Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joaquin Ortego, Vanessa Cespedes, Andres Millan, Andy J. Green
Summary: This study utilized genomic data to reveal key demographic processes of the successful invasion of North American boatman in the Western Mediterranean region, including genetic distinctiveness, independent introductions, bottleneck events, and demographic expansion. Genetic admixture among populations suggests potential permeability of barriers to gene flow or introductions involving multiple lineages.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Aymeric Bonnamour, Rachael E. Blake, Andrew M. Liebhold, Helen F. Nahrung, Alain Roques, Rebecca M. Turner, Takehiko Yamanaka, Cleo Bertelsmeier
Summary: Thousands of insect species introduced outside of their native ranges have significant impacts on ecosystems and human societies. Nonnative plants play a crucial role in facilitating the establishment of invading insects by serving as habitat and resources, and plant imports also contribute to accidental insect introductions.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Francisco Encinas-Viso, Louise Morin, Raghu Sathyamurthy, Nunzio Knerr, Camille Roux, Linda Broadhurst
Summary: This study investigated the invasion history of Sonchus oleraceus in Australia by comparing the population genetic structure of individuals at different locations in Australia and in the most likely areas of origin in the native range. The results revealed at least two introductions of S. oleraceus to Australia, with evidence of post-introduction admixture and a potential reintroduction from Australia back to its native range. The complex invasion history poses challenges for finding potential biological control agents.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Hui Zhang, Kai Jiang, Yang Zhao, Yuting Xing, Haijie Ge, Jie Cui, Tiedong Liu, Chen Wang
Summary: This study introduces a protocol and software program for the selection of native plant species as biocontrol agents for invasive exotic plants. The software successfully identified Bougainvillea spectabilis as a potential biocontrol agent for Leucaena leucocephala, limiting the invasion of the latter. Overall, the protocol and software can efficiently select native plant species for biological control of invasive exotic plant species.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Denis A. Demidko, Natalia N. Demidko, Pavel V. Mikhaylov, Svetlana M. Sultson
Summary: Biological invasions by bark beetles and borers pose a significant threat to ecosystems, with species utilizing four main invasion strategies: inbred, polyphagous, intermediate, and aggressive. These invaders exhibit traits like high fecundity, polyvoltinism, association with plant pathogens, and long-range or aggregation pheromones, contributing to their success in invaded areas and potential harm to native plant species.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Katie E. Costello, Sharon A. Lynch, Ruth M. O'Riordan, Rob McAllen, Sarah C. Culloty
Summary: This review synthesizes invasive host-parasite interactions and impacts, particularly focusing on marine bivalves, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary research. The study discusses how invasive species can lead to diseases within the bivalve aquaculture sector and suggests further integrating parasitology and invasion ecology for enhancing critical knowledge and potential mitigation strategies. Climate change impacts on invasive species, with a focus on marine bivalves, and horizon scanning for future invasive host-parasite introductions are also addressed.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yanfeng Wang, Ying Liu, Maohua Ma, Zhi Ding, Shengjun Wu, Weitao Jia, Qiao Chen, Xuemei Yi, Jing Zhang, Xiaohong Li, Gaohang Luo, Jinxia Huang
Summary: The riparian ecosystem is structurally unstable due to water fluctuation, which is exacerbated by dams triggering fundamental changes in plant communities. The study investigated spatial distribution of invasive plant species and their correlation with dam-triggered flooding stresses. It found that new invasive species were mainly concentrated at intermediate elevations of the reservoir, with weak resistance from native species to plant invasion. There is a persistent invasiveness of alien species after a decade of riparian community succession, with potential invasion sites located in the intermediate sections along both vertical and longitudinal dimensions.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Adrian Lazaro-Lobo, Carlos Ramirez-Reyes, Rima D. Lucardi, Gary N. Ervin
Summary: This study evaluated the factors associated with successful plant invasions in southern US forests and predicted regional susceptibility to invasion by 16 major invasive plant taxa. The results indicate that invasive species presence is influenced by proximity to land use, light availability, soil nutrient retention capacity, and soil organic matter. Climate, land use, and soil organic matter are important factors affecting invasive species distributions, with most of the focal invasive plants likely to occupy large forested areas in the study region.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Chika Egawa, Asuka Koyama
Summary: The number of alien plant species in Japan started to increase in the late 1800s and reached its peak in the late 1950s. However, since 1960, the number has been slowly declining. The intentional introduction of invasive species has contributed more to the accumulation than unintentional introduction.
