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Abstract

       Horizontal gene transfer (HHT) is an important process for plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs) acquired essential genes to infect plants. In this study, we sequenced the species complex of Aphelenchoides besseyi. By comparing these genomics with other nematodes, we found genome size of A. besseyi are amongst the smallest in PPNs. Phylogenomic analysis shows the A. besseyi species complex can be successfully divived into two groups according to their host plants. Synteny analyses between reference genomes indicated that three chromosomes in A. besseyi were derived from multiple fusion and fission events. In addition, the major HGT events were acquired from the last common ancestors of clade IV, and most of these HGT were acquired from bacteria. The acquisition and maintenance of HGT genes may have shaped the lifestyle of PPNs.