Verticillium nonalfalfae strain VnAa140/NRRL 66861 Genome sequencing and assembly

Verticillium nonalfalfae, a soilborne vascular wilt pathogen, has been used experimentally as a biological control of the invasive tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima) in the eastern U.S. for over a decade. This pathogen was first discovered in naturally infected Ailanthus stands in Pennsylvania in 2003 and has since been isolated from naturally infected Ailanthus stands in Ohio and Virginia. Previous efficacy and host-range studies as well as phylogenetic studies have helped clarify relationships among Verticillium nonalfalfae strains from numerous hosts but genome-level resolution is needed to permit widespread use and/or commercialization of this biocontrol agent.

非苜蓿轮枝菌（Verticillium nonalfalfae）是一类土传维管束萎蔫病原菌，十余年来已被实验性地用于美国东部入侵树种臭椿（Ailanthus altissima）的生物防治。该病原菌于2003年在宾夕法尼亚州的自然感染臭椿林分中首次被发现，此后陆续从俄亥俄州与弗吉尼亚州的自然感染臭椿林分中分离得到。此前针对该菌的防效、寄主范围及系统发育相关研究，已明确了来自多种寄主的非苜蓿轮枝菌菌株间的亲缘关系，但仍需开展基因组层面的解析，才能推动该生防因子的大规模应用与商业化开发。