Deciphering genetic mechanisms in Plasmodiophora brassicae
S. STJELJA (1), J. Fogelqvist (2), C. Dixelius (2) (1) Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences,Department of Plant Biology,P.O. Box 7080, Sweden; (2) Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Plant Biology, P.O. Box 7080, Sweden

P. brassicae is an obligate biotrophic protist in the plasmodiophorids within the eukaryote supergroup of Rhizaria and is unrelated to other known plant pathogens. Plasmodiophorids can be parasites of plants and oomycetes. Clubroot of crops in the family Brassicaceae caused by P. brassicae is the most comm known plasmodiophorid disease worldwide. The P. brassicae genome was de novo assembled into 24 Mb and the total genome size estimated to be 25.5 Mb. Mating type genes, which would indicate sex and explain genetic diversity in P. brassicae, have not been identified in the reference genome. Different pathotypes and genetic heterogeneity in soil populations and even in individual P. brassicae galls are known. Presently we are comparing P. brassicae genomes with different origins in order to identify regions of potential interest for further genetic recombination studies. Since P. brassicae has an obligate biotrophic lifestyle, functional analysis will be done in model systems.

Abstract Number: P12-402
Session Type: Poster