The genome sequence and gene models of Armillaria cepistipes B5 were not determined by the Joint Genome Institute (JGI), but as a collaborative led by György Sipos (now at the University of Sopron). In order to allow comparative analyses with other fungal genomes sequenced by the JGI, a copy of this genome is incorporated into Mycocosm. JGI tools were used to automatically annotate predicted proteins. Please contact László Nagy for permission to use these data in publications.
Armillaria cepistipes
The genus Armillaria comprises mushroom-forming fungi in the Agaricales. Armillaria species have an unusual biology – they include devastating pathogens, have a mutation rate three orders of magnitudes lower than that of most filamentous fungi, reach immense colony sizes and produce rhizomorphs – multicellular structures that act as underground corridors for clonal dispersal. Members of the genus show diverse lifestyles, ranging from saprotrophs to devastating tree pathogens. They cause Armillaria root rot, or shoestring rot, named after the macroscopic appearance of rhizomorphs. The disease can cause significant losses in forest areas or woody plants, including forests, parks, or vineyards, among others, mostly in the temperate zone. They produce macroscopic fruiting bodies that are edible and known as honey mushrooms. In the saprotrophic phase of their life cycle, Armillaria species cause white rot to wood.
Armillaria cepistipes is considered as a saprotrophic member of the Armillaria genus exhibiting also occasional opportunistic pathogenicity towards various conifer species. A. cepistipes is widely distributed in the Northern hemisphere. Assured by an intense network of vegetative rhizomorphs in the soil, the species may have an important role as a wood decomposer in many forested environments.
Sequencing the genomes of Armillaria species will help understanding the biology of these species, in particular their pathogenic interactions with trees and will hopefully open the door for developing efficient strategies for containing their spread and damage to forest ecosystems.
Genome Reference(s)
Sipos G, Prasanna AN, Walter MC, O'Connor E, Bálint B, Krizsán K, Kiss B, Hess J, Varga T, Slot J, Riley R, Bóka B, Rigling D, Barry K, Lee J, Mihaltcheva S, LaButti K, Lipzen A, Waldron R, Moloney NM, Sperisen C, Kredics L, Vágvölgyi C, Patrignani A, Fitzpatrick D, Nagy I, Doyle S, Anderson JB, Grigoriev IV, Güldener U, Münsterkötter M, Nagy LG
Genome expansion and lineage-specific genetic innovations in the forest pathogenic fungi Armillaria.
Nat Ecol Evol. 2017 Dec;1(12):1931-1941. doi: 10.1038/s41559-017-0347-8