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Michael J. Wingfield - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • genomic overview of closely related fungi with different Protea host ranges
    Fungal Biology, 2018
    Co-Authors: Janneke Aylward, Brenda D. Wingfield, Michael J. Wingfield, Francois Roets, L L Dreyer, Emma Theodora Steenkamp
    Abstract:

    Abstract Genome comparisons of species with distinctive ecological traits can elucidate genetic divergence that influenced their differentiation. The interaction of a microorganism with its biotic environment is largely regulated by secreted compounds, and these can be predicted from genome sequences. In this study, we considered Knoxdaviesia capensis and Knoxdaviesia Proteae, two closely related saprotrophic fungi found exclusively in Protea plants. We investigated their genome structure to compare their potential inter-specific interactions based on gene content. Their genomes displayed macrosynteny and were approximately 10 % repetitive. Both species had fewer secreted proteins than pathogens and other saprotrophs, reflecting their specialized habitat. The bulk of the predicted species-specific and secreted proteins coded for carbohydrate metabolism, with a slightly higher number of unique carbohydrate-degrading proteins in the broad host-range K. capensis. These fungi have few secondary metabolite gene clusters, suggesting minimal competition with other microbes and symbiosis with antibiotic-producing bacteria common in this niche. Secreted proteins associated with detoxification and iron sequestration likely enable these Knoxdaviesia species to tolerate antifungal compounds and compete for resources, facilitating their unusual dominance. This study confirms the genetic cohesion between Protea-associated Knoxdaviesia species and reveals aspects of their ecology that have likely evolved in response to their specialist niche.

  • contrasting carbon metabolism in saprotrophic and pathogenic microascalean fungi from Protea trees
    Fungal Ecology, 2017
    Co-Authors: Janneke Aylward, Brenda D. Wingfield, Michael J. Wingfield, Francois Roets, L L Dreyer, Emma Theodora Steenkamp
    Abstract:

    Abstract Protea-associated Knoxdaviesia species grow on decaying inflorescences, yet are closely related to plant pathogens such as Ceratocystis albifundus. C. albifundus also infects Protea, but occupies a distinct niche. We investigated substrate utilization in two Knoxdaviesia saprotrophs, a generalist and a specialist, and the pathogen C. albifundus by integrating phenome and whole-genome data. On shared substrates, the generalist grew slightly better than its specialist counterpart, alluding to how it has maintained its Protea host range. C. albifundus grew on few substrates and had limited cell wall-degrading enzymes. It did not utilize sucrose, but may prefer soluble oligosaccharides. Nectar monosaccharides are likely important carbon sources for early colonizing Knoxdaviesia species. Once the inflorescence ages, they could switch to degrading cell wall components. C. albifundus likely uses its limited cell wall-degrading arsenal to gain access to plant cells and exploit internal resources. Overall, carbon metabolism and gene content in three related fungi reflected their ecological adaptations.

  • antifungal streptomyces spp associated with the infructescences of Protea spp in south africa
    Frontiers in Microbiology, 2016
    Co-Authors: Zander R Human, Michael J. Wingfield, Wilhelm Z De Beer, Kyuho Moon, Bernard Slippers, Dongchan Oh, S N Venter
    Abstract:

