Whole-genome comparisons of Penicillium spp. reveals secondary metabolic gene clusters and candidate genes associated with fungal aggressiveness during apple fruit decay

Blue mold is a postharvest rot of pomaceous fruits caused by and a number of other species The genome of the highly aggressive strain R19 was re-sequenced and analyzed together with the genome of the less aggressive strain RS1. Whole genome scale similarities and differences were examined. A phylogenetic analysis of and several closely related species revealed that the two pathogens isolated from decayed apple with blue mold symptoms are not each other's closest relatives. Among a total of 10,560 and 10,672 protein coding sequences respectively, a comparative genomics analysis revealed 41 genes in R19 and 43 genes in RS1 that are unique to these two species. These genes may be associated with pome fruit-fungal interactions, subsequent decay processes, and mycotoxin accumulation. An intact patulin gene cluster consisting of 15 biosynthetic genes was identified in the patulin producing strain R19, while only a remnant, seven-gene cluster was identified in the patulin-deficient strain However, contained a large number of additional secondary metabolite gene clusters, indicating that this species has the potential capacity to produce an array of known as well as not-yet-identified products of possible toxicological or biotechnological interest.