Unique patterns of mating pheromone presence and absence could result in the ambiguous sexual behaviors of Colletotrichum species

dc.contributor.authorWilson, Andi M.
dc.contributor.authorLelwala, Ruvini V.
dc.contributor.authorTaylor, Paul W.J.
dc.contributor.authorWingfield, Michael J.
dc.contributor.authorWingfield, Brenda D.
dc.contributor.emailandi.wilson@fabi.up.ac.zaen_US
dc.date.accessioned2022-08-16T13:21:01Z
dc.date.available2022-08-16T13:21:01Z
dc.date.issued2021
dc.description.abstractColletotrichum species are known to engage in unique sexual behaviors that differ significantly from the mating strategies of other filamentous ascomycete species. For example, most ascomycete fungi require the expression of both the MAT1-1-1 and MAT1-2-1 genes to induce sexual reproduction. In contrast, all isolates of Colletotrichum harbor only the MAT1-2-1 gene and yet, are capable of recognizing suitable mating partners and producing sexual progeny. The molecular mechanisms contributing to mating types and behaviors in Colletotrichum are, however, unknown. A comparative genomics approach analyzing 35 genomes, representing 31 Colletotrichum species and two Verticillium species, was used to elucidate a putative molecular mechanism underlying the unique sexual behaviors observed in Colletotrichum species. The existence of only the MAT1-2 idiomorph was confirmed across all species included in this study. Comparisons of the loci harboring the two mating pheromones and their cognate receptors revealed interesting patterns of gene presence and absence. The results showed that these genes have been lost multiple, independent times over the evolutionary history of this genus. These losses indicate that the pheromone pathway no longer plays an active role in mating type determination, suggesting an undiscovered mechanism by which mating partner recognition is controlled in these species. This further suggests that there has been a redirection of the underlying genetic mechanisms that regulate sexual development in Colletotrichum species. This research thus provides a foundation from which further interrogation of this topic can take place.en_US
dc.description.departmentBiochemistryen_US
dc.description.departmentForestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)en_US
dc.description.departmentGeneticsen_US
dc.description.departmentMicrobiology and Plant Pathologyen_US
dc.description.librarianam2022en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipThe South African Department of Science and Innovation’s South African Research Chair Initiative (SARChI); Botanical Resources Australia—Agricultural Services, Pty. Ltd; post-doctoral grant from the University of Pretoria, South Africa; Melbourne International Fee Remission and Melbourne International Research Scholarships from the University of Melbourne, Australia.en_US
dc.description.urihttp://www.g3journal.orgen_US
dc.identifier.citationWilson, A.M., Lelwala, R.V., Taylor, P.W. et al. 2021, 'Unique patterns of mating pheromone presence and absence could result in the ambiguous sexual behaviors of colletotrichum species', G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics, vol. 11, no. 9, pp. 1-14.en_US
dc.identifier.issn2160-1836
dc.identifier.other10.1093/g3journal/jkab187
dc.identifier.urihttps://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/86813
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherGenetics Society of Americaen_US
dc.rights© The Author(s) 2021. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs licence.en_US
dc.subjectColletotrichumen_US
dc.subjectSexual reproductionen_US
dc.subjectFilamentous fungien_US
dc.subjectMating pheromonesen_US
dc.subjectCognate receptorsen_US
dc.subjectGene lossen_US
dc.subjectAncestral state reconstructionen_US
dc.titleUnique patterns of mating pheromone presence and absence could result in the ambiguous sexual behaviors of Colletotrichum speciesen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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