    Common saprophytic fungi are seldom present in Protea infructescences, which is strange given the abundance of mainly dead plant tissue in this moist protected environment. We hypothesized that the absence of common saprophytic fungi in Protea infructescences could be due to a special symbiosis where the presence of microbes producing antifungal compounds protect the infructescence. Using a culture based survey, employing selective media and in vitro antifungal assays, we isolated antibiotic producing actinomycetes from infructescences of Protea repens and P. neriifolia from two geographically separated areas. Isolates were grouped into three different morphological groups and appeared to be common in the Protea spp. examined in this study. The three groups were supported in 16S rRNA and multi-locus gene trees and were identified as potentially novel Streptomyces spp. All of the groups had antifungal activity in vitro. Streptomyces sp. Group 1 had inhibitory activity against all tested fungi and the active compound produced by this species was identified as fungichromin. Streptomyces spp. Groups 2 and 3 had lower inhibition against all tested fungi, while Group 3 showed limited inhibition against Candida albicans and Sporothrix isolates. The active compound for Group 2 was also identified as fungichromin even though its production level was much lower than Group 1. The antifungal activity of Group 3 was linked to actiphenol. The observed antifungal activity of the isolated actinomycetes could contribute to protection of the plant material against common saprophytic fungi, as fungichromin was also detected in extracts of the infructescence. The results of this study suggest that the antifungal Streptomyces spp. could play an important role in defining the microbial population associated with Protea infructescences.

  • genome sequences of knoxdaviesia capensis and k Proteae fungi ascomycota from Protea trees in south africa
    Standards in Genomic Sciences, 2016
    Co-Authors: Janneke Aylward, Brenda D. Wingfield, Francois Roets, Emma Theodora Steenkamp, L L Dreyer, Michael J. Wingfield
    Abstract:

    Two closely related ophiostomatoid fungi, Knoxdaviesia capensis and K. Proteae, inhabit the fruiting structures of certain Protea species indigenous to southern Africa. Although K. capensis occurs in several Protea hosts, K. Proteae is confined to P. repens. In this study, the genomes of K. capensis CBS139037 and K. Proteae CBS140089 are determined. The genome of K. capensis consists of 35,537,816 bp assembled into 29 scaffolds and 7940 predicted protein-coding genes of which 6192 (77.98 %) could be functionally classified. K. Proteae has a similar genome size of 35,489,142 bp that is comprised of 133 scaffolds. A total of 8173 protein-coding genes were predicted for K. Proteae and 6093 (74.55 %) of these have functional annotations. The GC-content of both genomes is 52.8 %.

  • knoxdaviesia Proteae is not the only knoxdaviesia symbiont of Protea repens
    IMA fungus, 2015
    Co-Authors: Janneke Aylward, Michael J. Wingfield, Emma Theodora Steenkamp, L L Dreyer, Francois Roets
    Abstract:

    Two polyphyletic genera of ophiostomatoid fungi are symbionts of Proteaceae in southern Africa. One of these, Knoxdaviesia, includes two closely related species, K. Proteae and K. capensis, that have overlapping geographical distributions, but are not known to share Protea host species. Knoxdaviesia capensis appears to be a generalist that occupies numerous hosts, but has never been found in P. repens, the only known host of K. Proteae. In this study, extensive collections were made from P. repens and isolates were identified using DNA sequence comparisons. This led to the surprising discovery of K. capensis from P. repens for the first time. The fungus was encountered at a low frequency, suggesting that P. repens is not its preferred host, which may explain why it has not previously been found on this plant. The basis for the specialisation of K. Proteae and K. capensis on different Protea species remains unknown.

Francois Roets - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • genomic overview of closely related fungi with different Protea host ranges
    Fungal Biology, 2018
    Co-Authors: Janneke Aylward, Brenda D. Wingfield, Michael J. Wingfield, Francois Roets, L L Dreyer, Emma Theodora Steenkamp
    Abstract:

    Abstract Genome comparisons of species with distinctive ecological traits can elucidate genetic divergence that influenced their differentiation. The interaction of a microorganism with its biotic environment is largely regulated by secreted compounds, and these can be predicted from genome sequences. In this study, we considered Knoxdaviesia capensis and Knoxdaviesia Proteae, two closely related saprotrophic fungi found exclusively in Protea plants. We investigated their genome structure to compare their potential inter-specific interactions based on gene content. Their genomes displayed macrosynteny and were approximately 10 % repetitive. Both species had fewer secreted proteins than pathogens and other saprotrophs, reflecting their specialized habitat. The bulk of the predicted species-specific and secreted proteins coded for carbohydrate metabolism, with a slightly higher number of unique carbohydrate-degrading proteins in the broad host-range K. capensis. These fungi have few secondary metabolite gene clusters, suggesting minimal competition with other microbes and symbiosis with antibiotic-producing bacteria common in this niche. Secreted proteins associated with detoxification and iron sequestration likely enable these Knoxdaviesia species to tolerate antifungal compounds and compete for resources, facilitating their unusual dominance. This study confirms the genetic cohesion between Protea-associated Knoxdaviesia species and reveals aspects of their ecology that have likely evolved in response to their specialist niche.

