Limited host availability disrupts the genetic correlation between virulence and transmission.

ABSTRACT: Virulence is expected to be linked to parasite fitness via transmission. However, it is not clear whether this relationship is genetically determined, nor if it differs when transmission occurs continuously during, or only at the end of, the infection period. Here, we used inbred lines of the macroparasitic spider mite Tetranychus urticae to disentangle genetic vs. nongenetic correlations among traits, while varying parasite density and opportunities for transmission. A positive genetic correlation between virulence and the number of transmitting stages produced was found under continuous transmission. However, if transmission occurred only at the end of the infection period, this genetic correlation disappeared. Instead, we observed a negative relationship between virulence and the

SUBMITTER: Godinho DP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10091498 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature