The polygenic strategies ofBotrytis cinereafor virulence across eight eudicot host species

Abstract

AbstractDiverse qualitative and quantitative genetic architectures can successfully influence fungal virulence and host range. To model the quantitative genetic architecture of a generalist pathogen with an extensive host range, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of the virulence ofBotrytis cinereaacross eight hosts. This approach revealed 4772 candidate genes, about one-third of theBotrytisgenome, contributing to virulence with small effect sizes. The candidate genes are evenly spread across the core chromosomes with no indication of bipartite genomic architecture. The GWAS-identified polymorphisms and genes show thatB. cinerearelies on genetic variants across hundreds of genes for infecting diverse hosts, with most genes influencing relatively few hosts. When pathogen genes associated to multiple hosts, they typically influenced more unrelated than related host species. Comparative genomics further suggested that the GWAS-identified genes are largely syntenic with other specialist Botrytis species and not novel toB. cinerea. Overall,B. cinerea’s generalist behavior is derived from the sum of the genome-wide genetic variation acting within gene networks that differentially coordinate the interaction with diverse hosts.