Home • Antarctomyces sp. UNIPAMPA016 v1.0
Photo of Antarctomyces sp. UNIPAMPA016 v1.0
A mycelial culture of Antarctomyces sp. Image credit: Fabiola Lucini, Filipe de Carvalho Victoria.
Photo of Antarctomyces sp. UNIPAMPA016 v1.0
Antarctic hair grass (Deschampsia antarctica) (Photo credits: Fabiola Lucini, Filipe de Carvalho Victoria).

In the “1KFG: Deep Sequencing of Ecologically-relevant Dikarya” project (CSP1974), we aim to sequence additional sampling of genomic diversity within keystone lineages of plant-interacting fungi and saprophytic fungi that are of special ecological importance for understanding terrestrial ecosystems.

The sequencing of Antarctomyces sp. is part of a study aiming to sequence the genomes of numerous phylogenetically diverse endophytic fungi for further comparative genome analysis. Unravelling the genomic signatures reflecting the adaptation of these microbes to the host cell environment represent a promising way to better understand how the endophytic lifestyle evolved in phylogenetically unrelated fungal species. Comparative genome analysis between different plant hosts, and between saprotrophic, mycorrhizal, and pathogenic fungi will provide new insights into the specific adaptations but also the conserved signatures associated with these different lifestyles.

Antarctomyces sp., a fungus from Antarctica
The genus Antarctomyces (Ascomycota, Thelebolales) has only two species reported to be endemic and/or highly adapted to environments of Antarctica, Antarctomyces psychrotrophicus and Antarctomyces pellizariae. This genus is considered psychrophilic and has been isolated from Antarctic soil and snow. Antarctomyces psychrotrophicus has been recovered from different substrates as a symbiotic endophyte of the Antarctic grass Deschampsia antarctica, in association with macroalgae and mosses. The isolate UNIPAMPA016 of Antarctomyces sp. has been isolated from healthy leaves of the Antarctic hair grass, one of two flowering plants native to Antarctica and the southernmost flowering plant.

Researchers who wish to publish analyses using data from unpublished CSP genomes are respectfully required to contact the PI (Dr. Francis Martin) and JGI to avoid potential conflicts on data use and coordinate other publications with the CSP master paper(s).