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1. Complete mitochondrial genome of the introduced Indian walking stick Carausius morosus (Lonchodidae, Insecta) from California

   https://doi.org/10.1128/mra.00321-24  

   Clarke, Aiden; Trujillo, Alice; Mandujano, Andres; Fernandez, Angelica G; Chambers, Aniyah; Ruiz_Nunez, Areli; Contreras, Audri; Cuevas, Benny; Collins, Caitlin; Trujillo, Christian B; et al (July 2024, Microbiology Resource Announcements)

   Dunning_Hotopp, Julie C (Ed.)

   ABSTRACT We present the complete mitochondrial genome ofCarausius morosusfrom Salinas, CA. The mitochondrial genome ofC. morosusis circular, AT rich (78.1%), and 16,671 bp in length. It consists of 13 protein-coding, 22 transfer RNA, and 2 ribosomal RNA genes and is identical in gene content toCarausiussp. 

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2. Potato virus X : A global potato‐infecting virus and type member of the Potexvirus genus

   https://doi.org/10.1111/mpp.13163  

   Verchot, Jeanmarie (November 2021, Molecular Plant Pathology)

   Abstract TaxonomyPotato virus Xis the type‐member of the plant‐infectingPotexvirusgenus in the familyAlphaflexiviridae. Physical propertiesPotato virus X (PVX) virions are flexuous filaments 460–480 nm in length. Virions are 13 nm in diameter and have a helical pitch of 3.4 nm. The genome is approximately 6.4 kb with a 5′ cap and 3′ poly(A) terminus. PVX contains five open reading frames, four of which are essential for cell‐to‐cell and systemic movement. One protein encodes the viral replicase. Cellular inclusions, known as X‐bodies, occur near the nucleus of virus‐infected cells. HostsThe primary host is potato, but it infects a wide range of dicots. Diagnostic hosts includeDatura stramoniumandNicotiana tabacum. PVX is transmitted in nature by mechanical contact. Useful websitehttps://talk.ictvonline.org/ictv‐reports/ictv_online_report/positive‐sense‐rna‐viruses/w/alphaflexiviridae/1330/genus‐potexvirus 

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3. Genetic and molecular landscapes of the generalist phytopathogen Botrytis cinerea

   https://doi.org/10.1111/mpp.13404  

   Singh, Ritu; Caseys, Celine; Kliebenstein, Daniel J. (December 2023, Molecular Plant Pathology)

   Abstract Botrytis cinereaPers. Fr. (teleomorph:Botryotinia fuckeliana) is a necrotrophic fungal pathogen that attacks a wide range of plants. This updated pathogen profile explores the extensive genetic diversity ofB. cinerea, highlights the progress in genome sequencing, and provides current knowledge of genetic and molecular mechanisms employed by the fungus to attack its hosts. In addition, we also discuss recent innovative strategies to combatB. cinerea. TaxonomyKingdom: Fungi, phylum: Ascomycota, subphylum: Pezizomycotina, class: Leotiomycetes, order: Helotiales, family: Sclerotiniaceae, genus:Botrytis, species:cinerea. Host rangeB. cinereainfects almost all of the plant groups (angiosperms, gymnosperms, pteridophytes, and bryophytes). To date, 1606 plant species have been identified as hosts ofB. cinerea. Genetic diversityThis polyphagous necrotroph has extensive genetic diversity at all population levels shaped by climate, geography, and plant host variation. PathogenicityGenetic architecture of virulence and host specificity is polygenic using multiple weapons to target hosts, including secretory proteins, complex signal transduction pathways, metabolites, and mobile small RNA. Disease control strategiesEfforts to controlB. cinerea, being a high‐diversity generalist pathogen, are complicated. However, integrated disease management strategies that combine cultural practices, chemical and biological controls, and the use of appropriate crop varieties will lessen yield losses. Recently, studies conducted worldwide have explored the potential of small RNA as an efficient and environmentally friendly approach for combating grey mould. However, additional research is necessary, especially on risk assessment and regulatory frameworks, to fully harness the potential of this technology. 

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4. Diverse RNA viruses discovered in multiple seagrass species

   https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0302314  

   Rede, Jordan E; Breitbart, Mya; Lundquist, Carolyn; Nagasaki, Keizo; Hewson, Ian (August 2024, PLOS ONE)

   Ghorbani, Abozar (Ed.)

   Seagrasses are marine angiosperms that form highly productive and diverse ecosystems. These ecosystems, however, are declining worldwide. Plant-associated microbes affect critical functions like nutrient uptake and pathogen resistance, which has led to an interest in the seagrass microbiome. However, despite their significant role in plant ecology, viruses have only recently garnered attention in seagrass species. In this study, we produced original data and mined publicly available transcriptomes to advance our understanding of RNA viral diversity inZostera marina,Zostera muelleri,Zostera japonica, andCymodocea nodosa. InZ.marina, we present evidence for additional Zostera marina amalgavirus 1 and 2 genotypes, and a complete genome for an alphaendornavirus previously evidenced by an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene fragment. InZ.muelleri, we present evidence for a second complete alphaendornavirus and near complete furovirus. Both are novel, and, to the best of our knowledge, this marks the first report of a furovirus infection naturally occurring outside of cereal grasses. InZ.japonica, we discovered genome fragments that belong to a novel strain of cucumber mosaic virus, a prolific pathogen that depends largely on aphid vectoring for host-to-host transmission. Lastly, inC.nodosa, we discovered two contigs that belong to a novel virus in the familyBetaflexiviridae. These findings expand our knowledge of viral diversity in seagrasses and provide insight into seagrass viral ecology. 

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5. Chromosome‐scale reference genome of Pectocarya recurvata , the species with the smallest reported genome size in Boraginaceae

   https://doi.org/10.1002/aps3.70008  

   Northing, Poppy C; Pelosi, Jessie A; Venable, D Lawrence; Dlugosch, Katrina M (May 2025, Applications in Plant Sciences)

   Abstract PremisePectocarya recurvata(Boraginaceae, subfamily Cynoglossoideae), a species native to the Sonoran Desert (North America), has served as a model system for a suite of ecological and evolutionary studies. However, no reference genomes are currently available in Cynoglossoideae. A high‐quality reference genome forP. recurvatawould be valuable for addressing questions in this system and across broader taxonomic scales. MethodsUsing PacBio HiFi sequencing, we assembled a reference genome forP. recurvataand annotated coding regions with full‐length transcripts from an Iso‐Seq library. We assessed genome completeness with BUSCO andk‐mer analysis, and estimated the genome size of six individuals using flow cytometry. ResultsThe chromosome‐scale genome assembly forP. recurvatawas 216.0 Mbp long (N50 = 12.1 Mbp). Previous observations indicatedP. recurvatais 2n = 24. Our assembly included 12 primary contigs (158.3 Mbp) containing 30,655 genes with telomeres at 23 out of 24 ends. Flow cytometry measurements from the same population included two plants with 1C = 196.9 Mbp, the smallest measured for Boraginaceae, and four with 1C = 385.8 Mbp, which is consistent with tetraploidy in this population. DiscussionTheP. recurvatagenome assembly and annotation provide a high‐quality genomic resource in a sparsely represented area of the angiosperm phylogeny. This new reference genome will facilitate answering open questions in ecophysiology, biogeography, and systematics. 

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