Co-occurrence and hybridization of anther-smut pathogens specialized on Dianthus hosts.

摘要: Host specialization has important consequences for the diversification and ecological interactions of obligate pathogens. The anther-smut disease natural plant populations, caused by Microbotryum fungi, been characterized specialized host-pathogen interactions, which contribute in part to isolation among these numerous fungal species. This study investigated molecular variation pathogens within geographic host-specific distributions on wild Dianthus species southern European Alps. In contrast prior studies this pathogen genus, a range overlapping host specificities was observed four delineated lineages hosts, their frequent co-occurrence single-host populations quantified at local regional scales. addition potential direct competition, sympatry led hybridization between them many admixed genotypes suffered significant meiotic sterility. Therefore, investigation fungi reveals how degrees specificity can have major implications genetic integrity differentiated lineages. This article is protected copyright. All rights reserved.