First fungal genome sequence from Africa: A preliminary analysis

• Main Authors: Brenda Wingfield, Emma Steenkamp, Quentin Santana, Martin Coetzee, Stefan Bam, Irene Barnes, Chrizelle Beukes, Wai Yin Chan, Lieschen de Vos, Gerda Fourie, Melanie Friend, Thomas Gordon, Darryl Herron, Carson Holt, Ian Korf, Marija Kvas, Simon Martin, X. Mlonyeni, Kershney Naidoo, Mmatshepho Phasha, Alisa Postma, Oleg Reva, Heidi Roos, Melissa Simpson, Stephanie Slinski, Bernard Slippers, Rene Sutherland, Nicolaas van der Merwe, Magriet van der Nest, Stephanus Venter, Pieter Wilken, Mark Yandell, Renate Zipfel, Mike Wingfield
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Academy of Science of South Africa 2012-01-01
• Series: South African Journal of Science
• Subjects: genome; Fusarium circinatum; annotation; MAT genes; fusarin; mycotoxin
• Online Access: https://www.sajs.co.za/article/view/9718

Some of the most significant breakthroughs in the biological sciences this century will emerge from the development of next generation sequencing technologies. The ease of availability of DNA sequence made possible through these new technologies has given researchers opportunities to study organisms in a manner that was not possible with Sanger sequencing. Scientists will, therefore, need to embrace genomics, as well as develop and nurture the human capacity to sequence genomes and utilise the ’tsunami‘ of data that emerge from genome sequencing. In response to these challenges, we sequenced the genome of Fusarium circinatum, a fungal pathogen of pine that causes pitch canker, a disease of great concern to the South African forestry industry. The sequencing work was conducted in South Africa, making F. circinatum the first eukaryotic organism for which the complete genome has been sequenced locally. Here we report on the process that was followed to sequence, assemble and perform a preliminary characterisation of the genome. Furthermore, details of the computer annotation and manual curation of this genome are presented. The F. circinatum genome was found to be nearly 44 million bases in size, which is similar to that of four other Fusarium genomes that have been sequenced elsewhere. The genome contains just over 15 000 open reading frames, which is less than that of the related species, Fusarium oxysporum, but more than that for Fusarium verticillioides. Amongst the various putative gene clusters identified in F. circinatum, those encoding the secondary metabolites fumosin and fusarin appeared to harbour evidence of gene translocation. It is anticipated that similar comparisons of other loci will provide insights into the genetic basis for pathogenicity of the pitch canker pathogen. Perhaps more importantly, this project has engaged a relatively large group of scientists including students in a significant genome project that is certain to provide a platform for growth in this important area of research in the future.