Genomic Insights into <i>Neofusicoccum laricinum</i>: The Pathogen Behind Chinese Larch Shoot Blight
Larch shoot blight, caused by the fungus <i>Neofusicoccum laricinum</i>, threatens larch (<i>Larix</i> spp.) forests across northeastern China, jeopardizing both timber productivity and ecological stability. This study aimed to investigate the genomic diversity, population st...
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2025-05-01
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| author | Jialiang Pan Zhijun Yu Wenhao Dai Chunhe Lv Yifan Chen Hong Sun Jie Chen Junxin Gao |
| author_facet | Jialiang Pan Zhijun Yu Wenhao Dai Chunhe Lv Yifan Chen Hong Sun Jie Chen Junxin Gao |
| author_sort | Jialiang Pan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Larch shoot blight, caused by the fungus <i>Neofusicoccum laricinum</i>, threatens larch (<i>Larix</i> spp.) forests across northeastern China, jeopardizing both timber productivity and ecological stability. This study aimed to investigate the genomic diversity, population structure, and potential adaptive mechanisms of <i>N. laricinum</i> across contrasting climatic regions. To achieve this, we conducted whole-genome resequencing of 23 <i>N. laricinum</i> isolates collected from three major provinces—Heilongjiang, Inner Mongolia, and Jilin—that represent distinct climatic zones ranging from cold-temperate to relatively warmer regions. We identified ~219.1 K genetic variants, offering a detailed portrait of the pathogen’s genomic diversity. Population structure analyses, including principal component analysis and phylogenetic tree, revealed clear genetic differentiation aligning with geographic origin and climate. Functional annotation (GO and KEGG) highlighted enrichment in metabolic, stress-response, and membrane transport pathways, suggesting potential adaptation to varied temperature regimes and environmental pressures. Moreover, region-specific variants—particularly missense and stop-gain mutations—were linked to genes involved in ATP binding, oxidoreductase activity, and cell division, underscoring the fungus’s capacity for rapid adaptation. Collectively, these findings fill a critical gap in the population genetics of <i>N. laricinum</i> and lay a foundation for future disease management strategies to larch shoot blight under changing climatic conditions. |
| format | Article |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-1dbf7b0d37d946ef82b4a3f6bbcd450c2025-08-20T01:56:31ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2025-05-0111539910.3390/jof11050399Genomic Insights into <i>Neofusicoccum laricinum</i>: The Pathogen Behind Chinese Larch Shoot BlightJialiang Pan0Zhijun Yu1Wenhao Dai2Chunhe Lv3Yifan Chen4Hong Sun5Jie Chen6Junxin Gao7Center for Biological Disaster Prevention and Control, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shenyang 110034, ChinaCenter for Biological Disaster Prevention and Control, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shenyang 110034, ChinaCenter for Biological Disaster Prevention and Control, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shenyang 110034, ChinaCenter for Biological Disaster Prevention and Control, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shenyang 110034, ChinaCenter for Biological Disaster Prevention and Control, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shenyang 110034, ChinaCenter for Biological Disaster Prevention and Control, National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Shenyang 110034, ChinaKey Laboratory of Forest Disaster Warning and Control in Yunnan Province, College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, ChinaKey Laboratory of Forest Disaster Warning and Control in Yunnan Province, College of Forestry, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming 650224, ChinaLarch shoot blight, caused by the fungus <i>Neofusicoccum laricinum</i>, threatens larch (<i>Larix</i> spp.) forests across northeastern China, jeopardizing both timber productivity and ecological stability. This study aimed to investigate the genomic diversity, population structure, and potential adaptive mechanisms of <i>N. laricinum</i> across contrasting climatic regions. To achieve this, we conducted whole-genome resequencing of 23 <i>N. laricinum</i> isolates collected from three major provinces—Heilongjiang, Inner Mongolia, and Jilin—that represent distinct climatic zones ranging from cold-temperate to relatively warmer regions. We identified ~219.1 K genetic variants, offering a detailed portrait of the pathogen’s genomic diversity. Population structure analyses, including principal component analysis and phylogenetic tree, revealed clear genetic differentiation aligning with geographic origin and climate. Functional annotation (GO and KEGG) highlighted enrichment in metabolic, stress-response, and membrane transport pathways, suggesting potential adaptation to varied temperature regimes and environmental pressures. Moreover, region-specific variants—particularly missense and stop-gain mutations—were linked to genes involved in ATP binding, oxidoreductase activity, and cell division, underscoring the fungus’s capacity for rapid adaptation. Collectively, these findings fill a critical gap in the population genetics of <i>N. laricinum</i> and lay a foundation for future disease management strategies to larch shoot blight under changing climatic conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/5/399<i>Neofusicoccum laricinum</i>larch shoot blightwhole-genome sequencingadaptationgenetic variation |
| spellingShingle | Jialiang Pan Zhijun Yu Wenhao Dai Chunhe Lv Yifan Chen Hong Sun Jie Chen Junxin Gao Genomic Insights into <i>Neofusicoccum laricinum</i>: The Pathogen Behind Chinese Larch Shoot Blight Journal of Fungi <i>Neofusicoccum laricinum</i> larch shoot blight whole-genome sequencing adaptation genetic variation |
| title | Genomic Insights into <i>Neofusicoccum laricinum</i>: The Pathogen Behind Chinese Larch Shoot Blight |
| title_full | Genomic Insights into <i>Neofusicoccum laricinum</i>: The Pathogen Behind Chinese Larch Shoot Blight |
| title_fullStr | Genomic Insights into <i>Neofusicoccum laricinum</i>: The Pathogen Behind Chinese Larch Shoot Blight |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genomic Insights into <i>Neofusicoccum laricinum</i>: The Pathogen Behind Chinese Larch Shoot Blight |
| title_short | Genomic Insights into <i>Neofusicoccum laricinum</i>: The Pathogen Behind Chinese Larch Shoot Blight |
| title_sort | genomic insights into i neofusicoccum laricinum i the pathogen behind chinese larch shoot blight |
| topic | <i>Neofusicoccum laricinum</i> larch shoot blight whole-genome sequencing adaptation genetic variation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/5/399 |
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