Parasexuality contributes to diversity and adaptive evolution of haploid (monokaryotic) fungi.
However, non-sexual genetic exchange mechanisms are not defined in dikaryotic fungi
(containing two distinct haploid nuclei). Newly emerged strains of the wheat stem rust
pathogen, Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt), such as Ug99, are a major threat to global food
security. Here, we provide genomics-based evidence supporting that Ug99 arose by somatic
hybridisation and nuclear exchange between dikaryons. Fully haplotype-resolved genome …