Characterization and Genome Analysis of Cladobotryum mycophilum, the Causal Agent of Cobweb Disease of Morchella sextelata in China

Abstract

Cobweb disease is a fungal disease that can cause serious damage to edible mushrooms worldwide. To investigate cobweb disease in <i>Morchella sextelata</i> in Guizhou Province, China, we isolated and purified the pathogen responsible for the disease. Through morphological and molecular identification and pathogenicity testing on infected <i>M</i>. <i>sextelata</i>, we identified <i>Cladobotryum mycophilum</i> as the cause of cobweb disease in this region. This is the first known occurrence of this pathogen causing cobweb disease in <i>M</i>. <i>sextelata</i> anywhere in the world. We then obtained the genome of <i>C</i>. <i>mycophilum</i> BJWN07 using the HiFi sequencing platform, resulting in a high-quality genome assembly with a size of 38.56 Mb, 10 contigs, and a GC content of 47.84%. We annotated 8428 protein-coding genes in the genome, including many secreted proteins, host interaction-related genes, and carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) related to the pathogenesis of the disease. Our findings shed new light on the pathogenesis of <i>C</i>. <i>mycophilum</i> and provide a theoretical basis for developing potential prevention and control strategies for cobweb disease.