  • two new sporothrix species from Protea flower heads in south african grassland and savanna
    Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek International Journal of General and Molecular Microbiology, 2018
    Co-Authors: Nombuso P Ngubane, Francois Roets, L L Dreyer, Kenneth C Oberlander
    Abstract:

    The inflorescences and infructescences of African Protea trees provide habitat for a large diversity of Sporothrix species. Here we describe two additional members, Sporothrix nsini sp. nov. and Sporothrix smangaliso sp. nov., that are associated with the infructescences of various Protea species from grasslands and savannas in the KwaZulu-Natal, North-West, Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa. Their description raises the number of described Protea-associated Sporothrix species to twelve. S. smangaliso sp. nov. is distantly related to other Protea-associated species and, in phylogenies using multiple markers (ITS, beta-tubulin and calmodulin), groups with taxa such as Sporothrix bragantina from Brazil and Sporothrix curviconia from the Ivory Coast. S. nsini sp. nov. resolved as sister to a clade containing four other Protea-associated species within the Sporothrix stenoceras complex. S. nsini sp. nov. was collected from within the same infructescences of Protea caffra that also contained the closely related S. africana and S. Protearum. This highlights the need to study and understand the factors that influence host selection and speciation of Sporothrix in this atypical niche.

  • contrasting carbon metabolism in saprotrophic and pathogenic microascalean fungi from Protea trees
    Fungal Ecology, 2017
    Co-Authors: Janneke Aylward, Brenda D. Wingfield, Michael J. Wingfield, Francois Roets, L L Dreyer, Emma Theodora Steenkamp
    Abstract:

    Abstract Protea-associated Knoxdaviesia species grow on decaying inflorescences, yet are closely related to plant pathogens such as Ceratocystis albifundus. C. albifundus also infects Protea, but occupies a distinct niche. We investigated substrate utilization in two Knoxdaviesia saprotrophs, a generalist and a specialist, and the pathogen C. albifundus by integrating phenome and whole-genome data. On shared substrates, the generalist grew slightly better than its specialist counterpart, alluding to how it has maintained its Protea host range. C. albifundus grew on few substrates and had limited cell wall-degrading enzymes. It did not utilize sucrose, but may prefer soluble oligosaccharides. Nectar monosaccharides are likely important carbon sources for early colonizing Knoxdaviesia species. Once the inflorescence ages, they could switch to degrading cell wall components. C. albifundus likely uses its limited cell wall-degrading arsenal to gain access to plant cells and exploit internal resources. Overall, carbon metabolism and gene content in three related fungi reflected their ecological adaptations.

  • genome sequences of knoxdaviesia capensis and k Proteae fungi ascomycota from Protea trees in south africa
    Standards in Genomic Sciences, 2016
    Co-Authors: Janneke Aylward, Brenda D. Wingfield, Francois Roets, Emma Theodora Steenkamp, L L Dreyer, Michael J. Wingfield
    Abstract:

    Two closely related ophiostomatoid fungi, Knoxdaviesia capensis and K. Proteae, inhabit the fruiting structures of certain Protea species indigenous to southern Africa. Although K. capensis occurs in several Protea hosts, K. Proteae is confined to P. repens. In this study, the genomes of K. capensis CBS139037 and K. Proteae CBS140089 are determined. The genome of K. capensis consists of 35,537,816 bp assembled into 29 scaffolds and 7940 predicted protein-coding genes of which 6192 (77.98 %) could be functionally classified. K. Proteae has a similar genome size of 35,489,142 bp that is comprised of 133 scaffolds. A total of 8173 protein-coding genes were predicted for K. Proteae and 6093 (74.55 %) of these have functional annotations. The GC-content of both genomes is 52.8 %.

