Ophiostoma piceae CECT20416 imaged by Scanning Electron Microscopy [image credit: Jorge Barriuso]

The genome sequence and gene models of Ophiostoma piceae CECT20416 v2.0 were not determined by the Joint Genome Institute (JGI), but were provided by Jorge Barriuso in July 2021 from data produced by Novogene Co, Ltd. The genome was sequenced with Illumina, assembled by VelvetOptimiser (version 2.5.5), and annotated by Augustus (version 3.4.0).

In order to allow comparative analyses with other fungal genomes sequenced by the JGI, a copy of this genome is incorporated into the JGI Genome Portal. JGI tools were used to automatically annotate predicted proteins. Please note that this copy of the genome is not maintained by the JGI and is therefore not automatically updated.

Ophiostoma piceae is a wood-staining fungus and the causal agent of pine and spruce discoloration, which results in substantial economic losses in the forestry industry. This ascomycete is dimorphic, and the morphological transition from yeast to hyphal forms probably contributes to its adaptation to different environmental conditions. The morphological switch it is associated with the cell density-related mechanism known as quorum sensing.

On the other hand, this fungus is able to produce an extracellular versatile lipase (OPE) that is of great biotechnological interest, as it is also able to hydrolyze natural mixtures of triglycerides and sterol esters present in hardwood and softwood pulp and extractives. Its use for pitch and stickies biocontrol in paper production has been assayed.