Award details

Population structure and natural selection in the Chalara ash dieback fungus, Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus

Reference	BBS/E/J/000CA551
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Dr James Brown
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	John Innes Centre
Department	John Innes Centre Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	187,574
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	18/04/2014
End date	31/03/2017
Duration	35 months

Abstract

This proposal is to research the ecological genetics and evolutionary potential of Hymenoscyphus pseudoalbidus (Hp), the ascomycete fungus which causes Chalara ash dieback (CAD) of the European ash (Fraxinus excelsior). This disease has destroyed large numbers of trees in continental Europe; it appeared in the UK in 2012 and has spread rapidly. The project will study four key aspects of Hp to provide a sound foundation for research on its population biology and disease management. 1. We will investigate the spatial distribution of vegetative compatibility (VC) groups in populations of Hp in the UK and will research the potential for dsRNA viruses to become established in Hp and thus attenuate the CAD epidemic. 2. We will study the spatial distribution of DNA marker variation in Hp, both within and between local populations and with developed lesions within trees. This will provide insights into the potential for natural selection to influence evolution of the fungus. 3. We will investigate variation in pathogenicity and life-cycle traits in Hp. This will provide insights into the potential for evolution of Hp by via natural selection, including responding to enhanced resistance in ash populations. Also, as coevolutionary theory makes the robust prediction that a higher cost of pathogenicity will lead to stronger selection for host resistance, studies of pathogen variation will allow predictions of the extent to which ‘natural’ resistance will become established in the ash population and how quickly this will happen. 4. We will investigate the genetic and ecological relationship between Hp and a closely related fungus, H. albidus (Ha), which is a non-pathogenic fungus indigenous to the UK. The research will compare pathogenicity traits in Ha and Hp and, through comparative study of their VC and mating sytems, will assess the potential for any dsRNA viruses to be transmitted between these fungal species.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Not funded via Committee
Research Topics	Microbiology, Plant Science
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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