Why do avirulence genes of the rice blast fungus undergo multiple translocation?-A hypothesis that crabgrass plays a role as their repository

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We examined distribution of avirulence genes in Pycucularia populations. AVR-Pita2, a homolog of the AVR-Pita avirulence gene family corresponding to the Pita resistance gene, was found in Panicum isolates of P. oryzae and Digitaria isolates of P. grisea. AVR-Pii2, a homolog of the AVR-Pii family corresponding to the Pii resistance gene, was found in Oryza isolates of P. oryzae and Cenchrus isolates of Pyricularia sp. AVR-Pii3, another homolog of the AVR-Pii family, was present in Triticum isolates of P. oryzae and Cenchrus isolates of Pyricularia sp. These results suggest that horizontal transfer of avirulence genes are not rare event in the blast fungi.