The consortium showed that a disease-causing Fusarium can transfer part of its DNA to a normally benign Fusarium, turning it into a virulent pathogen.

“Fusarium fungi are among the most destructive plant pathogens in the world and cause billions of dollars worth of losses in Australia and overseas every year,” says the leader of the CSIRO Plant Industry team involved in the research, Dr Kemal Kazan.

“By sequencing the DNA of Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium verticillioides, and comparing them with that of Fusarium graminearum, our research consortium has been able to discover the innovative ways these fungi can change themselves.”

Fusarium graminearum affects wheat and barley and Fusarium oxysporum attacks many crops including cotton, tomato and banana. Fusarium verticilloides is a major corn pathogen.

“Having a better understanding of which weapons Fusarium fungi use to attack crops will enable researchers to find new remedies to apply in agriculture,” Dr Kazan said.

Dr Kazan’s team has already started decoding the DNA of Fusarium pseudograminearum – the crown rot pathogen – which costs Australian wheat and barley farmers $79 million in lost yield annually.

CSIRO’s part in the sequencing of Fusarium oxysporum closely follows the organisation’s key role in mapping the pea aphid – one of a group of pests that also devastates crops around the world.

The consortium’s findings are published today in the leading scientific journal, Nature.