Population genetics of plant fungal threats: Insights from wheat powdery mildew

TL;DR

This paper explores how population genetics can help understand and predict the spread of wheat powdery mildew fungus.

Contribution

The study uses genomic data to reveal the population structure and continental dispersion routes of wheat powdery mildew.

Findings

Genomic data reveals the population structure of the wheat powdery mildew fungus.

The study predicts continental-scale dispersion routes of the pathogen.

Abstract

Population genetics studies of microbial pathogens are demonstrating the potential of evolutionary theory to inform decisions that impact society. A recent study on wheat powdery mildew fungus in PLOS Biology uses genomic data to reveal the pathogen’s population structure and to predict its continental-scale dispersion routes.

Population genetics studies of microbial pathogens are demonstrating the potential of evolutionary theory to inform decisions that impact society. This Primer explores a recent study on wheat powdery mildew fungus in PLOS Biology which uses genomic data to reveal the pathogen’s population structure and to predict its continental-scale dispersion routes.