The Role of Allopatry and Sympatry in Reproductive Barriers and Plant Pathogen Speciation

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By integrating genomic, phenotypic, and geographic data, this research advances knowledge of plant pathogen speciation in which little is known about reproductive and mating barriers. The objectives are to (1) examine if structural differences in the genome involved in infection result in postzygotic isolation; (2) determine the contribution of allopatry and sympatry to reproductive barriers and differences in pathogenesis; (3) establish mating cross essays to study premating and postzygotic barriers, and reinforcement. The creative qualities of the research involves (1) integrating theories in plant pathology on genome architecture with speciation theory; (2) identifying if human-mediated migration of plant pathogens coincide with the different reproductive barriers involved in speciation; and (3) directly testing for mate selection by observing the behavior of female structures. Results can transform the field of pathogen speciation where reproductive and mating barriers have largely been untested and at different levels of biological organization. Not only will findings from this research enhance the understanding of plant pathogen evolution but will contribute to other fields in microbiology (mycology), and general pathology.