Skip to main content
SLU publication database (SLUpub)

Research article2021Peer reviewedOpen access

Worldwide Genetic Structure Elucidates the Eurasian Origin and Invasion Pathways of Dothistroma septosporum, Causal Agent of Dothistroma Needle Blight

Mullett, Martin S.; Drenkhan, Rein; Adamson, Kalev; Boron, Piotr; Lenart-Boron, Anna; Barnes, Irene; Tomsovsky, Michal; Janosikova, Zuzana; Adamcikova, Katarina; Ondruskova, Emilia; Queloz, Valentin; Piskur, Barbara; Musolin, Dmitry L.; Davydenko, Kateryna; Georgieva, Margarita; Schmitz, Sophie; Kacergius, Audrius; Ghelardini, Luisa; Orlovic, Jelena Kranjec; Muller, Michael;
Show more authors

Abstract

Dothistroma septosporum, the primary causal agent of Dothistroma needle blight, is one of the most significant foliar pathogens of pine worldwide. Its wide host and environmental ranges have led to its global success as a pathogen and severe economic damage to pine forests in many regions. This comprehensive global population study elucidated the historical migration pathways of the pathogen to reveal the Eurasian origin of the fungus. When over 3800 isolates were examined, three major population clusters were revealed: North America, Western Europe, and Eastern Europe, with distinct subclusters in the highly diverse Eastern European cluster. Modeling of historical scenarios using approximate Bayesian computation revealed the North American cluster was derived from an ancestral population in Eurasia. The Northeastern European subcluster was shown to be ancestral to all other European clusters and subclusters. The Turkish subcluster diverged first, followed by the Central European subcluster, then the Western European cluster, which has subsequently spread to much of the Southern Hemisphere. All clusters and subclusters contained both mating-types of the fungus, indicating the potential for sexual reproduction, although asexual reproduction remained the primary mode of reproduction. The study strongly suggests the native range of D. septosporum to be in Eastern Europe (i.e., the Baltic and Western Russia) and Western Asia.

Keywords

Mycosphaerella pini; biogeography; ABC; DNB; global spread; introduction pathways; invasive pathogen; global spread

Published in

Journal of Fungi
2021, Volume: 7, number: 2, article number: 111Publisher: MDPI

    UKÄ Subject classification

    Forest Science

    Publication identifier

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jof7020111

    Permanent link to this page (URI)

    https://res.slu.se/id/publ/111257