Construction and Analysis of the Moniliophthora roreri Pangenome
This project focuses on Moniliophthora roreri, the fungal pathogen responsible for frosty pod rot, a disease that severely impacts cacao and related Theobroma species such as cupuaçu and macambo. Known for its wide host range, high pathogenicity, and adaptability to diverse ecological niches, M. roreri poses a major threat to cacao production in the Americas and could endanger other global production areas if it spreads further.
The main goal is to construct and analyze a graph-based pangenome using 24 publicly available M. roreri genomes to capture the species’ full genomic diversity. This approach overcomes limitations of single-reference genomes by enabling the identification of core, accessory, and unique genomic regions, and by providing a high-resolution view of structural variations.