Sequencing and comparative genomics of Rhynchosporium species: Rhynchosporium agropyri 04CH-RAC-A.6.1. Genome sequence of Rhynchosporium agropyri 04CH-RAC-A.6.1

The Rhynchosporium species complex comprises five species which are pathogenic to grasses. The genomes of isolates from four of these species were sequenced. The phylogenetic intra-genus relationship as well as the relationship to other fungal species was re-analyzed. In addition, the possibility of sexual recombination despite the persistence absence of a teleomorph is tackled from the molecular side by screening for the presence of genes known to be involved in meiosis and recombination in other organisms. Finally, the question of host specialization is addressed by comparative analysis of genes coding proteins likely to be involved in adaptive evolution, such as cell wall-degrading enzymes, key enzymes of secondary biosynthesis and protein effectors.