Deciphering the adaptive evolutionary patterns associated with biogeogrpahic diversity in the finger millet blast pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae: Development of a reference genome sequence of a fungal isolate from East Africa.
The fungus Magnaporthe oryzae causes blast disease of finger millet wherever the crop is mainly grown. In the east African region, finger millet serves as an important staple for millions of people. The aim of this research is to develop a reference genome of the finger millet blast fungus to investigate the adaptive evolutionary patterns associated with the biogeographic diversity of the pathogen populations in East Africa. For this purpose, we have selected Magnaporrthe oryzae isolate K23/123 for which multiple characteristics such as the AFLP-haplotype, mating type, sexual reproductive behaviour and pathogenicity have been established. The overall goal of the research is to develop new knowledge and resources that will contribute to the identification, development, and deployment of finger millet varieties with improved resistance to the blast disease. Less...