  • knoxdaviesia Proteae is not the only knoxdaviesia symbiont of Protea repens
    IMA fungus, 2015
    Co-Authors: Janneke Aylward, Michael J. Wingfield, Emma Theodora Steenkamp, L L Dreyer, Francois Roets
    Abstract:

    Two polyphyletic genera of ophiostomatoid fungi are symbionts of Proteaceae in southern Africa. One of these, Knoxdaviesia, includes two closely related species, K. Proteae and K. capensis, that have overlapping geographical distributions, but are not known to share Protea host species. Knoxdaviesia capensis appears to be a generalist that occupies numerous hosts, but has never been found in P. repens, the only known host of K. Proteae. In this study, extensive collections were made from P. repens and isolates were identified using DNA sequence comparisons. This led to the surprising discovery of K. capensis from P. repens for the first time. The fungus was encountered at a low frequency, suggesting that P. repens is not its preferred host, which may explain why it has not previously been found on this plant. The basis for the specialisation of K. Proteae and K. capensis on different Protea species remains unknown.

Léanne L. Dreyer - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • biotic and abiotic constraints that facilitate host exclusivity of gondwanamyces and ophiostoma on Protea
    Fungal Biology, 2012
    Co-Authors: Francois Roets, Michael J. Wingfield, Nicolaas Theron, Léanne L. Dreyer
    Abstract:

    Abstract Estimations of global fungal diversity are hampered by a limited understanding of the forces that dictate host exclusivity in saprobic microfungi. To consider this problem for Gondwanamyces and Ophiostoma found in the flower heads of Protea in South Africa, we determined the role of various factors thought to influence their host exclusivity. Results showed that various biotic and abiotic factors influence the growth and survival of these fungi in vitro . Monitoring temperature and relative humidity (RH) fluctuations within infructescences in vivo revealed considerable microclimatic differences between different Protea spp. Fungal growth and survival at different RH levels experienced in the field suggested that this factor does not play a major role in host exclusivity of these fungi. Maximum temperatures within infructescences and host preferences of the vectors of Gondwanamyces and Ophiostoma appear to play a substantial part in determining colonisation of Protea in general. However, these factors did not explain host exclusivity of specific fungal species towards particular Protea hosts. In contrast, differential growth of fungal species on media containing macerated tissue of Protea showed that Gondwanamyces and Ophiostoma grow best on tissue from their natural hosts. Thus, host chemistry plays a role in host exclusivity of these fungi, although some species grew vigorously on tissue of Protea spp. with which they are not naturally associated. A combination of host chemistry and temperature partially explains host exclusivity, but the relationship for these factors on the tested saprobic microfungi and their hosts is clearly complex and most likely includes combinations of various biotic and abiotic factors including those emerging from this study.

  • two new ophiostoma species from Protea caffra in zambia
    Persoonia, 2010
    Co-Authors: Francois Roets, Brenda D. Wingfield, Michael J. Wingfield, Z. Wilhelm Beer, Léanne L. Dreyer
    Abstract:

    The genus Ophiostoma (Ophiostomatales) has a global distribution and species are best known for their association with bark beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) on conifers. An unusual assemblage of these fungi is closely associated with the African endemic plant genus Protea (Proteaceae). Protea-associated Ophiostoma species are ecologically atypical as they colonise the fruiting structures of various serotinous Protea species. Seven species have been described from this niche in South Africa. It has been speculated that novel species may be present in other African countries where these host plants also occur. This view was corroborated by recent col- lections of two unknown species from Protea caffra trees in Zambia. In the present study we evaluate the species delineation of these isolates using morphological comparisons with other Protea-associated species, differential growth studies and analyses of DNA sequence data for the β-tubulin and internal transcribed spacer (ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2) regions. As a result, the species O. Protea­sedis sp. nov., and O. zambiensis sp. nov. are described here as new. This study brings the number of Protea-associated Ophiostoma species to nine and highlights the need for more inclusive surveys, including additional African countries and hosts, to elucidate species diversity in this uncharacteristic niche.

