Botrytis cinerea strains infecting grapevine and tomato display contrasted repertoires of accessory chromosomes, transposons and small RNAs

Botrytis cinerea stands out for having a wide host range and is qualified as generalist.Nevertheless, recent studies suggest that it actually corresponds to co-existing populationsthat show a certain level of host specialization, as described for the French populations T andG1, specialized on tomato and grapevine, respectively (Mercier et al., 2019, Env. Microbiol.21, 4808–21; Mercier et al., 2021 Phytopathology, 111,2355-66).What are the molecular determinants responsible for such host-specialization? PreviousIllumina sequencing data revealed genes under positive selection encoding cellulases,pectinases and enzymes involved in the oxidative stress response suggesting that theseactivities m…