Genome digest

The fungus Leptosphaeria maculans, causes stem canker in this crop, oilseed rapeIMAGE: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, BRIAN ROBERT MARSHALLCrop-threatening fungus
Species: A pathogenic fungus, Leptosphaeria maculansGenome size: 45 million base pairsInteresting fact: This fungus causes stem canker in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, and bok choy, and is a major threat to oilseed rape, which is used to produce canola oil, animal feed, and biofuel.

T. Rouxel, et al., "Effector diversification within compartments of the Leptosphaeria maculans genome affected by Repeat-Induced Point mutations,"Nature Communications 2: 202, 2011.

Attack of the killer algae
Species: A golden alga, Aureococcus anophagefferensGenome size: 56 million base pairsInteresting fact: This species, which causes brown tides that threaten fisheries and coastal marine life, has a larger genome than other photosynthetic algae, with more genes for light harvest, organic carbon and nitrogen use, and antimicrobial production, potentially allowing its takeover during blooms.

C.J. Gobler, et al., "Niche of harmful alga Aureococcus anophagefferens revealed through ecogenomics," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108: 4352-4357, 2011.

A tricki parasite Species: Trichina worm, Trichinella spiralisGenome size: 64 million base pairsInteresting fact: After ingestion by meat-eating mammals, Trichinella spiralis larvae ...