Genome-scale phylogeny and comparative genomics of the fungal order Sordariales
Noah Hensen, Lucas Bonometti, Ivar Westerberg, Ioana Onut Brännström, Sonia Guillou, Sandrine Cros-Aarteil, Sara Calhoun, Sajeet Haridas, Alan Kuo, Stephen J. Mondo, Jasmyn Pangilinan, Robert Riley, Kurt LaButti, Bill Andreopoulos, Anna Lipzen, Cindy Chen, Mi Yan, Chris Daum, Vivian Ng, Alicia Clum, Andrei Stecca Steindorff, Robin A. Ohm, Francis Martin, Philippe Silar, Donald O. Natvig, Christophe Lalanne, Valérie Gautier, S. Lorena Ament‐Velásquez, Åsa Kruys, Miriam I. Hutchinson, Amy Powell, Kerrie Barry, Andrew N. Miller, Igor V. Grigoriev, Robert Debuchy, Pierre Gladieux, Markus Hiltunen Thorén, Hanna Johannesson
Abstract
The order Sordariales is taxonomically diverse, and harbours many species with different lifestyles and large economic importance. Despite its importance, a robust genome-scale phylogeny, and associated comparative genomic analysis of the order is lacking. In this study, we examined whole-genome data from 99 Sordariales, including 52 newly sequenced genomes, and seven outgroup taxa. We inferred a comprehensive phylogeny that resolved several contentious relationships amongst families in the order, and cleared-up intrafamily relationships within the Podosporaceae. Extensive comparative genomics showed that genomes from the three largest families in the dataset (Chaetomiaceae, Podosporaceae and Sordariaceae) differ greatly in GC content, genome size, gene number, repeat percentage, evolutionary rate, and genome content affected by repeat-induced point mutations (RIP). All genomic traits showed phylogenetic signal, and ancestral state reconstruction revealed that the variation of the properties stems primarily from within-family evolution. Together, the results provide a thorough framework for understanding genome evolution in this important group of fungi.