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Saprotrophic Arachnopeziza Species as New Resources to Study the Obligate Biotrophic Lifestyle of Powdery Mildew Fungi

Summary

Scientists studied two species of fungi called Arachnopeziza that are closely related to powdery mildew fungi but can grow independently on simple lab media. By analyzing their complete genomes and developing techniques to genetically modify these fungi, researchers created a new tool for understanding how powdery mildew fungi became dependent on plants. This breakthrough allows scientists to study these harmful plant pathogens more effectively without having to work directly with the difficult-to-cultivate powdery mildew fungi.

Background

Powdery mildew fungi are obligate biotrophic plant pathogens that depend on living host plant tissue and cannot be cultivated in vitro, limiting genetic modification studies. The Arachnopezizaceae family members are the closest known extant relatives of powdery mildew fungi and are saprobic, offering potential as a model system for studying the genetic basis of biotrophic lifestyle.

Objective

To establish Arachnopeziza aurata and A. aurelia as model organisms for studying powdery mildew fungi by generating telomere-to-telomere genome assemblies, establishing cultivation protocols, and developing genetic modification techniques.

Results

Both species harbor compact haploid genomes of 43.1 and 46.3 million base pairs composed of 16 chromosomes with repeat content below 5% and evidence of repeat-induced point mutation. Both species grow readily in liquid and solid culture, are amenable to genetic modification, and show complete primary metabolic pathways unlike obligate biotrophic powdery mildew fungi.

Conclusion

Arachnopeziza species provide a viable model system for studying powdery mildew genetics without the constraints of obligate biotrophy, enabling future functional molecular studies of powdery mildew proteins through genetic manipulation.
  • Published in:Molecular Ecology Resources,
  • Study Type:Genomic and experimental study,
  • Source: PMID: 41044902, DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.70045
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