  • fungal radiation in the cape floristic region an analysis based on gondwanamyces and ophiostoma
    Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 2009
    Co-Authors: Michael J. Wingfield, Francois Roets, Pedro W. Crous, Léanne L. Dreyer
    Abstract:

    Abstract The Cape Floristic Region (CFR) displays high levels of plant diversity and endemism, and has received focused botanical systematic attention. In contrast, fungal diversity patterns and co-evolutionary processes in this region have barely been investigated. Here we reconstruct molecular phylogenies using the ITS and β-tubulin gene regions of the ophiostomatoid fungi Gondwanamyces and Ophiostoma associated with southern African Protea species. Results indicate that they evolved in close association with Protea. In contrast to Protea, Ophiostoma species migrated to the CFR from tropical and subtropical Africa, where they underwent subsequent radiation. In both Gondwanamyces and Ophiostoma vector arthropods probably facilitated long-distance migration and shorter-distance dispersal. Although ecological parameters shaped most associations between ophiostomatoid fungi and Protea, there is congruence between fungal–host-associations and the systematic classification of Protea. These results confirm that the entire biotic environment must be considered in order to understand diversity and evolution in the CFR as a whole.

  • ophiostoma gemellus and sporothrix variecibatus from mites infesting Protea infructescences in south africa
    Mycologia, 2008
    Co-Authors: Francois Roets, Michael J. Wingfield, Wilhelm Z De Beer, Pedro W. Crous, Léanne L. Dreyer
    Abstract:

    Ophiostoma (Ophiostomatales) represents a large genus of fungi mainly known from associations with bark beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) infest- ing conifers in the northern hemisphere. Few southern hemisphere native species are known, and the five species that consistently occur in the infructescences of Protea spp. in South Africa are ecologically unusual. Little is known about the vectors of Ophiostoma spp. from Protea infructescences, however recent studies have considered the possible role of insects and mites in the distribution of these exceptional fungi. In this study we describe a new species of Ophiostoma and a new Sporothrix spp. with affinities to Ophiostoma, both initially isolated from mites associated with Protea spp. They are described as Ophiostoma gemellus sp. nov. and Sporothrix variecibatus sp. nov. based on their morphology and comparisons of DNA sequence data of the 28S ribosomal, b-tubulin and internal transcribed spacer (ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2) regions. DNA sequences of S. variecibatus were identical to those of a Sporothrix isolate obtained from Eucalyptus leaf litter in the same area in which S. variecibatus occurs in Protea infructescences. Results of this study add evidence to the view that mites are the vectors of Ophiostoma spp. that colonize Protea infructescences. They also show that DNA sequence comparisons are likely to reveal

  • Ophiostoma species from Protea infructescences: Four way interactions between plants, fungi, mites and beetles
    South African Journal of Botany, 2007
    Co-Authors: Francois Roets, Michael J. Wingfield, Léanne L. Dreyer, Pedro W. Crous
    Abstract:

