Abstract
Endophytic fungi are increasingly recognized as pivotal contributors to plant secondary metabolism, often synthesizing bioactive compounds like those produced by their hosts. We report the first complete genome sequence for Pithoascus kurdistanensis, a novel endophyte isolated from Papaver bracteatum that produces morphinan alkaloids independently from its host plant. High-quality genomic DNA from P. kurdistanensis was subjected to a hybrid sequencing strategy using both Oxford Nanopore long-read and Illumina short-read platforms, yielding a 34.0 Mbp assembly composed of nine chromosomal contigs and four additional minor contigs. This assembly was 97.3% complete as determined by BUSCO and revealed that 6.37% of the genome consists of repetitive elements. A total of 8292 protein-coding genes, including 63 candidate genes potentially involved in isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis, have been identified. Phylogenetic analysis based on conserved single-copy orthologs positioned P. kurdistanensis within a basal lineage of the Microascaceae. Overall, these results provide foundational insight into the genetic potential of P. kurdistanensis as a novel microbial source of morphinan alkaloids, while emphasizing the need for continued functional studies to resolve the underlying biosynthetic pathways.