Fungal target genes and methods to identify those genes

A method for gene identification using genome-wide deletion of genes is provided. The method may be used with any organism capable of homologous recombination, including plants, plant pathogens, microorganisms, and vertebrates. Also provided are genes isolated from Cochliobolus that code for polypeptides essential for normal fungal growth and development and/or for pathogenicity, and methods to identify polypeptides essential to the viability of an organism and/or those associated with pathogenicity. The invention also includes methods of using these polypeptides to identify fungicides. The invention can further be used in a screening assay to identify inhibitors that are potential fungicides.