Article
Plant Sciences
Ilona Szumanska, Sandra Lubinska-Mielinska, Dariusz Kaminski, Lucjan Rutkowski, Andrzej Nienartowicz, Agnieszka Piernik
Summary: The research aimed to identify the main vectors and distribution pattern of invasive alien species of plants in the city environment, analyzing the data collected from 515 permanent plots over a 42-year period. The study found significant correlations between species distribution and soil and habitat types, providing valuable insights for local efforts in managing and controlling invasive species.
Article
Biology
Alexander J. Blumenfeld, Pierre-Andre Eyer, Claudia Husseneder, Jianchu Mo, Laura N. L. Johnson, Changlu Wang, J. Kenneth Grace, Thomas Chouvenc, Shichen Wang, Edward L. Vargo
Summary: The study reveals a complex invasion history of the Formosan subterranean termite, with multiple introductions from different regions in China shaping its global distribution. The Hawaiian population acted as a bridgehead for the introduction to the southeastern US, illustrating the pivotal role of bridgeheads in species distributions. Multiple introductions may have prevented and possibly reversed the loss of genetic diversity within the invasive range of the termite.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jieshi Tang, Kangshan Mao, Hongying Zhang, Xinyu Xu, Xiaohong Xu, Hui Guo, Bo Li
Summary: Population genetic surveys on Plantago virginica in China revealed multiple invasion events and increased gene flow within Chinese populations, leading to significant lineage admixture.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Seth A. Jones, Edward S. DeKeyser, Cami Dixon, Breanna Kobiela
Summary: Plant communities in North American prairie pothole wetlands vary depending on hydrology, salinity, and anthropogenic disturbance. We assessed the conditions and plant community composition of prairie potholes on United States Fish and Wildlife Service fee-title lands in North Dakota and South Dakota. Our results showed that invasive species have an impact on plant community composition and pose a threat to biological diversity.
Article
Plant Sciences
Changchao Shen, Pengdong Chen, Kaoping Zhang, Minyan He, Jinlong Wan, Yi Wang, Zhibin Tao, Wei Huang, Evan Siemann
Summary: Secondary invasion, in which nontarget invaders expand following eradication of a target invader, is likely to occur in habitats with multiple invasive plant species. The dynamics and mechanisms of secondary invasion vary with species and time, with phylogenetic relatedness being most important in the first year and functional traits being more relevant in the second year. Our study highlights the importance of considering both phylogenetic relatedness and functional traits to understand and manage secondary invasions.
Article
Plant Sciences
Achyut Kumar Banerjee, Fengxiao Tan, Hui Feng, Xinru Liang, Jiakai Wang, Minghui Yin, Hao Peng, Yuting Lin, Nannan Zhang, Yelin Huang
Summary: This study aimed to understand the phylogenetic relationship between alien plant species at different stages of invasion and the influence of environmental filtering process on this relationship. The results showed that phylogenetically related species tend to cluster together at smaller spatial scales, indicating the importance of environmental filtering process. The presence of close relatives in the community may facilitate the successful naturalization and invasion of introduced alien species. Temperature has a stronger effect on phylogenetic patterns than precipitation, especially at smaller spatial scales. Different plant families showed different phylogenetic patterns, but all tend to form more clustered assemblages.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Stefan Kusch, Niloofar Vaghefi, Susumu Takamatsu, Shu-Yan Liu, Mark Z. Nemeth, Diana Seress, Lamprinos Frantzeskakis, Pin-En Chiu, Ralph Panstruga, Levente Kiss
Summary: The first draft genome assemblies of Pleochaeta shiraiana and Phyllactinia moricola, two tree-parasitic powdery mildew species with hemiendophytic mycelium, have been generated. These resources are pivotal for understanding the molecular basis of the lifestyle of these fungi.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Flavia Rogerio, Cock Van Oosterhout, Maisa Ciampi-Guillardi, Fernando Henrique Correr, Guilherme Kenichi Hosaka, Sandrine Cros-Arteil, Gabriel Rodrigues Alves Margarido, Nelson S. Massola Junior, Pierre Gladieux
Summary: Invasions by fungal plant pathogens pose a significant threat to agricultural ecosystems. Through population genomics study of Colletotrichum truncatum, a polyphagous and invasive pathogen of soybean in Brazil, it was found that the pathogen is subdivided into three phylogenetically distinct lineages that exchange genetic variation through hybridization. Introgressed regions, which comprise secreted protein-encoding genes, may be the targets of co-evolutionary selection. Population genomic studies can help identify high-risk geographical areas and pathogens, providing valuable information for future crop protection strategies.