    Species of Ophiostoma include some of the world's best known fungal pathogens of trees. Most members are vectored by arthropods. One of the most unusual niches in which Ophiostoma species have been found is within the infructescences of Protea species in South Africa. Recent molecular phylogenetic reconstructions on Ophiostoma s.l. suggested that the three Ophiostoma spp. specifically found in Protea infructescences, form a strongly supported monophyletic lineage within Ophiostoma s.s. In this study, new collections of Ophiostoma from Protea infructescences were subjected to molecular phylogenetic reconstructions based on large subunit, ITS and beta-tubulin sequence data. Using these techniques, at least five undescribed species of Ophiostoma have been identified from these plants. Intriguingly, our results also suggest a polyphyletic origin for the Protea-associated Ophiostoma spp. This indicates multiple invasions of this unusual niche, by these fungi. Our results also revealed the first case of an Ophiostoma sp. jumping hosts between a native Protea sp. and the non-native tree genus Eucalyptus. The second aim of this study was to identify putative vectors of the Ophiostoma spp. inhabiting Protea infructescences using both molecular and direct isolation methods. The presence of reproductive propagules of Ophiostoma spp. was confirmed on four Protea-associated mite species (Oodinychus sp., two Tarsonemus spp. and Proctolaelaps vandenbergi) at high frequencies. The Oodinychus sp. mite showed significantly higher reproductive rates when fed exclusively on Ophiostoma splendens than when it was fed on various other fungi. This suggests a mutualistic association between the Oodinychus sp. and O. splendens. Long distance dispersal of these mites was restricted to vectored dispersal via Protea-infructescence inhabiting beetles (e.g. Genuchus hottentottus). Mites collected from these beetles were found to vector spores of various Ophiostoma spp. Based on these results, our view is that these mites act as primary vectors of the Ophiostoma spp. in Protea infructescences.

L L Dreyer - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • genomic overview of closely related fungi with different Protea host ranges
    Fungal Biology, 2018
    Co-Authors: Janneke Aylward, Brenda D. Wingfield, Michael J. Wingfield, Francois Roets, L L Dreyer, Emma Theodora Steenkamp
    Abstract:

    Abstract Genome comparisons of species with distinctive ecological traits can elucidate genetic divergence that influenced their differentiation. The interaction of a microorganism with its biotic environment is largely regulated by secreted compounds, and these can be predicted from genome sequences. In this study, we considered Knoxdaviesia capensis and Knoxdaviesia Proteae, two closely related saprotrophic fungi found exclusively in Protea plants. We investigated their genome structure to compare their potential inter-specific interactions based on gene content. Their genomes displayed macrosynteny and were approximately 10 % repetitive. Both species had fewer secreted proteins than pathogens and other saprotrophs, reflecting their specialized habitat. The bulk of the predicted species-specific and secreted proteins coded for carbohydrate metabolism, with a slightly higher number of unique carbohydrate-degrading proteins in the broad host-range K. capensis. These fungi have few secondary metabolite gene clusters, suggesting minimal competition with other microbes and symbiosis with antibiotic-producing bacteria common in this niche. Secreted proteins associated with detoxification and iron sequestration likely enable these Knoxdaviesia species to tolerate antifungal compounds and compete for resources, facilitating their unusual dominance. This study confirms the genetic cohesion between Protea-associated Knoxdaviesia species and reveals aspects of their ecology that have likely evolved in response to their specialist niche.

  • two new sporothrix species from Protea flower heads in south african grassland and savanna
    Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek International Journal of General and Molecular Microbiology, 2018
    Co-Authors: Nombuso P Ngubane, Francois Roets, L L Dreyer, Kenneth C Oberlander
    Abstract:

    The inflorescences and infructescences of African Protea trees provide habitat for a large diversity of Sporothrix species. Here we describe two additional members, Sporothrix nsini sp. nov. and Sporothrix smangaliso sp. nov., that are associated with the infructescences of various Protea species from grasslands and savannas in the KwaZulu-Natal, North-West, Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa. Their description raises the number of described Protea-associated Sporothrix species to twelve. S. smangaliso sp. nov. is distantly related to other Protea-associated species and, in phylogenies using multiple markers (ITS, beta-tubulin and calmodulin), groups with taxa such as Sporothrix bragantina from Brazil and Sporothrix curviconia from the Ivory Coast. S. nsini sp. nov. resolved as sister to a clade containing four other Protea-associated species within the Sporothrix stenoceras complex. S. nsini sp. nov. was collected from within the same infructescences of Protea caffra that also contained the closely related S. africana and S. Protearum. This highlights the need to study and understand the factors that influence host selection and speciation of Sporothrix in this atypical niche.

