Transcript profiling of Coniothyrium glycines isolates under light and dark conditions

An RNA-seq experiment compares expression of Coniothyrium glycines isolates under light and dark conditions to assess upregulation of a biosynthetic gene cluster encoding synthesis of a perylenequinone. Perylenequinones are a class of light-activated secondary metabolites that includes the well studied cercosporin and elsinochrome, notable virulence factors in various Ascomycetes. C. glycines is a pathogen of soybean and other legumes widely distributed in Africa. As of Feb. 2025, it is one of two fungal plant pathogens regulated as a special agent, owing to its potential to be damaging to agriculture if it were introduced.