Abstract Detail

Genomics / Proteomics

Hammett, Craig [1], Shamoun, Simon Francis [2], Hamelin, Richard C. [1].

Genomic perspective of variation in Phytophthora ramorum virulence.

Phytophthora ramorum, the causative agent of sudden oak death in North America, is an invasive species that is responsible for killing oak trees in California and Oregon and causes Ramorum blight in over 100 species of plants. There are four clonal lineages that have been identified thus far: NA1, NA2, EU1, and EU2. The NA1 lineage has the largest geographic distribution and was the first lineage discovered in North America and has been extensively studied. The discovery of NA1 isolates with phenotypes that include irregular colony edges, low sporulation, and decreased pathogenicity in planta, known as 'non wild-type', has provided targets for comparisons between phenotypes and genotypes. A collection of 23 NA1 isolates, as well as three isolates from each of the other three lineages were characterized for growth rate, mycelial density, low sporulation, and lesion size on detached leaves of rhododendron leaves (Rhododendron caucasicum × ponticum ‘Cunningham’s white’), camelia (Camellia japonica 'Pink Diddy'), and arbutus (Arbutus menziesii). The data were used to characterize the variation in the NA1 lineage non wild-type isolates. Eight NA1 isolates, four wild-type and four non wild-type, were chosen for genome sequencing and transcriptome analysis using next-generation sequencing. Genomes were aligned to the reference sequence and will be used to identify mutations in pathogenicity-associated genes and polymorphisms correlated with the phenotype data. The expression profiles were compared between wild-types and non wild-types to discover genes associated with virulence in the phenotypes in vitro and in planta.

1 - University of British Columbia, Forest Sciences and Conservation, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
2 - Canadian Forest Service, Pacific Forestry Centre , Natural Resources Canada, 506 West Burnside Road, Victoria, BC, V8Z 1M5, Canada

Keywords:
Sudden Oak Death
Phytophthora ramorum
genomics
NA1 lineage
Phenotype
Wild and non-wild isolates
virulence.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Topics
Session: P
Location: Hall D/The Shaw Conference Centre
Date: Monday, July 27th, 2015
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PGP003
Abstract ID:313
Candidate for Awards:Genetics Section Poster Award,CPS Best Student Presentation Awards