Using recurrent neural networks to detect supernumerary chromosomes in fungal strains causing blast diseases.

The genomes of the fungus that causes blast diseases on diverse grass species, including major crops, have indispensable core-chromosomes and may contain supernumerary chromosomes, also known as mini-chromosomes. These mini-chromosomes are speculated to provide effector gene mobility, and may transfer between strains. To understand the biology of mini-chromosomes, it is valuable to be able to detect whether a strain possesses a mini-chromosome.

Rapid mini-chromosome divergence among fungal isolates causing wheat blast outbreaks in Bangladesh and Zambia.

The fungal pathogen, Magnaporthe oryzae Triticum pathotype, causing wheat blast disease was first identified in South America and recently spread across continents to South Asia and Africa. Here, we studied the genetic relationship among isolates found on the three continents. Magnaporthe oryzae strains closely related to a South American field isolate B71 were found to have caused the wheat blast outbreaks in South Asia and Africa.