Bipolaris maydis ATCC 48331 Genome sequencing and assembly

Maize is the most important crop grown in the United States, used not only for direct consumption, but also to feed livestock and more recently as a source for biofuels. Despite the importance of maize, its production is limited by both abiotic and biotic factors. Chronic losses elevate prices of both food and fuel. The agent of SCLB and its sisters have the potential to cause devastating diseases on cereals and as such pose a significant production constraint. Sustainable growth of bioenergy crops depends on our understanding and ability to control plant pathogens. C. heterostrophus, in the Dothideomycetes, is a member one of the largest groups of plant pathogens that affect bioenergy crops.

玉米是美国种植的最重要农作物，不仅可供直接食用，还可用于饲喂畜禽，且近年来逐渐成为生物燃料的原料来源。尽管玉米的种植价值举足轻重，但其生产仍受到非生物与生物胁迫因素的双重制约。持续的产量损失会推高粮食与燃料的市场价格。南方玉米叶斑病（Southern Corn Leaf Blight, SCLB）的病原菌及其近缘类群，可在谷类作物上引发毁灭性病害，因此对作物生产构成严重制约。生物能源作物的可持续生产，有赖于我们对植物病原菌的认知水平与防控能力。异旋孢腔菌（Cochliobolus heterostrophus, C. heterostrophus）隶属于座囊菌纲（Dothideomycetes），是危害生物能源作物的最大植物病原菌类群之一。