Cross‐species analysis between the maize smut fungi <i>Ustilago maydis</i> and <i>Sporisorium reilianum</i> highlights the role of transcriptional change of effector orthologs for virulence and disease

The constitution and regulation of effector repertoires shape host–microbe interactions. Ustilago maydis Sporisorium reilianum are two closely related smut fungi, which both infect maize but cause distinct disease symptoms. Understanding how orthologs regulated in these pathogens can therefore provide insights into the evolution different infection strategies. We tracked progress U. S. leaves used stages for cross-species RNA-sequencing analyses. identified 207 335 one-to-one as differentially during host colonization, might reflect development Using CRISPR-Cas9-mediated gene conversion, we expressed with conserved function between pathogens. Thus, differential expression functionally genes contribute to species-specific adaptation symptom development. Interestingly, another orthogroup (UMAG_05318/Sr10075) showed divergent protein function, providing a possible case neofunctionalization. Collectively, demonstrated that diversification be caused by alteration on transcriptional level through functional encoded proteins.