Genome Sequence of Phytomonas françai , a Cassava ( Manihot esculenta ) Latex Parasite

Abstract

Here, we report the genome sequence of the cassava (Manihot esculenta) latex parasite Phytomonas françai. P. françai infection is linked with the yield-loss disease “chochamento de raizes” (empty roots) in the Unha variety of cassava, a disease characterized by poor root development and chlorosis of the leaves.

Trypanosomatids Are Much More than Just Trypanosomes: Clues from the Expanded Family Tree

“…However, this bias of human pathogens dominating publicly available genomes has started to change. Four genomes are currently available for the plant parasite Phytomonas [34,35], and the genomes of monoxenous Leptomonas pyrrhocoris, L. seymouri, Paratrypanosoma confusum, Lotmaria passim, Crithidia bombi, and C. expoeki have been published very recently [26,29,[36][37][38]. In addition, the genomes of Crithidia fasciculata, Herpetomonas muscarum, Blechomonas ayalai, and several endosymbiont-harboring Strigomonadinae are also available in databases (Figures 1 and 2).…”

Genomics of Trypanosomatidae: Where We Stand and What Needs to Be Done?

“…(those are Phytomonas spp. (isolates EM1 and Hart1) [ 104 ], P. serpens (isolate 9T) [ 105 ], and P. françai [ 106 ]) revealed additional peculiarities of these plant-inhabiting flagellates, such as significant genome streamlining at the expense of intergenic regions, mobile elements and narrowed gene repertoires, as well as the absence of some electron transport chain proteins. The only Herpetomonas species whose genome has been sequenced to date is H. muscarum [ 14 , 107 ].…”

Not in your usual Top 10: protists that infect plants and algae

“…The genomes of the pathogenic phloem‐specific Phytomonas strain HART1 from Guyanan coconut and the non‐symptomatic latex‐specific strain EM1 from Euphorbia were generated shortly after (Porcel et al ., ). Recently, the genome of the cassava latex‐inhabiting P. françai has been announced (Butler et al ., ), which will enable comparative genomics of Phytomonas spp. with different host and ecological lifestyles in the future.…”