Wilson, Andrea M.Godlonton, T.Van der Nest, Magrieta AlettaWilken, Pieter MarkusWingfield, Michael J.Wingfield, Brenda D.2015-06-052015-06-052015-07Wilson, AM, Godlonton, T, Van der Nest, MA, Wilken, PM, Wingfield, MJ & Wingfield, BD 2015, 'Unisexual reproduction in Huntiella moniliformis', Fungal Genetics and Biology, vol. 80, pp. 1-9.1087-1845 (print)1096-0937 (online)10.1016/j.fgb.2015.04.008http://hdl.handle.net/2263/45438Sexual reproduction in fungi is controlled by genes present at the mating type (MAT) locus, which typically harbors transcription factors that influence the expression of many sex-related genes. The MAT locus exists as two alternative idiomorphs in ascomycetous fungi and sexual reproduction is initiated when genes from both idiomorphs are expressed. Thus, the gene content of this locus determines whether a fungus is heterothallic (self-sterile) or homothallic (self-fertile). Recently, a unique sub-class of homothallism has been described in fungi, where individuals possessing a single MAT idiomorph can reproduce sexually in the absence of a partner. Using various mycological, molecular and bioinformatic techniques, we investigated the sexual strategies and characterized the MAT loci in two tree wound-infecting fungi, Huntiella moniliformis and Huntiella omanensis. H. omanensis was shown to exhibit a typically heterothallic sexual reproductive cycle, with isolates possessing either the MAT1-1 or MAT1-2 idiomorph. This was in contrast to the homothallism via unisexual reproduction that was shown in H. moniliformis, where only the MAT1-2-1 gene was present in sexually reproducing cultures. While the evolutionary benefit and mechanisms underpinning a unisexual mating strategy remain unknown, it could have evolved to minimize the costs, while retaining the benefits, of normal sexual reproduction.en©2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Notice : this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Fungal Genetics and Biology. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Fungal Genetics and Biology, vol. 80, pp. 1-9, 2015. doi : 10.1016/j.fgb.2015.04.008CeratocystisHuntiellaUnisexual reproductionMating type (MAT) locusHeterothallicPostprint Article