Genome Sequencing of Three Pathogenic Fungi Provides Insights into the Evolution and Pathogenic Mechanisms of the Cobweb Disease on Cultivated Mushrooms

Fungal diseases not only reduce the yield of edible mushrooms but also pose potential threats to the preservation and quality of harvested mushrooms. Cobweb disease, caused primarily by fungal pathogens from the Hypocreaceae family, is one of the most significant diseases affecting edible mushrooms. Deciphering the genomes of these pathogens will help unravel the molecular basis of their evolution and identify genes responsible for pathogenicity. Here, we present high-quality genome sequences of three cobweb disease fungi: <i>Hypomyces aurantius</i> Cb-Fv, <i>Cladobotryum mycophilum</i> CB-Ab, and <i>Cladobotryum protrusum</i> CB-Mi, isolated from <i>Flammulina velutipes</i>, <i>Agaricus bisporus</i>, and <i>Morchella importuna</i>, respectively. The assembled genomes of <i>H. aurantius</i>, <i>C. mycophilum</i>, and <i>C. protrusum</i> are 33.19 Mb, 39.83 Mb, and 38.10 Mb, respectively. This is the first report of the genome of <i>H. aurantius</i>. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that cobweb disease pathogens are closely related and diverged approximately 17.51 million years ago. CAZymes (mainly chitinases, glucan endo-1,3-beta-glucosidases, and secondary metabolite synthases), proteases, KP3 killer proteins, lipases, and hydrophobins were found to be conserved and strongly associated with pathogenicity, virulence, and adaptation in the three cobweb pathogens. This study provides insights into the genome structure, genome organization, and pathogenicity of these three cobweb disease fungi, which will be a valuable resource for comparative genomics studies of cobweb pathogens and will help control this disease, thereby enhancing mushroom quality.