Virulence Evolution via Pleiotropy in Vector-Borne Plant Pathogens.

ABSTRACT: The dynamics of virulence evolution in vector-borne plant pathogens can be complex. Here, we use individual-based, quantitative-genetic simulations to investigate how virulence evolution depends on genetic trade-offs and population structure. Although quite generic, the model is inspired by the ecology of the plant-pathogenic bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, and we use it to gain insights into possible modes of virulence evolution in that group. In particular, we aim to sharpen our intuition about how virulence may evolve over short time scales via antagonistically pleiotropic alleles affecting pathogen performance within hosts and vectors. We find that even when pathogens find themselves much more often in hosts than vectors, selection in the vector environment can cause correlational

SUBMITTER: Woodruff E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11646936 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature