Genome sequencing and analysis of isolates of Cytospora sorbicola and Cytospora plurivora associated with almond and peach canker

Author: mycolabadmin
10/17/2025
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Summary

This study provides genetic blueprints for two dangerous fungal pathogens that damage almond and peach orchards by causing canker diseases. Scientists sequenced the complete genomes of these fungi and identified genes responsible for their ability to infect plants, finding that they’ve evolved special abilities to survive in nutrient-poor bark tissue. This genetic information could help farmers develop fruit trees resistant to these infections. The research also clarifies the identity of a newly described fungal species, showing it’s actually the same as a previously known species.

Background

Cytospora sorbicola and C. plurivora are significant fungal canker pathogens affecting stone fruits and woody plants, severely limiting orchard productivity and longevity. These pathogens are challenging to control with no cure once established, making breeding for resistance the most promising mitigation strategy. No publicly available genomes exist for these species, limiting research on plant-pathogen interactions.

Objective

To present genome sequencing and analysis of two isolates each of C. sorbicola and C. plurivora to facilitate understanding of plant-pathogen interactions and enable breeding for resistant plant varieties. The study focused on identifying putative virulence determinants and clarifying the taxonomic classification of related species.

Results

C. plurivora isolates assembled to 38.4 ± 0.275 Mbp with 51.02 ± 0.25% GC content and 9,878 ± 17.5 protein-coding genes, while C. sorbicola isolates assembled to 40.48 ± 0.11 Mbp with 50.28 ± 0.1% GC content and 10,161 ± 34.5 genes. Phylogenomic analysis strongly suggested C. paraplurivora is a species of C. plurivora with 97-99% Average Amino Acid Identity. Higher prevalence of transporter and peptidase activities indicated evolutionary adaptation to low pH and nutrient-limited environments.

Conclusion

High-quality genome assemblies for C. sorbicola and C. plurivora provide critical resources for future plant-pathogen interaction studies and resistance breeding programs. The study recommends amending the classification of C. paraplurivora to C. plurivora based on phylogenomic evidence. These genomes, virulence factor predictions, and effector protein sequences are now publicly available for future research.

Published in:PLoS One,
Study Type:Genomic Analysis Study,
Source: PMID: 41105662, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0334178