Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Agricultural diseases are a major threat to sustainable food production. Yet, for many pathogens we know exceptionally little about their epidemiological and population dynamics, and this knowledge gap is slowing the development of efficient control strategies. Here we study the population genomics and molecular epidemiology of wheat powdery mildew, a disease caused by the biotrophic fungus Blumeria graminis forma specialis tritici (Bgt). We sampled Bgt across two consecutive years, 2022 and 2023, and compiled a genomic dataset of 415 Bgt isolates from 22 countries in Europe and surrounding regions. We identified a single epidemic unit in the north of Europe, consisting of a highly homogeneous population. Conversely, the south of Europe hosts smaller local populations which are less interconnected. In addition, we show that the population structure can be largely predicted by the prevalent wind patterns. We identified several loci that were under selection in the recent past, including fungicide targets and avirulence genes. Some of these loci are common between populations, while others are not, suggesting different local selective pressures. We reconstructed the evolutionary history of one of these loci, AvrPm17, coding for an effector recognized by the wheat receptor Pm17. We found evidence for a soft sweep on standing genetic variation. Multiple AvrPm17 haplotypes, which can partially escape recognition by Pm17, spread rapidly throughout the continent upon its introduction in the early 2000s. We also identified a new virulent variant, which emerged more recently and can evade Pm17 resistance altogether. Overall, we highlight the potential of genomic surveillance in resolving the evolutionary and epidemiological dynamics of agricultural pathogens, as well as in guiding control strategies.
Source: PLoS Biology
Authors: Jigisha Jigisha, Jeanine Ly, Nikolaos Minadakis, Fabian Freund, Lukas Kunz, Urszula Piechota, Beyhan Akin, Virgilio Balmas, Roi Ben-David, Szilvia Bencze, Salim Bourras, Matteo Bozzoli, Otilia Cotuna, Gilles Couleaud, Mónika Cséplő, Paweł Czembor, Francesca Desiderio, Jost Dörnte, Antonín Dreiseitl, Angela Feechan, Agata Gadaleta, Kevin Gauthier, Angelica Giancaspro, Stefania Lucia Giove, Alain Handley-Cornillet, Amelia Hubbard, George Karaoglanidis, Steven Kildea, Emrah Koc, Žilvinas Liatukas, Marta S. Lopes, Fabio Mascher, Cathal McCabe, Thomas Miedaner, Fernando Martìnez-Moreno, Charlotte F. Nellist, Sylwia Okoń, Coraline Praz, Javier Sánchez-Martín, Veronica Sărăţeanu, Philipp Schulz, Nathalie Schwartz, Daniele Seghetta, Ignacio Solís Martel, Agrita Švarta, Stefanos Testempasis, Dolors Villegas, Victoria Widrig, Fabrizio Menardo
Institutions: University of Zurich, University of Leicester, Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute - National Research Institute, University of Sassari, Agricultural Research Organization, Ökológiai Mezőgazdasági Kutatóintézet, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, University of Bologna, Univesity of Life Science "King Mihai I" from Timisoara, Arvalis - Institut du Végétal, HUN-REN Centre for Agricultural Research, Agricultural Institute, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l’analisi dell’economia agraria, Sächsisches Landesamt für Umwelt, Landwirtschaft und Geologie, Neurologisches Rehabilitationszentrum Leipzig, Deutscher Fachverband für Agroforstwirtschaft, Agrotest Fyto (Czechia), University College Dublin, Heriot-Watt University, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Agroscope, National Institute of Agricultural Botany, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Teagasc - The Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority, Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology, University of Hohenheim, Universidad de Sevilla, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Centre for Plant Biotechnology and Genomics, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Universidad de Salamanca, Julius Kühn-Institut, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Estación Experimental de Aula Dei
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $5,500
OpenAlex ID: W4410029397