Comparative genomics perspective of host specialization by smut fungi and genetic diversity of Sporisorium scitamineum isolates (sugarcane smut agent)

• Grant number: 14/21802-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: January 01, 2015
• End date: May 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Plant Health
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Claudia Barros Monteiro Vitorello
• Grantee: Juliana Benevenuto
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 16/03768-5 - Comparative genomics perspective of host specialization by smut fungi, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Sporisorium scitamineum is part of the highly diverse clade of Ustilaginaceae fungi that includes several smut disease agents. Despite being phylogenetically close, these smut fungi infect different Poaceae hosts and they differ in the mode of plant colonization and symptom development. Comparative genomics will provide insights into the core set of genes that are responsible for their host specificity and will improve our understanding into the evolution of virulence factors regarding these important pathogenic systems. The speciation process and specialization to a single host culture is accompanied by loss of genetic diversity. Low genetic diversity was found among S. scitamineum isolates collected around the world and the population structure obtained suggests that a single lineage was dispersed from Asia to other continents. Using a multigenic approach, we will analyze different strains collected in countries where occur recent introduction of the disease (Brazil, Argentina and Australia) to estimate the extent of clonality of this species. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

TANIGUTI, LUCAS M.; SCHAKER, PATRICIA D. C.; BENEVENUTO, JULIANA; PETERS, LEILA P.; CARVALHO, GISELLE; PALHARES, ALESSANDRA; QUECINE, MARIA C.; NUNES, FILIPE R. S.; KMIT, MARIA C. P.; WAI, ALVAN; et al. Complete Genome Sequence of Sporisorium scitamineum and Biotrophic Interaction Transcriptome with Sugarcane. PLoS One, v. 10, n. 6, JUN 12 2015. (10/05591-9, 08/52074-0, 12/09524-0, 13/15014-7, 14/21802-0, 13/25599-2)

BENEVENUTO, JULIANA; LONGATTO, DANIEL P.; REIS, GISLAINE V.; MIELNICHUK, NATALIA; PALHARES, ALESSANDRA C.; CARVALHO, GISELLE; SAITO, SUZANE; QUECINE, MARIA C.; SANGUINO, ALVARO; VIEIRA, MARIA LUCIA C.; et al. Molecular variability and genetic relationship among Brazilian strains of the sugarcane smut fungus. FEMS Microbiology Letters, v. 363, n. 24, DEC 2016. (10/05591-9, 14/21802-0)

BENEVENUTO, JULIANA; TEIXEIRA-SILVA, NATALIA S.; KURAMAE, EIKO E.; CROLL, DANIEL; MONTEIRO-VITORELLO, CLAUDIA B.. Comparative Genomics of Smut Pathogens: Insights From Orphans and Positively Selected Genes Into Host Specialization. FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY, v. 9, APR 6 2018. (17/13268-2, 16/03768-5, 16/16376-8, 16/17545-8, 14/21802-0)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

BENEVENUTO, Juliana. Molecular variability among Brazilian strains of the sugarcane smut pathogen and the genetic basis of host specialization in smut fungi. 2017. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALA/BC) Piracicaba.