POPULATION GENETICS OF PLANT PATHOGENS
Phytophthora infestans infecting a potato leaf (photo by Björn Andersson).
Population genetics concerns the evolutionary processes (selection, genetic drift, mutation and gene flow) that determine and maintain genetic variation in and between populations. The development of fungicide resistance and virulence races are examples of plant pathological problems with a background in population genetics. In the case of fungicide resistance, selection caused by the use of a fungicide will result in an increase in the proportion of genotypes that have a lower sensitivity to the specific fungicide. The occurrence of virulent races of a pathogen can similarly be explained by selection through the use of resistant cultivars. From a practical perspective, both these examples will affect the possibilities of effective disease management.
Our projects
Development of a practical selection method for tan spot resistance in wheat at CIMMYT and analysis of the population structure of Pyrenophora tritici-repentis in Mexico.
Contact: Annika Djurle
Diversity and aggressiveness of Phytophthora infestans in potato haulm and tubers
Epidemiology and population biology of Puccinia graminis in oats for control of stem rust in Sweden
Contact: Anna Berlin, Annika Djurle, Berit Samils and Jonathan Yuen
Population differentiation of Phytophthora infestans on different hosts (Solanum tuberosum and Solanum physalifolium)
Contact: Lina Grönberg, Björn Andersson, Anna-Karin Widmark, Nils Högberg and Jonathan Yuen
Population structure of Phytophthora infestans in the Nordic countries
Population structure of Phytophthora infestans in Nicaragua
Contact: Ulises Blandon, Nils Högberg and Jonathan Yuen