DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Testing for genetic discontinuities across multiple spatial scales in a widespread cranberry pathogen

该项目的目标是确定Colletotrichum属中一种重要真菌病原体的遗传结构，该病原体感染整个北美的野生和栽培蔓越莓及相关植物物种。 这种真菌由两个进化分支组成;一组是广泛分布的，并且已经被认为是蔓越莓的病原体超过世纪，而另一组是一种新兴疾病。 本研究将研究生态景观的特征如何与野生和栽培蔓越莓沼泽之间的基因流相互作用，以塑造这种病原体在多个空间尺度上的进化和繁殖模式。 该真菌能够有性和无性繁殖，并且已知在不同的种群中采用不同的繁殖策略。 克隆种群有能力在有利的条件下迅速传播，而有性种群往往具有更大的遗传多样性，因此在面对环境扰动时具有更大的适应潜力。 因此，了解这种病原体的繁殖策略及其对景观特征的依赖性，可以为突发疾病的传播提供一般性的见解。 这项研究对开发有效的管理工具具有重要意义，这些工具将有助于减轻这种病原体在蔓越莓农场造成的重大经济损失。 作为该项目的一部分开发的分子标记系统将促进该真菌的进化，系统学和疾病生态学的其他研究。该项目还将支持对高中生进行分子和真菌生物学培训。该项目加强了两个研究机构之间的合作关系，体育。马鲁奇蓝莓和蔓越莓研究中心和纽约植物园。

The goal of this project is to determine the genetic structure of an important fungal pathogen in the genus Colletotrichum, which infects wild and cultivated cranberries and related plant species throughout North America. This fungus is comprised of two evolutionary clades; one group is widespread and has been recognized as a pathogen of cranberry for more than a century while the other is an emerging disease. This research will examine how features of the ecological landscape interact with gene flow among wild and cultivated cranberry bogs, to shape the evolution and mode of reproduction of this pathogen at multiple spatial scales. The fungus is capable of reproducing both sexually and clonally and known to employ different reproductive strategies in different populations. Clonal populations have the ability to spread rapidly under favorable conditions while sexual populations tend to be more genetically diverse, and thus have a greater adaptive potential in the face of environmental perturbations. Therefore, understanding the reproductive strategy of this pathogen and its dependence on landscape features provides general insight into how emergent diseases may spread. This research has important implications for the development of effective management tools that will assist in mitigating significant economic losses caused by this pathogen on cranberry farms. A molecular marker system developed as part of this project will facilitate other research on the evolution, systematics and disease ecology of this fungus. This project will also support the training of high school students in molecular and fungal biology. The project strengthens a collaborative relationship between two research institutions, the P.E. Marucci Center for Blueberry and Cranberry Research and the New York Botanical Garden.