Chromosome-level genome assemblies for the latent pine pathogen, Diplodia sapinea, reveal two rapidly evolving accessory chromosomes

Diplodia sapinea is a globally important fungal pathogen that causes severe disease in pines, leading to substantial losses in forestry. This study generates high-quality, chromosome-level genome assemblies, providing a valuable resource for understanding the genomic architecture of this pathogen. Notably, these assemblies reveal the presence of two accessory chromosomes, highlighting the genome plasticity of D. sapinea. These findings offer new insights into the genetic factors driving the evolution of this pathogen, laying the foundation for future research on its biology and pathogenicity.