Genome sequencing and comparative genome analysis of Rhizoctonia solani AG-3

Rhizoctonia solani AG-3 is a plant pathogenic fungus that belongs to the group of multinucleate Rhizoctonia. According to its internal transcribed spacer (ITS) cluster analysis and host range, it is divided into TB, PT, and TM subgroups. AG-3 TB mainly causes tobacco target spots, AG-3 PT mainly causes potato black scurf, and AG-3 TM mainly causes tomato leaf blight. In our previous study, we found that all 36 tobacco target spot strains isolated from Yunnan (Southwest China) were classified into AG-3 TB subgroup, while only two of the six tobacco target spot strains isolated from Liaoning (Northeast China) were classified into AG-3 TB subgroup, and the remaining four strains were classified into AG-3 TM subgroup, which had a unique taxonomic status, and there was no previous report on the whole genome information of AG-3 TM subgroup. In this study, the whole genomes of R. solani AG-3 strains 3T-1 (AG-3 TM isolated from Liaoning) and MJ-102 (AG-3 TB isolated from Yunnan) isolated from tobacco target spot in Liaoning and Yunnan were sequenced by IIumina and PacBio sequencing platforms. Comparative genomic analysis was performed with the previously reported AG-3 PT strain Rhs1AP, revealing their differences in genomes and virulence factors. The results indicated that the genome size of 3T-1 was 42,103,597 bp with 11,290 coding genes and 49.74% GC content, and the genome size of MJ-102 was 41,908,281 bp with 10,592 coding genes and 48.91% GC content. Through comparative genomic analysis with the previously reported strain Rhs1AP (AG-3 PT), it was found that the GC content between the genomes was similar, but the strains 3T-1 and MJ-102 contained more repetitive sequences. Similarly, there are similarities between their virulence factors, but there are also some differences. In addition, the results of collinearity analysis showed that 3T-1 and MJ-102 had lower similarity and longer evolutionary distance with Rhs1AP, but the genetic relationship between 3T-1 and MJ-102 was closer. This study can lay a foundation for studying the molecular pathogenesis and virulence factors of R. solani AG-3, and revealing its genomic composition will also help to develop more effective disease control strategies.