The John Innes Centre receives strategic funding from BBSRC
The John Innes Centre receives strategic funding from BBSRC
Disease & Stress BiologyResearch AreasPathogen populationsIn nature and agriculture, plants are usually attacked by many pathogens and even by many strains of each pathogen species. Pathogens such as rusts and powdery mildews evolve quickly, typically in a very few years, to overcome new resistance genes and fungicides. The profile of diseases which are important on each crop species also changes, though more slowly. Understanding how crops are affected by populations of pathogens helps the agricultural industry to control disease more effectively. The Disease and Stress Biology Department is exploring the relationship between plants and pathogen populations in two ways. Firstly, we are studying the adaptation of pathogens, especially fungi, to crops. We are investigating the evolution of genes which allow pathogens to attack particular host varieties and to overcome fungicides. We are particularly interested in how pathogens lose reproductive fitness as they become virulent to crop varieties or resistant to fungicides. Fitness costs such as these are predicted to make disease control more effective and more durable. Our empirical work is supported by theoretical research. Our key aim here is to identify features of ecology and epidemiology which maintain genetic diversity in interacting populations of host and parasites. In a second line of work, there is increasing evidence that resistance mechanisms which are effective against one disease may increase susceptibility to others. We are studying trade-offs between responses to the many different pathogens that affect crop species like wheat and barley. This research is helping us to understand how plants respond to attack by several different pathogens - the normal situation in nature and agriculture. Our research on pathogen populations is helping to improve strategies of breeding crop varieties for disease resistance and of using fungicides. As the climate changes, the spectrum of diseases which can damage crops is likely to change too. A sound understanding of how crops interact with populations of diverse pathogens will therefore be increasingly important to maintaining agricultural production.
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