Local adaptation of both plant and pathogen: an arms-race compromise in switchgrass rust.

ABSTRACT: In coevolving species, parasites locally adapt to host populations as hosts locally adapt to resist parasites. Parasites often outpace host local adaptation since they have rapid life cycles, but host diversity, the strength of selection, and external environmental influence can result in complex outcomes. To better understand local adaptation in host-parasite systems, we examined locally adapted switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), and its leaf rust pathogen (Puccinia novopanici) across a latitudinal range in North America. We grew switchgrass genotypes in 10 replicated multiyear common gardens, measuring rust severity from natural infection in a 'host reciprocal transplant' framework for testing local adaptation. We conducted genome-wide association mapping to identify genetic loci associated

SUBMITTER: VanWallendael A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12489299 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature