Whole Genome Sequence of Alternaria alternata, the Causal Agent of Black Spot of Kiwifruit

Alternaria alternata is a pathogen in a wide range of agriculture crops and causes significant economic losses. A strain of A. alternata (Y784-BC03) was isolated and identified from Hongyang kiwifruit and demonstrated to cause black spot infections on fruits. The genome sequence of Y784-BC03 was obtained using Nanopore MinION technology. The assembled genome is composed of 33,869,130bp (32.30Mb) comprising 10 chromosomes and 11,954 genes. A total of 2,180 virulence factors were predicted to be present in the obtained genome sequence. The virulence factors comprised genes encoding secondary metabolites, including non-host-specific toxins, cell wall-degrading enzymes, and major transcriptional regulators. The predicted gene clusters encoding genes for the biosynthesis and export of secondary metabolites in the genome of Y784-BC03 were associated with non-host-specific toxins, including cercosporin, dothistromin, and versicolorin B. Major transcriptional regulators of different mycotoxin biosynthesis pathways were identified, including the transcriptional regulators, polyketide synthase, P450 monooxygenase, and major facilitator superfamily transporters.

Automated summary

The strain of Alternaria alternata (Y784-BC03) isolated from Hongyang kiwifruit has been shown to cause black spot infections on fruits. Its genome sequence revealed the presence of 2,180 virulence factors, including genes for non-host-specific toxins, cell wall-degrading enzymes, and major transcriptional regulators. Gene clusters encoding genes for the biosynthesis and export of secondary metabolites in Y784-BC03's genome were associated with non-host-specific toxins such as cercosporin, dothistromin, and versicolorin B.