Article
Plant Sciences
Valerie Caffier, Jason Shiller, Marie-Noelle Bellanger, Jerome Collemare, Pascale Expert, Pierre Gladieux, Claire Pascouau, Melanie Sannier, Bruno Le Cam
Summary: Hybridization and adaptation to new hosts are important mechanisms of fungal disease emergence. Evaluating the risk of emergence of hybrids with enhanced virulence is crucial for sustainable crop disease management. In this study, the risk of hybridization and its effect on pathogenicity were evaluated in Venturia inaequalis, the fungus responsible for scab disease on Rosaceae hosts. The results showed that there is strict host specificity between isolates from different hosts, but some isolates were still able to cause disease on new hosts. Interestingly, none of the hybrids between different isolates could infect apple, suggesting a potential novel biocontrol strategy.
Article
Ecology
Marine Duhamel, Fantin Carpentier, Dominik Begerow, Michael E. Hood, Ricardo C. Rodriguez de la Vega, Tatiana Giraud
Summary: Researchers found that recombination suppression between mating-type chromosomes occurred in multiple steps and at least nine independent events linked the mating-type loci together in Microbotryum fungi. Chromosomal rearrangements and recombination suppression are evolutionary mechanisms leading to phenotypic convergence.
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Miklos Pogany, Tamas Danko, Julia Hegyi-Kalo, Evelin Kaman-Toth, Dorottya Reka Szam, Kamiran Aron Hamow, Balazs Kalapos, Levente Kiss, Jozsef Fodor, Gabor Gullner, Kalman Zoltan Vaczy, Balazs Barna
Summary: This study reveals the transcriptome pattern of grape cells subject to natural noble rot development in the historic Hungarian Tokaj wine region, and identifies the differences in redox and hormonal changes between noble rot and bunch rot.
Article
Biophysics
Mounia Lahfa, Andre Padilla, Karine de Guillen, Joana Pissarra, Mouna Raji, Stella Cesari, Thomas Kroj, Pierre Gladieux, Christian Roumestand, Philippe Barthe
Summary: This study reports the NMR resonance assignment and secondary structure analysis of three putative MAX effectors (MAX47, MAX60, and MAX67), revealing a high content of beta-strands consistent with the canonical ss-sandwich structure of MAX effectors. These findings lay the foundation for further structural characterization and sequence predictions of other MAX effectors.
BIOMOLECULAR NMR ASSIGNMENTS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Maud Thierry, Florian Charriat, Joelle Milazzo, Henri Adreit, Sebastien Ravel, Sandrine Cros-Arteil, Sonia Borron, Violaine Sella, Thomas Kroj, Renaud Ioos, Elisabeth Fournier, Didier Tharreau, Pierre Gladieux
Summary: The genetic and phenotypic diversity of the rice blast fungus was analyzed, revealing population subdivision, niche separation, and reproductive isolation between distinct lineages. Partial specialization to rice subgroups and differences in putative virulence effectors contributed to population subdivision.
Review
Microbiology
Jeanne Ropars, Tatiana Giraud
Summary: This article reviews the phenomenon of phenotypic convergence during the domestication of fungi, focusing on several fungi involved in cheese making and dry-cured meat making. Adaptation to similar ecological niches led to convergence in aspects such as colony aspect, metabolism, and competitive ability.
