New Zealand scientists are part of an international research group which has gained U.S. Department of Energy funding to sequence the genome of Dothistroma, the fungus that causes red band pine needle disease.

Bio-Protection Research Centre scientist Dr Rosie Bradshaw from Massey University is part of the team which also includes researchers from North America and Europe. She says sequencing the Dothistroma genome will provide researchers with an increased understanding of the disease.

"Red band disease is an economically important disease of pine species in New Zealand and around the world. It causes damage ranging from reduced growth due to needle loss, through to tree death. Having access to the sequence of Dothistroma will allow us to identify the key genetic factors involved in red band disease and eventually lead to improved disease management."

Red band pine needle disease is not new, but it is becoming more of a problem, especially in the Northern Hemisphere, where increased incidence has been correlated with climate change. This increased threat to North American forests led to the approval of the sequencing project, as pine species are considered an important potential source of biofuel.

Dr Bradshaw leads a Dothistroma research programme at Massey University. Her inclusion in the international group means a New Zealand Dothistroma strain will be sequenced. Subsequently, comparative studies between Dothistroma and other related pathogenic fungi being sequenced by the group will be possible, providing a powerful approach to identify genes involved in plant disease.

The Dothistroma sequencing project is being funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute which supports genome projects related to clean energy generation. The sequence data will become public as soon as it is available, highlighting the enormous contribution the U.S. makes to global science.