Emergence and diversification of a highly invasive chestnut pathogen lineage across southeastern Europe.

ABSTRACT: Invasive microbial species constitute a major threat to biodiversity, agricultural production and human health. Invasions are often dominated by one or a small number of genotypes, yet the underlying factors driving invasions are poorly understood. The chestnut blight fungus Cryphonectria parasitica first decimated the North American chestnut, and a more recent outbreak threatens European chestnut stands. To unravel the chestnut blight invasion of southeastern Europe, we sequenced 230 genomes of predominantly European strains. Genotypes outside of the invasion zone showed high levels of diversity with evidence for frequent and ongoing recombination. The invasive lineage emerged from the highly diverse European genotype pool rather than a secondary introduction from Asia or North Ame

SUBMITTER: Stauber L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7935491 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature