Phylogenomic analysis supports the transfer of Coniothyrium glycines, a soybean pathogen and USDA Select Agent, to the genus Aristastoma.

Phylogenomic analysis reveals Coniothyrium glycines should be transferred to Aristastoma, expanding the genus to include species with sclerotia and aseptate conidia.

• Why it matters: Accurate taxonomy is crucial for understanding pathogen evolution and improving diagnostics, especially for high-consequence plant pathogens like C. glycines, a soybean disease agent.
• What they did: The study used a phylogenomic approach with draft genomes from 13 relatives and 4643 BUSCO genes, along with ITS and 28S rDNA data, to reevaluate C. glycines’ placement.
• The result: The findings support reclassifying C. glycines into Aristastoma, aiding in better systematics and enabling more effective detection and management of this soybean pathogen.