Prediction of pathogenicity genes involved in adaptation to a lupin host in the fungal pathogens Botrytis cinerea and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum via comparative genomics

BackgroundNarrow-leafed lupin is an emerging crop of significance in agriculture, livestock feed and human health food. However, its susceptibility to various diseases is a major obstacle towards increased adoption. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea - both necrotrophs with broad host-ranges - are reported among the top 10 lupin pathogens. Whole-genome sequencing and comparative genomics are useful tools to discover genes responsible for interactions between pathogens and their hosts.ResultsGenomes were assembled for one isolate of B. cinerea and two isolates of S. sclerotiorum, which were isolated from either narrow-leafed or pearl lupin species. Comparative genomics analysis between lupin-derived isolates and others isolated from alternate hosts was used to predict between 94 to 98 effector gene candidates from among their respective non-conserved gene contents.ConclusionsDetection of minor differences between relatively recently-diverged isolates, originating from distinct regions and with hosts, may highlight novel or recent gene mutations and losses resulting from host adaptation in broad host-range fungal pathogens.