Decoding the genome of the pearl millet pathogen Sclerospora graminicola unveils the molecular strategies underlying its pathogenesis and evolution

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Abstract

Downy mildew disease, induced by the pathogenic oomycete Sclerospora graminicola, constitutes a significant global risk to pearl millet production. To understand the molecular basis of pathogenicity, we carried out sequencing and assembly of the genome of S. graminicola pathotype 1 (SG-P1) using Illumina and PacBio platforms. Comparative genomics with 21 oomycete species revealed that SG-P1 shares the closest evolutionary affinity with Phytophthora sojae. The 65,404 predicted protein-coding genes, including a substantial number of reverse transcriptase and RxLR effector proteins, demonstrate similarities to other oomycete pathogens. Additionally, the genome harbors 5,375 non-coding RNAs. Genomic analysis identified Phytophthora ramorum as the oomycete with the highest sequence similarity to SG-P1, while P. colocasiae showed the highest overall genome-wide sequence match. This comprehensive genomic resource will facilitate the development of molecular markers to track SG-P1 populations and inform the deployment of durable resistance genes in pearl millet by targeting key pathogenicity effectors.

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  1. Based on my assessment, I am sorry to inform you that your manuscript is not suitable for publication in Access Microbiology. The manuscript is very similar to the one published in 2017 and do not provide a new line of investigation. The manuscript reproduces data from the 2017 paper and thus prevented a proper assessment of the research done.