Molecular Variability of the Fusarium solani Species Complex Associated with Fusarium Wilt of Melon in Iran.

Species of the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) are responsible for the Fusarium wilt disease of melon (Cucumis melo), a major disease of this crop in Iran. According to a recent taxonomic revision of Fusarium based primarily on multilocus phylogenetic analysis, Neocosmospora, a genus distinct from Fusarium sensu stricto, has been proposed to accommodate the FSSC. This study characterized 25 representative FSSC isolates from melon collected in 2009-2011 during a field survey carried out in five provinces of Iran. Pathogenicity assays showed the isolates were pathogenic on different varieties of melon and other cucurbits, including cucumber, watermelon, zucchini, pumpkin, and bottle gourd. Based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of three genetic regions, including nrDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS), 28S nrDNA large subunit (LSU) and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1), Neocosmospora falciformis (syn. F. falciforme), N. keratoplastica (syn. F. keratoplasticum), N. pisi (syn. F. vanettenii), and Neocosmospora sp. were identified among the Iranian FSSC isolates. The N. falciformis isolates were the most numerous. This is the first report of N. pisi causing wilt and root rot disease in melon. Iranian FSSC isolates from different regions in the country shared the same multilocus haplotypes suggesting a long-distance dispersal of FSSC, probably through seeds.

Genome sequences of 38 Fusarium oxysporum strains.

OBJECTIVE: Wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis (Fom) is one of the most widespread and destructive melon diseases worldwide. Whole-genome sequencing data of a diverse set of Fom strains, as well as several non-pathogenic strains isolated from melon from different parts of the world are described here. These data shed light on the genetic diversity, population structure and the potential evolutionary trajectories which have led to the emergence of different Fom races, and will facilitate identification of avirulence genes which will be helpful to develop resistant melon cultivars. DATA DESCRIPTION: Genomic DNA was extracted from mycelium of 38 Fusarium oxysporum (Fo) strains collected from different parts of the world including Belgium, China, France, Iran, Israel, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, the Netherlands, and the United States. The genomes were sequenced to ≈ 20 × coverage using the Illumina Hiseq Xten system, resulting in paired-end reads of 151 bp and assemblies of 1675 (Fom-18L) to 4472 (Fom-R12-13) scaffolds. The genome sequences are available in the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and the Sequence Read Archive (SRA) under Project number PRJNA596396 and PRJNA596396, respectively. The presented data set can be useful to identify the genes associated with pathogenic strategies.

Transcriptome resequencing data for rock pigeon (Columba livia).

OBJECTIVE: How do birds navigate their way? It is one of the interesting question about homing pigeons, however the genetic of navigation has reminded as a puzzle. Optic lobe, olfactory bulb, hippocampus and cere were collected for RNA sampling. The generated RNA-seq represent RNA resequencing data for racing homer (homing) pigeon and other rock pigeon breeds. The obtained data set can provide new insight about hippocampus role and GSR contribution to pigeon magnetoreception. DATA DESCRIPTION: To investigate the navigation ability of rock pigeon breeds, 60 whole transcriptome sequence data sets related to homing pigeon, Shiraz tumblers, feral pigeons and Persian high flyers were obtained. RNA extraction was performed from three brain regions (optic lobe, olfactory bulb, hippocampus) and cere. Paired-end 150 bp short reads (Library size 350 bp) were sequenced by Illumina Hiseq 2000. In this way, about 342.1 Gbp and 130.3 Gb data were provided. The whole transcriptome data sets have been deposited at the NCBI SRA database (PRJNA532674). The submitted data set may play critical role to describe the mechanism of navigation ability of rock pigeon breeds.

Comparative genomics of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis strains reveals nine lineages and a new sequence type of AvrFom2.

Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis (Fom) is one of the most important pathogens of melon worldwide. In this study, we investigated the genomic diversity of Fom. One of the aims was to find clues for the origin(s) and dispersal of clonal lineages and races of Fom. We therefore included a large number of Fom strains from Iran, where melon has been cultivated for at least 5000 years. In 33 new genome sequences of Fom strains from different geographical regions of Iran and across the world, 40 new candidate effector genes were identified. Presence/absence of candidate effector genes and phylogenetic analyses resolved nine Fom lineages. The presence of a highly similar set of effector genes in some distant lineages is suggestive of horizontal chromosome transfer, a process known to occur in the Fusarium oxysporum species complex. Race 1.2, which breaks both Fom1 and Fom2 resistance genes, occurs in three of the nine lineages, two of which are predominant in Iran. We also identified a new sequence type of the AVRFom2 avirulence gene in one lineage. Expression of this sequence type during melon infection and genetic complementation suggest that this sequence type is not recognized by the Fom2 resistance protein.