CURRENT OPINION IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sajid Ali, Pierre Gladieux, Sebastien Ravel, Henri Adreit, Isabelle Meusnier, Joelle Milazzo, Sandrine Cros-Arteil, Francois Bonnot, Baihui Jin, Thomas Dumartinet, Florian Charriat, Alexandre Lassagne, Xiahong He, Didier Tharreau, Huichuan Huang, Jean-Benoit Morel, Elisabeth Fournier
Summary: By investigating the genetic and phenotypic relationship between rice landraces and their rice blast pathogen in traditional flooded rice paddies, it was found that specific lineages of rice blast coexisted in the Yuanyang terraces. The study suggests that disease control strategies based on the emergence or maintenance of a generalist lifestyle in pathogens may sustainably reduce the burden of disease in crops.
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tatiana Giraud, Jeanne Ropars, Eva H. H. Stukenbrock, Katherine Ryan Amato, Ricardo Rodriguez de la Vega
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Stefan Kusch, Niloofar Vaghefi, Levente Kiss
Summary: When comparing the requirements of diverse journals to publish microbial 'Genome Reports,' we found that some focus on universal single-copy orthologs scores as a quality measure, while paying less attention to excluding possible contaminating sequences and possible misidentification of target microbes. To address these issues, we suggest extracting widely accepted DNA barcodes for identification and including them in phylogenetic analyses to confirm microorganism identity before publishing Genome Reports. Additionally, contig similarity values, such as GC content, remapping coverage of WGS reads, and BLASTN searches against the NCBI nucleotide database, can also detect contamination issues. These recommendations are demonstrated through analysis and retraction of a draft genome published in Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions due to contamination.
MOLECULAR PLANT-MICROBE INTERACTIONS
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Nina Vittorelli, Ricardo Rodriguez de la Vega, Alodie Snirc, Emilie V. Levert, Valerie Gautier, Christophe Lalanne, Elsa De Filippo, Pierre E. Gladieux, Sonia Guillou, Yu Zhang, Sravanthi Tejomurthula, Igor Grigoriev, Robert Debuchy, Philippe Silar, Tatiana Giraud, Fanny Hartmann
Summary: Recombination suppression is observed at sex-determining loci in plants and animals, as well as at self-incompatibility or mating-type loci in plants and fungi. In this study, we found that Schizothecium tetrasporum, a fungus from the Sordariales order, also produces mostly self-fertile dikaryotic spores carrying the two opposite mating types due to recombination suppression around the mating-type locus. Our findings indicate a convergent evolution of self-fertile dikaryotic sexual spores across multiple ascomycete fungi and provide insights into the evolutionary causes of recombination suppression.
Article
Agronomy
Yutaka Kimura, Mark Z. Nemeth, Kana Numano, Asami Mitao, Tomomi Shirakawa, Diana Seress, Yoshihiro Takikawa, Koji Kakutani, Yoshinori Matsuda, Levente Kiss, Teruo Nonomura
Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness of hyperparasitic fungi in controlling powdery mildew. In a greenhouse, we spray-inoculated colonies of the melon PM-causing fungus with spores of the hyperparasitic fungus Ampelomyces sp. We collected and counted the conidia produced by the PM colonies and found that the hyperparasitic fungus suppressed the release of conidia. This study is the first to use electrostatic and digital microscopic techniques to assess the impact of fungal hyperparasitism on mycohost survival and quantitatively evaluate the suppression of conidial release from infected PM colonies.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Ewen Crequer, Jeanne Ropars, Jean-Luc Jany, Thibault Caron, Monika Coton, Alodie Snirc, Jean-Philippe Vernadet, Antoine Branca, Tatiana Giraud, Emmanuel Coton
Summary: This study identified a new population of Penicillium roqueforti specifically found in French Termignon cheeses, which provides a novel source of genetic diversity for cheese making. Additionally, two non-cheese populations that adapt to different ecological niches have not been investigated yet. The results suggest that domestication and adaptation to anthropized environments have occurred in cheese fungi.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Lucas Bonometti, Fabien De Bellis, Sandrine Cros-Arteil, Elise Gueret, Pierre Gladieux
Summary: This article presents the draft genome sequences of four isolates of N. crassa clade B, providing a valuable resource for investigating the population biology and evolutionary history of N. crassa sensu lato.
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2023)