Increased abundance of secreted hydrolytic enzymes and secondary metabolite gene clusters define the genomes of latent plant pathogens in the Botryosphaeriaceae

Abstract Background The Botryosphaeriaceae are important plant pathogens, but also have the ability to establish asymptomatic infections that persist for extended periods in a latent state. In this study, we used comparative genome analyses shed light on genetic basis of interactions these fungi with their hosts. For purpose, characterised secreted hydrolytic enzymes, secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters and general trends genomic architecture using all available genomes, selected Dothideomycetes genomes. Results genomes were rich carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), proteases, lipases metabolic (BGCs) compared other Dothideomycete Botryosphaeria , Macrophomina Lasiodiplodia Neofusicoccum, particular, had expansions major constituents secretome, notably CAZymes involved cell wall degradation. shown moderate high GC contents most low levels repetitive DNA. not compartmentalized based repeat densities, genes slightly more abundant gene-sparse regions. Conclusion abundance BGCs Neofusicoccum similar those necrotrophic pathogens some endophytes woody plants. results provide foundation hypotheses explore mechanisms underlying host-plant interactions.