Insights into pathogenicity mechanisms of Phytophthora meadii, , the abnormal leaf fall pathogen in rubber tree, through whole genome sequencing and analysis

Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex A.Juss.) M & uuml;ll. Arg., also known as the Para rubber tree is the main commercial source of natural rubber. Phytophthora meadii causing abnormal leaf fall (ALF) disease is the most destructive and recurrent disease of rubber trees in India, leading to significant annual economic losses. To comprehend its pathogenic mechanisms and investigate stratagems for disease control, whole-genome sequencing and analysis of P. meadii were conducted. The P. meadii genome was sequenced using the standard Illumina Novaseq 6000 Platform. The assembled P. meadii genome is approximately 53 Mb in size, consisting of 13,171 contigs with an N50 of 7105 and a BUSCO completeness of 96 %. A total of 14,646 protein-coding genes were predicted, with an average GC content of 49.96 %. P. meadii's genome contains 750 carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes), which is notably higher compared to closely related species. Five genomic regions potentially encoding enzymes for secondary metabolite production and 1877 pathogenic proteins were also identified. Our data confirm the phylogenetic positioning of P. meadii as a distinct species and indicate that it forms a closely related clade with P. citrophthora. Analyzing the P. meadii genome not only aids in understanding its genomic traits but also facilitates the identification of genes related to pathogenesis and will give a better understanding of the Hevea - Phytophthora interaction.