A near-complete genome assembly of the Fusarium oxysporum keratitis isolate MRL8996

Fusarium oxysporum MRL8996 is a fungal strain isolated from a severe case of contact lens-associated keratitis. Here we report a near-complete genome assembly of this isolate using a hybrid Nanopore and Hi-C scaffolding approach. The assembly resolves the genome into 16 distinct chromosomes, including 11 core and 5 lineage-specific chromosomes. This high-quality reference genome provides an unprecedented tool for investigating the large-scale structural variations and evolutionary mechanisms driving adaptation in this highly versatile fungal lineage.