Genomic tillage and the harvest of fungal phytopathogens

Genome sequencing has been carried out on a small selection of major fungal ascomycete pathogens. These studies show that simple models whereby pathogens evolved from phylogenetically related saprobes by the acquisition or modification of a small number of key genes cannot be sustained.The genomes s...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Oliver, Richard
Format: Journal Article
Published: Blackwell Science Limited 2012
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/44084
_version_ 1848756896209567744
author Oliver, Richard
author_facet Oliver, Richard
author_sort Oliver, Richard
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Genome sequencing has been carried out on a small selection of major fungal ascomycete pathogens. These studies show that simple models whereby pathogens evolved from phylogenetically related saprobes by the acquisition or modification of a small number of key genes cannot be sustained.The genomes show that pathogens cannot be divided into three clearly delineated classes (biotrophs, hemibiotrophs and necrotrophs) but rather into a complex matrix of categories each with subtly different properties. It is clear that the evolution of pathogenicity is ancient, rapid and ongoing. Fungal pathogens have undergone substantial genomic rearrangements that can be appropriately described as ‘genomic tillage’. Genomic tillage underpins the evolution and expression of large families of genes – known as effectors – that manipulate and exploit metabolic and defence processes of plants so as to allow the proliferation of pathogens.
first_indexed 2025-11-14T09:19:29Z
format Journal Article
id curtin-20.500.11937-44084
institution Curtin University Malaysia
institution_category Local University
last_indexed 2025-11-14T09:19:29Z
publishDate 2012
publisher Blackwell Science Limited
recordtype eprints
repository_type Digital Repository
spelling curtin-20.500.11937-440842017-09-13T14:02:53Z Genomic tillage and the harvest of fungal phytopathogens Oliver, Richard Genome sequencing has been carried out on a small selection of major fungal ascomycete pathogens. These studies show that simple models whereby pathogens evolved from phylogenetically related saprobes by the acquisition or modification of a small number of key genes cannot be sustained.The genomes show that pathogens cannot be divided into three clearly delineated classes (biotrophs, hemibiotrophs and necrotrophs) but rather into a complex matrix of categories each with subtly different properties. It is clear that the evolution of pathogenicity is ancient, rapid and ongoing. Fungal pathogens have undergone substantial genomic rearrangements that can be appropriately described as ‘genomic tillage’. Genomic tillage underpins the evolution and expression of large families of genes – known as effectors – that manipulate and exploit metabolic and defence processes of plants so as to allow the proliferation of pathogens. 2012 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/44084 10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04330.x Blackwell Science Limited unknown
spellingShingle Oliver, Richard
Genomic tillage and the harvest of fungal phytopathogens
title Genomic tillage and the harvest of fungal phytopathogens
title_full Genomic tillage and the harvest of fungal phytopathogens
title_fullStr Genomic tillage and the harvest of fungal phytopathogens
title_full_unstemmed Genomic tillage and the harvest of fungal phytopathogens
title_short Genomic tillage and the harvest of fungal phytopathogens
title_sort genomic tillage and the harvest of fungal phytopathogens
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/44084