needle blight globally, the causative agents in P. tabuliformis remain poorly understood.

Objective

To identify the pathogen responsible for needle blight disease in P. tabuliformis and characterize its biological and genomic properties. This study aimed to provide insights into disease mechanisms and control strategies for this economically important species.

Results

Fusarium acuminatum (isolate AP-3) was identified as the causal agent of P. tabuliformis needle blight, the first report of this pathogen on this species. The fungus showed optimal growth at 25°C and pH 11.0, with soluble starch and sodium nitrate as preferred carbon and nitrogen sources. The genome assembly was 41.50 Mb with 13,408 protein-coding genes, including 421 CAZymes, 120 P450 enzymes, 3,185 PHI genes, and 694 secreted proteins.

Conclusion

This study successfully identified F. acuminatum as the causal agent of P. tabuliformis needle blight and established its biological characteristics and genomic profile. The findings provide a foundation for understanding pathogenic mechanisms and developing targeted disease management and control strategies for Chinese pine.
  • Published in:Journal of Fungi (Basel),
  • Study Type:Experimental Study, Genomic Analysis,
  • Source: PMID: 41003182, DOI: 10.3390/jof11090636
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