biostudies-literatureGagliardi SNatural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canadae0284203https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10101423biostudies-literatureUnknown18(4)Research has demonstrated that intraspecific functional trait variation underpins plant responses to environmental variability. However, few studies have evaluated how trait variation shifts in response to plant pathogens, even though pathogens are a major driver of plant demography and diversity, and despite evidence of plants expressing distinct strategies in response to pathogen pressures. Understanding trait-pathogen relationships can provide a more realistic understanding of global patterns of functional trait variation. We examined leaf intraspecific trait variability (ITV) in response to foliar disease severity, using Coffea arabica cv. Caturra as a model species. We quantified coffee leaf rust (CLR) severity-a fungal disease prominent in coffee systems-and measured key coffee leaf PloS oneLeaf functional traits and pathogens: Linking coffee leaf rust with intraspecific trait variation in diversified agroecosystems.PMC10101423Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate ScholarshipDiscovery GrantGagliardi SVirginio Filho EMIsaac MECadotte MMartin ARAvelino JfalseLeaf functional traits and pathogens: Linking coffee leaf rust with intraspecific trait variation in diversified agroecosystems.Research has demonstrated that intraspecific functional trait variation underpins plant responses to environmental variability. However, few studies have evaluated how trait variation shifts in response to plant pathogens, even though pathogens are a major driver of plant demography and diversity, and despite evidence of plants expressing distinct strategies in response to pathogen pressures. Understanding trait-pathogen relationships can provide a more realistic understanding of global patterns of functional trait variation. We examined leaf intraspecific trait variability (ITV) in response to foliar disease severity, using Coffea arabica cv. Caturra as a model species. We quantified coffee leaf rust (CLR) severity-a fungal disease prominent in coffee systems-and measured key coffee leaf 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z20232025-04-04T22:59:41.189Z2025-04-04T22:59:41.189ZS-EPMC101014233705324410.1371/journal.pone.0284203