Whole Genome Sequence of <i>Xylaria chamelensis</i> (Xylariales, Ascomycota), A New Species Associated with Fabaceae Pods

The cosmopolitan genus <i>Xylaria</i> Hill ex Schrank (Ascomycota, Sordariomycetes), is the largest within the order Xylariales. While <i>Xylaria</i> species primarily exist as saprotrophs, they can also occur as endophytes or as phytopathogens. Specimens of <i>Xylaria</i> sp. were collected from a Fabaceae pod in the tropical dry forest in the state of Jalisco, Mexico. They were isolated and axenized in PDA culture medium. The genome of the strain was sequenced using Illumina NovaSeq technology and assembled. A phylogenomic approach was used to confirm its taxonomic position within the genus <i>Xylaria</i>. The resulting genome assembly is 51.93 Mb in size, featuring an N50 of 452,556 bp and a G + C content of 42.34%. Gene prediction with AUGUSTUS identified 11,238 protein-coding genes. Based on morphological and genomic evidence, these specimens are described here as a new species, <i>Xylaria chamelensis</i> sp. nov. Phylogenomic analysis incorporating available <i>Xylaria</i> genomes revealed that this strain forms a distinct, independent lineage within the <i>Xylaria</i> phylogenetic tree. Ultimately, these genomic data provide the scientific community with a valuable resource to advance genome-based taxonomy, unravel the molecular basis of plant-fungus associations, and further explore the diverse metabolism of the genus <i>Xylaria</i> across tropical and subtropical environments.