Evolution of Thermal Plasticity in <i>Hymenoscyphus fraxineus</i> During Ash Dieback Expansion in Europe.

ABSTRACT: The plasticity of adaptive traits may be critical for population persistence in heterogeneous environments. However, its evolution is rarely investigated in forest pathogens, potentially limiting the accuracy of epidemic risk predictions. Ash dieback is an emblematic example of a forest epidemic caused by an invasive fungal pathogen-Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, which has likely been introduced to Eastern Europe from East Asia. We investigated the plasticity and thermal niche evolution of H. fraxineus during its spread across Europe. We characterized the reaction norms of in vitro mycelial growth and viability of H. fraxineus isolates from five European populations sampled along a latitudinal gradient spanning from Lithuania to Italy. While all populations responded uniform

SUBMITTER: Becans C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12173838 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature