Biology subjects

Taylor, P. W. J.

Publications and source records attributed to Taylor, P. W. J..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Genetic characterisation and aggressiveness of the Fusarium oxysporum Species Complex in tomato plants and irrigation water from Australian processing fields

Fusarium oxysporum Species Complex (FOSC) includes important soilborne pathogens of a range of crops worldwide. In Victoria (VIC) and New South Wales (NSW), Australia, FOSC has been identified as the cause of stunting and poor growth in processing tomato fields, resulting in significant yield losses. A total of 40 FOSC isolates were obtained from symptomatic tomato plants, irrigation water samples and culture collections, which were confirmed to be FOSC by multi-gene phylogenetic analyses based on four genomic loci: beta tubulin, calmodulin, the second largest subunit of nuclear RNA polymerase II, and translation elongation factor one-alpha. There was a high level of genetic diversity among isolates, with multiple phylogenetic lineages detected. Glasshouse bioassays demonstrated that all isolates were pathogenic to processing tomato, resulting in significant reductions in plant growth, with above ground height reduced by 11 to 26% and root dry weight by 44 to 83% compared with the control (p < 0.05). Although aggressiveness varied among isolates, growth reduction occurred irrespective of their phylogenetic placement. Moreover, the shared genetic background of isolates from irrigation water and plant samples highlights the role of irrigation water as a potential source of inoculum in Fusarium epidemics, underscoring its significance for disease management in Australian processing tomato systems.

plant biology↗

bioRxiv2026

Elucidating pathogen interactions in Tanacetum cinerariifolium (pyrethrum) using fluorescently labelled Didymella tanaceti and Stagonosporopsis tanaceti

Australia is the largest producer of Pyrethrum (Tanacetum cinerariifolium) globally. Amongst the constraints on production are the fungal pathogens Didymella tanaceti and Stagonosporopsis tanaceti, which pose a significant threat to the industry, causing substantial yield losses. While the infection biology of S. tanaceti is well characterised, knowledge of D. tanaceti and its potential interaction with S. tanaceti on plants remains limited, hindering disease management. We developed fluorescently labelled strains of both pathogens via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT). Binary vectors carrying the mNeonGreen or tdTomato fluorescent protein genes were introduced into D. tanaceti and S. tanaceti, respectively, and expression of the fluorescent proteins was confirmed by microscopy. Genome sequencing revealed single-copy T-DNA insertions in all transformants, with minor genomic rearrangements at insertion sites. Detached leaf assays demonstrated that transformed strains retained pathogenicity, producing disease symptoms indistinguishable from those of the wild type. These fluorescently labelled variants enabled detailed visualisation of D. tanaceti infection biology and its interactions with S. tanaceti, including co-infection dynamics. Co-infection assays using fluorescent strains further facilitated simultaneous visualisation and differentiation of both pathogens within host tissues. Importantly, these tools also allowed the first description of the early stages of infection by D. tanaceti in pyrethrum leaves. This study represents the first successful transformation of D. tanaceti and S. tanaceti, providing valuable resources to investigate their infection processes.

pathology↗

bioRxiv2019

Comparative genome analysis indicates rapid evolution of pathogenicity genes in Colletotrichum tanaceti

Colletotrichum tanaceti is an emerging foliar fungal pathogen of pyrethrum (Tanacetum cinerariifolium), posing a threat to the global pyrethrum industry. Despite being reported consistently from field surveys in Australia, the molecular basis of pathogenicity of C. tanaceti on pyrethrum is unknown. Herein, the genome of C. tanaceti (isolate BRIP57314) was assembled de novo and annotated using transcriptomic evidence. The inferred pathogenicity gene suite of C. tanaceti comprised a large array of genes encoding secreted effectors, proteases, CAZymes and secondary metabolites. Comparative analysis of its CAZyme pathogenicity profiles with those of closely related species suggested that C. tanaceti had additional hosts to pyrethrum. The genome of C. tanaceti had a high repeat content and repetitive elements were located significantly closer to genes inferred to influence pathogenicity than other genes. These repeats are likely to have accelerated mutational and transposition rates in the genome, resulting in a rapid evolution of certain CAZyme families in this species. The C. tanaceti genome consisted of a gene-sparse, A-T rich region facilitating a "two-speed" genome. Pathogenicity genes within this region were likely to have a higher evolutionary rate than the core genome. This "two-speed" genome phenomenon in certain Colletotrichum spp. was hypothesized to have caused the clustering of species based on the pathogenicity genes, to deviate from taxonomy. With the large repertoire of pathogenicity factors that can potentially evolve rapidly in response to control measures, C. tanaceti may pose a high-risk to global pyrethrum production. Knowledge of the pathogenicity genes will facilitate future research in disease management of C. tanaceti and other Colletotrichum spp..

genomics↗