Phyllosticta Genome sequencing and assembly. Phyllosticta

Citrus black spot (CBS) caused by Phyllosticta citricarpa is an emerging fungal disease in Florida. The presence of P. citricarpa has caused considerable economic loss to Florida growers due to immature fruit drop and depreciation of symptomatic fruit. While the epidemiological studies of CBS have been documented, the long latency of CBS and the lack of genetic information impede the research on the pathogenesis of CBS. P. capitalensis is an ubiquitous endophyte in citrus and a close relative of P. citricarpa. Therefore, understanding the genomic differences between these two species through comparative genomic analysis provides an opportunity to unveil the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms of CBS.