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Imprint
Pathogen adaptations to host and climate in a wild plant-pathosystem
Project
Project code: DFG-403835372
Contract period: 01.01.2018
- 31.12.2020
Purpose of research: Experimental development
Keywords: pathogen-plant- interaction, oomycetes, pathogen adaptation, Phytophthora infestans, wild tomato, Solanum chilense
Understanding the evolution of plant pathogens is important for the development of durable resistance in crops. Extensive human movement and a changing climate potentially amplify the spread and evolution of plant pathogens. These phenomena are widely studied. However, little is known about the evolutionary potential of plant pathogens and the rate of adaptation as such. Adapted pathogens can be found for many crop varieties but their origin or the adapted genes often remain unclear. In this proposal I want to investigate how pathogens adapt to their hosts and different climates and identify how many and which genes are involved in such adaptations. I propose to study the evolution of the plant pathogen Phytophthora infestans on the wild tomato species Solanum chilense. P. infestans is the causal agent of late blight on tomato and potato and causes billions of dollar damage per annum. The use of this wild system has several benefits over studies in cultivated crops. Previous work has shown that S. chilense shows adaptation to the different climates occurring in its range. All plant populations are relatively isolated from each other and allopatric from other solanaceous species. Moreover, the different populations exhibit various degrees of resistance against P. infestans. This allows geographically structured analyses of the pathogen on its host whilst limiting the effects of pathogen migration from neighboring host species.I want to sample and genotype P. infestans throughout the whole range of S. chilense to map the diversity of the pathogen on this diverse host species. This genotyping will form the basis for a series of resequencing experiments aimed to identify those genes in the P. infestans genome that are showing signs of selection and appear to be involved in host adaptation. I will use whole genome sequencing to study all effector genes on the genome, but also to identify potential novel important genes involved in plant-pathogen co-evolution. Lastly, I will select a subset of pathogen strains to perform infection experiments under different controlled environmental conditions, and measure virulence and aggressiveness of the strains on different host populations in order to link the genetic variations or adaptations back to actual infection phenotypes. This project will yield insights in the diversity of P. infestans in nature, which is currently neglected in the community. Moreover, it will reveal those genes (effectors or others) that are involved in coevolution with the host. Understanding the diversity, migration and evolution of a pathogen in a diverse wild system like S. chilense will help understand its evolutionary potential. Such knowledge is valuable for both breeders and growers to maintain durable disease management strategies and maintain healthy crops in years to come.
Section overview
Subjects
- Crop Protection
