Gert H. J. Kema

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated transformation enables functional characterization of the effector Avr4 in the banana pathogen Pseudocercospora fijiensis

This paper develops a CRISPR/Cas9 system for Pseudocercospora fijiensis to functionally characterize the effector Avr4, finding it does not explain resistance in Calcutta 4.

Development of a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated transformation procedure for the wheat pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici

The paper develops a CRISPR/Cas9 method for editing Zymoseptoria tritici and shows that Mycgr3107904 contributes to disease progression.

Extensive intrachromosomal duplications in a virulence-associated fungal accessory chromosome

The paper identifies extensive intrachromosomal duplications in the accessory chromosome of TR4, showing its role in virulence and chromosome dynamics in F. oxysporum.

Transposon activity eliminates a crucial fungal secondary metabolite cluster while preserving pathogenicity

The paper shows that transposon activity in TR4 fungi deletes a secondary metabolite cluster, reducing fusaric acid production without affecting pathogenicity.

Reference-free identification and pangenome analysis of accessory chromosomes in a major fungal plant pathogen

The paper constructs a pangenome variation graph for Fusarium oxysporum to study accessory chromosomes, identifying their variability and evolutionary dynamics.

Improved gene annotation of the fungal wheat pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici based on combined Iso-Seq and RNA-Seq evidence

The paper improves gene annotation of Zymoseptoria tritici by combining Iso-Seq and RNA-Seq data, resulting in more accurate gene models and new insights into its transcriptional landscape.

Frequent genetic exchanges revealed by a pan-mitogenome graph of a fungal plant pathogen

This paper constructs a pan-mitogenome graph of nearly 500 Fusarium oxysporum mitogenomes to reveal frequent recombination and genetic variation, challenging the assumption of clonal reproduction.

Quantitative pathogenicity and host adaptation in a fungal plant pathogen revealed by whole-genome sequencing

This study uses whole-genome sequencing to identify genetic factors underlying quantitative pathogenicity and host adaptation in the fungal plant pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici.

Segmental Duplications Drive the Evolution of Accessory Regions in a Major Crop Pathogen

This study shows that segmental duplications drive the evolution of accessory regions in Fusarium oxysporum, contributing to virulence evolution in banana pathogens.

A thousand-genome panel retraces the global spread and climatic adaptation of a major crop pathogen

The paper analyzes a thousand-genome panel of Zymoseptoria tritici to trace its global spread and identify genetic changes associated with climatic adaptation.

Variable Genome Evolution in Fungi After Transposon-Mediated Amplification of a Housekeeping Gene

The paper analyzes the evolution of amplified housekeeping genes in fungal genomes, showing variable outcomes due to transposon-mediated amplification and RIP effects.

Meiotic drive of female-inherited supernumerary chromosomes in a pathogenic fungus

The paper investigates meiotic segregation of supernumerary chromosomes in Zymoseptoria tritici, finding that female-inherited unpaired chromosomes show non-Mendelian inheritance and amplification during meiosis.