Coniochaeta
Fungi in the genus Coniochaeta (Coniochaetales,
Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota) grow as saprotrophs, leaf and root
endophytes, and plant pathogens. Some Coniochaeta species,
such as C. ligniaria, are capable of lignocellulosic
detoxification with potential in the conversion of biomass into
fuels and chemicals. In addition, when introduced to living plants
they increase plant growth and reduce phytotoxicity. These fungi
are also important in drug discovery. For example, the potent
antibiotic coniosetin, which exhibits strong antibacterial and
antifungal activity, was discovered in Coniochaeta
ellipsoidea.
Asexual phases of the genus Coniochaeta were previously
classified as Lecythophora, many whose sexual stage
remains elusive. Many Coniochaeta species are still only
known only from environmental samples (roots, leaves and
soil). The isolate (PMI 546) whose genome was sequenced here
is an environmental isolate cultured from healthy roots of
Populus deltoides (eastern cottonwood) growing in
a natural riparian forest along the Yadkin River, NC, USA.
Phylogenetic analyses suggest that there are many undescribed
fungal species within Coniochaeta, including PMI 546.
Current studies in genomics of fungal root endophyte species such
as Coniochaeta include (1) mechanisms by which endophytic
fungi are able to establish plant symbiosis, and (2) function of
these fungi in plant roots and biogeochemical cycling
(http://pmi.ornl.gov/).
