Pathogen adaptations to host and climate in a wild plant-pathosystem

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Remco Stam
• Subject Area: Plant Breeding and Plant Pathology
• Term: since 2018
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 403835372

In response to changing agricultural practices and the growing impact of climate change, this project aims to unravel the complex genetic mechanisms that allow pathogens to adapt to a wide range of hosts and shifting environmental conditions. This multidisciplinary effort integrates wild genetic resources, advanced genomics, and innovative phenotyping methods to gain insights into essential adaptational processes critical for securing global food systems. Our previous work established the presence of Alternaria alternata on various wild tomato species across diverse climate zones. By expanding our sample collection, we delve deeper into the genetic landscape that drives adaptation. This step sets the stage for Genome-Wide Association Studies, a key tool in uncovering the genes responsible for pathogen adaptation to both host and climate. We will leverage high-throughput phenotyping systems developed recently. We meticulously assess Alternaria isolates from Peru and Chile across different host species. This thorough examination promises to shed light on subtle variations in infection capabilities, a factor central to understanding quantitative infection differences. Additionally, we aim to decode how pathogens react to varying climatic conditions. Through pioneering high-throughput phenotyping assays, our goal is to highlight growth patterns of Alternaria under diverse environmental contexts. In parallel, we will sequence all collected isolates and conduct population genomics analyses and genome scans. These efforts will help identify genes under selection within Alternaria populations from different hosts and regions. The culmination of these insights magnifies our project's significance. Employing genome-wide association studies bridges the gap between genetic makeup and observable traits. Building on our knowledge of genes under selection, we can identify genes driving pathogen adaptation to both host and climate. Further validation of these adaptive genes will be carried out through Crispr/Cas mutants. In a world where food security hinges on effective pathogen management, our project's implications are profound. By utilizing the resources of wild tomatoes as a model rife with host-pathogen interactions and climatic subtleties, we can assess the adaptability of a potentially harmful agricultural pathogen. By uncovering genetic mechanisms governing adaptation, we could prepare ourselves against emerging threats and the unpredictable shifts of changing climates.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants