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

Summary

Scientists have discovered that two types of fungi called Arachnopeziza species are the closest living relatives to powdery mildew fungi, which cause plant diseases. Unlike powdery mildews, these Arachnopeziza fungi can be easily grown in the lab and genetically modified. By studying these more manageable fungi, researchers can better understand how powdery mildew fungi became obligate parasites that must live on plants, potentially leading to better ways to control this widespread plant disease.

Background

Powdery mildew fungi are obligate biotrophic plant pathogens that cannot be cultured in vitro or genetically modified due to their dependence on living host tissue. Arachnopezizaceae are saprotrophic fungi that are phylogenetically the closest known extant relatives of powdery mildew fungi, making them potentially suitable models for studying the genetic basis of obligate biotrophy.

Objective

To establish telomere-to-telomere genome assemblies and develop genetic modification protocols for Arachnopeziza aurata and A. aurelia as model organisms to study the molecular mechanisms underlying the obligate biotrophic lifestyle of powdery mildew fungi.

Results

Both Arachnopeziza species had 16 haploid chromosomes with compact genomes (43.1 and 46.3 Mbp) containing <5% repeats, unlike powdery mildews with 60-80% transposons. Both species grew readily in liquid and solid culture, showed sensitivity to fungicides, and were successfully transformed with red fluorescent protein and hygromycin resistance markers. The genomes retained complete primary metabolic pathways absent in powdery mildews and showed evidence of functional repeat-induced point mutation.

Conclusion

Arachnopeziza species represent a viable model system for genetic studies of powdery mildew biology, enabling functional analysis of proteins and pathways underlying the obligate biotrophic lifestyle without requiring direct modification of unculturable powdery mildew fungi.
  • Published in:Molecular Ecology Resources,
  • Study Type:Genomics and Functional Biology Study,
  • Source: PMID: 41044902, DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.70045
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