The genome of Pratylenchus zeae: sequence acquisition, assembly, and functional annotation

• Grant number: 23/07282-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2023
• End date: July 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy
• Principal Investigator: Claudia Barros Monteiro Vitorello
• Grantee: Jonathan Ferreira Macedo
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Brazil is the largest sugarcane producer in the world, followed by China and India, and the largest producer and exporter of its by-products, sugar, and ethanol. Pratylenchus zeae, a migratory endoparasitic nematode of various plant crops, is one of the leading causes of reduced productivity in sugarcane crops (Saccharum spp.), with intensified losses year after year. The reduction in the functionality of the roots causes water stress and nutrient deficiency and facilitates the infection of other phytopathogens, resulting in plant growth and, consequently, reduced productivity. Using resistant genotypes is the best control practice for controlling root lesion nematodes. However, sugarcane only has genotypes more or less tolerant to the pathogen, in addition to few reports in the literature dealing with the interaction per se. Thus, this project aims to obtain genomic sequences to provide a complete genome sequence of P. zeae by determining high molecular weight DNA extraction methods and using the long-read Oxford-Nanopore platform. The sequences obtained will be analyzed for quality and assembly, and with the support of Dr. Thais Dal'Sasso, PD working in the group, the genome will be annotated, allowing inferences on the pathogen biology. The data will be essential in the context of the Research Project, which is based on the analysis of the communication between the plant and the pathogen using interaction experiments and analysis of the dual transcriptome.