Genomic insights into the virulence repertoire and hemibiotrophic lifestyle of the grape black rot pathogen Phyllosticta ampelicida ampelicida

Phyllosticta ampelicida is the causal agent of black rot in grapevines, a disease that is widespread worldwide. This fungus infects leaves, stems, and fruits, causing circular lesions that are brown or tan with reddish margins and typically contain small black pycnidia. In this study, we assembled the genomes of 3 isolates of the species and compared their virulence factor repertoire with other phylogenetically related organisms and other grapevine pathogens.