Home • Podospora curvicolla TEP21a v1.0
Photo of Podospora curvicolla TEP21a v1.0
Podospora curvicola culture producing perithecia. Image by Nora Dunkirk

The genome of Podospora curvicola was sequenced through JGI’s Community Sequencing Project as part of an effort to develop a tractable but ecologically realistic system integrating genomics and carbon cycling. This specimen of Podospora curvicola is a coprophilous (“dung loving”) fungus isolated from the dung of Tule Elk (Cervus canadensis nannodes) collected at Point Reyes National Seashore in Marin County, CA. Podospora curvicola belongs to the family Lasiosphaeriaceae, a diverse group of fast growing saprotrophs.

Coprophilous fungi have long been studied by mycologists due to their ease of cultivation and the strong fungal fruiting patterns exhibited throughout the coprophilous decomposition process.  Along with the genome of other coprophilous fungi sequenced through this project, the genome of Podospora curvicola will give insight into the key functional genes dictating patterns of fungal community assembly and decomposition of organic material.  Comparison with a closely related model organism, Podospora anserina, will facilitate analysis and ecological interpretation of the Podospora curvicola genome and transcriptome.