Comparative genomics reveals evolution traits, mating strategies and pathogenicity-related genes variation of Botryosphaeriaceae

Botryosphaeriaceae, as a major family of the largest class of kingdom fungi Dothideomycetes, encompasses phytopathogens, saprobes, and endophytes. Many members of this family are opportunistic phytopathogens with a wide host range and worldwide geographical distribution, and can infect many economically important plants, including food crops and bio-material plants. To date, however, little is known about the family evolutionary characterization, mating strategies, and pathogenicity-related genes variation from a comparative genome perspective. Here, we conducted the first large-scale whole-genome comparison of 271 Dothideomycetes, including 19 species in Botryosphaeriaceae. The comparative genome analysis provided a clear classification of Botryosphaeriaceae in Dothideomycetes and indicated that Botryosphaeriaceae pathogenicity evolution undergoes multiple times. Mating strategies analysis demonstrated at least 3 transitions were found within Botryosphaeriaceae from heterothallism to homothallism. Additionally, pathogenicity-related genes contents in different species within Botryosphaeriaceae varied greatly, indicating that a secondary lineage expansion occurs in speciation. These findings cast new insights into evolution traits, mating strategies and pathogenicity-related genes variation of Botryosphaeriaceae.