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Genomic Exploration of Climate-driven Evolution and Evolutionary Convergence in Forest Pathogens

Summary

This study examined three fungal diseases that harm forests to understand how they adapt to different climate conditions. Researchers found that all three pathogens rely on similar genetic changes to adapt to wet and humid environments, despite being very different species. Using computer models, they predicted how these diseases might spread differently as climate changes in the future, which could help forest managers prepare and protect trees.

Background

Climate significantly influences fungal community distribution and diversity, impacting fungal forest pathogen growth, spread, and virulence. Three major fungal pathogens cause significant forest diseases: Dutch elm disease, dothistroma needle blight, and Swiss needle cast. Understanding climate adaptation in these pathogens is crucial for forest disease management.

Objective

This study applies landscape genomics methods to explore genomic adaptations of three major fungal forest pathogens and identify climate drivers of adaptation. The research aims to forecast potential adaptations under future climate scenarios and identify specific genes and pathways associated with climate responses in each pathogen. The study also investigates whether distantly related pathogen species exhibit convergent evolution in climate adaptation.

Results

Precipitation and humidity emerged as primary drivers of adaptation across all three pathogens. The study identified 31, 158, and 23 genes associated with environmental variables in DED, DNB, and SNC respectively. Convergent evolution signals were detected in 12 orthogroups related to moisture adaptation, particularly in genes coding for cytoskeleton proteins, transporters, and metabolic enzymes. Genomic offset projections predicted shifts in pathogen distribution under future climate scenarios.

Conclusion

Three distantly related fungal pathogens show convergent genetic responses to precipitation and humidity, suggesting constrained adaptive evolution in conserved molecular pathways controlling water balance and osmotic regulation. These findings enhance understanding of fungal pathogen evolution under climate change and provide insights for developing effective forest disease management strategies in response to changing environmental conditions.
  • Published in:Genome Biology and Evolution,
  • Study Type:Landscape Genomics Study,
  • Source: 10.1093/gbe/evaf069, PMID: 40241324
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