Mating-type genes in the *Citrus*-associated *Phyllosticta* species are highly variable in their sequence content, but the genomic locations and organization of the mating-type loci are conserved. Ancestral state reconstruction suggests that homothallism is the ancestral thallism state in *Phyllosticta*, with a shift to heterothallism in *Phyllosticta* species that are pathogenic to *Citrus*.
We analyzed a library of mutants obtained through *Agrobacterium tumefaciens* transformation system, looking for alterations in growth and reproductive structure formation. Two mutant strains were found to have lost the ability to form pycnidia. The predicted genes containing the T-DNA insertions were identified as Spindle Poison Sensitivity Scp3, Ion Transport protein, and Cullin Binding proteins. We suggest these genes as new targets for fungicide development and CBS disease control, by iRNA.
Performing comparative genomic analyses for the citrus-associated Phyllosticta species, focusing on the evolution of pathogenicity-related mechanisms mainly for P. citricarpa.
Development of new strategies for controlling P. citricarpa through functional approaches