Co-occurrence and hybridization of anther-smut pathogens specialized on Dianthus hosts.

ABSTRACT: Host specialization has important consequences for the diversification and ecological interactions of obligate pathogens. The anther-smut disease of natural plant populations, caused by Microbotryum fungi, has been characterized by specialized host-pathogen interactions, which contribute in part to the isolation among these numerous fungal species. This study investigated the molecular variation of Microbotryum pathogens within the geographic and host-specific distributions on wild Dianthus species in southern European Alps. In contrast to prior studies on this pathogen genus, a range of overlapping host specificities was observed for four delineated Microbotryum lineages on Dianthus hosts, and their frequent co-occurrence within single-host populations was quantified at local and regional

SUBMITTER: Petit E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6019127 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature