Developing a crop- wild-reservoir pathogen system to understand pathogen evolution and emergence.

ABSTRACT: Crop pathogens reduce yield and contribute to global malnourishment. Surveillance not only detects presence/absence but also reveals genetic diversity, which can inform our understanding of rapid adaptation and control measures. An often neglected aspect is that pathogens may also use crop wild relatives as alternative hosts. This study develops the beet (Beta vulgaris) rust (Uromyces beticola) system to explore how crop pathogens evolve to evade resistance using a wild reservoir. We test predictions that crop selection will drive virulence gene differentiation and affect rates of sex between crop- and wild-host rust populations. We sequenced, assembled, and annotated the 588 Mb beet rust genome, developed a novel leaf peel pathogen DNA extraction protocol, and analysed genet

SUBMITTER: McMullan M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11991705 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature