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POSTERS: Population Biology Genetics II

P-564 - Pangenome analysis of Fusarium pseudograminearum causing Fusarium crown rot of wheat

Tuesday, August 5, 2025
10:15 AM - 11:00 AM HST
Location: Exhibit Hall 3

    Presenting Author(s)

  • AE

    Andres S. Espindola

    Assistant Professor
    Oklahoma State University
    Stillwater, OK, USA

    • Author(s)

  • MP

    Mharlhon Peña

    Oklahoma State University
    Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States

    • Author(s)

  • SM

    Stephen Marek

    Oklahoma State University
    Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States

  • MA

    Meriem Aoun

    Oklahoma State University
    Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States

Abstract Text: Fusarium pseudograminearum (Fp.), part of the Fusarium sambucinum species complex, can infect all major winter cereals including wheat (Triticum aestivum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare). Current research has identified Fp as a dryland plant pathogen, causing crown and root rots, with significant disease incidence in arid and semi-arid regions. Currently, there are no known wheat varieties resistant to Fp, thus it is critical to understand the genetic structure of Fp to help manage this disease. According to the National Drought Monitor, Oklahoma experienced extreme drought in 2022 and 2023, resulting in severe infections of wheat by Fp. This study investigates the pangenome of Fp from diseased wheat samples submitted by Oklahoma wheat producers to the Plant Disease and Insect Diagnostic Laboratory at Oklahoma State University in 2022 and 2023. Isolates confirmed as Fp using TEF1a barcodes, were sent for whole genome sequencing utilizing Illumina high throughput sequencing. All sequence reads were assembled using the Fp CS3096 reference genome in NCBI. Assembled genomes will be annotated utilizing the Funannotate pipeline. Finally, all annotated genomes will be processed by Orthofinder to identify orthologous clusters from genome sequences. By integrating Fp samples from Oklahoma with all publicly available genomes, we hope to uncover core and accessory genes essential for Fp adaptability to different environments and integrate newly assembled genomes into public databases.