Genome assembly and analysis of Fusarium graminearum Species Complex from Brazilian wheat

• Grant number: 17/22369-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: March 26, 2018
• End date: September 25, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Benedito Corrêa
• Grantee: Sabina Moser Tralamazza
• Supervisor: Daniel Croll
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Université de Neuchâtel, Switzerland
• Associated to the scholarship: 15/21378-7 - Identification and toxigenic profile of Fusarium graminearum species complex by infrared spectroscopy, BP.PD

Abstract

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a major disease of cereal crops that can cause extensive losses in crop production and commercial value due to damaged kernels and mycotoxins. The disease is mainly caused by members of the Fusarium graminearum species complex (FGSC), which vary in aggressiveness, growth rates and toxin profiles. Due to the high phenotypic diversity within the FGSC, it is essential to understand the genetic composition of the pathogen pool causing the disease. The current postdoctoral project performed in Brazil uses molecular data analyses as a reference to test model predictions based on infrared spectroscopy. For the internship, we will analyze the same species at the genome level to correctly and efficiently match the FGSC species analyzed by infrared spectroscopy with the exact toxigenic profiles based on complete genomes. The availability of yet to be analyzed genome sequences and the lack of studies on genetic diversity of the members of FGSC in Brazil by whole genome assembly and comparative genetics provides an ideal research opportunity. Thus, the main objective of the project is to perform genome assemblies and analyze the genomes of the FGSC strains F. meridionale, F. cortaderiae, F. austroamericanum (nivalenol producer) and F. austroamericanum (3-acetyldeoxynivalenol producer) found in Brazil. In addition, we will perform phylogenetic analyses using sequenced genomes from a broad set of FGSC members, mine the genomes for novel gene and toxin production functions. We will characterize the identified gene clusters and predict the mycotoxigenic potential. Finally, I will investigate the genetic differences between two F. austroamericanum strains to extend the analyses to the intra-species level.

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)

TRALAMAZZA, SABINA MOSER; ROCHA, LILIANA OLIVEIRA; OGGENFUSS, URSULA; CORREA, BENEDITO; CROLL, DANIEL. Complex Evolutionary Origins of Specialized Metabolite Gene Cluster Diversity among the Plant Pathogenic Fungi of the Fusarium graminearum Species Complex. GENOME BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION, v. 11, n. 11, p. 3106-3122, NOV 2019. (16/04364-5, 17/22369-7)