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Ophiostoma sp. PMI_507
Colony of Ophiostoma sp. PMI_507 growing on Modified Melin-Norkrans medium (MMN). Image by Khalid Hameed.

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. In addition, comparative genome analysis with saprotrophic, mycorrhizal and pathogenic fungi will provide new insights into the specific and conserved adaptations associated with each fungal lifestyle.

Ophiostoma is a Sordariomycete in the family Ophiostomataceae, and members of this genus are wood-staining fungi often associated with insects, such as beetles. Other insects like mites could aid in spore dispersal. Ophiostoma has been found in different studies looking at endophytes on different tree species, and it is associated with its anamorph Sporothrix, which has been described as producing different secondary metabolites with antimicrobial activity.

This work is supported by the Genomic Science Program (U.S. Department of Energy) Plant Microbe Interfaces (PMI) Scientific Focus Area (http://pmi.ornl.gov) and by the Joint Genome Institute (U.S. Department of Energy) through their Community Sequencing Program (CSP 1974, 1KFG: Deep Sequencing of Ecologically-relevant Dikarya, F. Martin PI).

References

Bonito, G., Hameed, K., Ventura, R., Krishnan, J., Schadt, C.W. and Vilgalys, R., 2016. Isolating a functionally relevant guild of fungi from the root microbiome of Populus. Fungal ecology, 22, pp.35-42.

De Beer, Z. W., Duong, T. A., & Wingfield, M. J. (2016). The divorce of Sporothrix and Ophiostoma: solution to a problematic relationship. Studies in mycology, 83, 165-191.

Roets, F., De Beer, Z. W., Wingfield, M. J., Crous, P. W., & Dreyer, L. L. (2008). Ophiostoma gemellus and Sporothrix variecibatus from mites infesting Protea infructescences in South Africa. Mycologia, 100(3), 496-510.