Evaluation of NGS and Comparative Genomics for the development of genomic primers for the detection of Monilinia Species of Quarantine Significance to US Agriculture

Monilinia fructicola, M. fructigena, M. polystroma and M. laxa cause brown rot of stone (e.g., peach, nectarine, cherry plum) and some pome (apple and pear) fruits. These fungi can cause twig and blossom blights, and significant fruit rot as the fruit ripen and their sugar content increases. Monilinia fructicola and M. laxa are established within the USA, but M. fructigena and M. polystroma are currently not known from the USA. Morphological similarity among these species, and their overlapping host ranges can make differentiation between native and exotic species problematic.