  • contrasting carbon metabolism in saprotrophic and pathogenic microascalean fungi from Protea trees
    Fungal Ecology, 2017
    Co-Authors: Janneke Aylward, Brenda D. Wingfield, Michael J. Wingfield, Francois Roets, L L Dreyer, Emma Theodora Steenkamp
    Abstract:

    Abstract Protea-associated Knoxdaviesia species grow on decaying inflorescences, yet are closely related to plant pathogens such as Ceratocystis albifundus. C. albifundus also infects Protea, but occupies a distinct niche. We investigated substrate utilization in two Knoxdaviesia saprotrophs, a generalist and a specialist, and the pathogen C. albifundus by integrating phenome and whole-genome data. On shared substrates, the generalist grew slightly better than its specialist counterpart, alluding to how it has maintained its Protea host range. C. albifundus grew on few substrates and had limited cell wall-degrading enzymes. It did not utilize sucrose, but may prefer soluble oligosaccharides. Nectar monosaccharides are likely important carbon sources for early colonizing Knoxdaviesia species. Once the inflorescence ages, they could switch to degrading cell wall components. C. albifundus likely uses its limited cell wall-degrading arsenal to gain access to plant cells and exploit internal resources. Overall, carbon metabolism and gene content in three related fungi reflected their ecological adaptations.

  • genome sequences of knoxdaviesia capensis and k Proteae fungi ascomycota from Protea trees in south africa
    Standards in Genomic Sciences, 2016
    Co-Authors: Janneke Aylward, Brenda D. Wingfield, Francois Roets, Emma Theodora Steenkamp, L L Dreyer, Michael J. Wingfield
    Abstract:

    Two closely related ophiostomatoid fungi, Knoxdaviesia capensis and K. Proteae, inhabit the fruiting structures of certain Protea species indigenous to southern Africa. Although K. capensis occurs in several Protea hosts, K. Proteae is confined to P. repens. In this study, the genomes of K. capensis CBS139037 and K. Proteae CBS140089 are determined. The genome of K. capensis consists of 35,537,816 bp assembled into 29 scaffolds and 7940 predicted protein-coding genes of which 6192 (77.98 %) could be functionally classified. K. Proteae has a similar genome size of 35,489,142 bp that is comprised of 133 scaffolds. A total of 8173 protein-coding genes were predicted for K. Proteae and 6093 (74.55 %) of these have functional annotations. The GC-content of both genomes is 52.8 %.

  • knoxdaviesia Proteae is not the only knoxdaviesia symbiont of Protea repens
    IMA fungus, 2015
    Co-Authors: Janneke Aylward, Michael J. Wingfield, Emma Theodora Steenkamp, L L Dreyer, Francois Roets
    Abstract:

    Two polyphyletic genera of ophiostomatoid fungi are symbionts of Proteaceae in southern Africa. One of these, Knoxdaviesia, includes two closely related species, K. Proteae and K. capensis, that have overlapping geographical distributions, but are not known to share Protea host species. Knoxdaviesia capensis appears to be a generalist that occupies numerous hosts, but has never been found in P. repens, the only known host of K. Proteae. In this study, extensive collections were made from P. repens and isolates were identified using DNA sequence comparisons. This led to the surprising discovery of K. capensis from P. repens for the first time. The fungus was encountered at a low frequency, suggesting that P. repens is not its preferred host, which may explain why it has not previously been found on this plant. The basis for the specialisation of K. Proteae and K. capensis on different Protea species remains unknown.

Checkout Travel - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

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