Pathogen Dynamics in Forest Ecosystems
Summary
Pathogen dynamics in forest ecosystems encompass the interactions between diverse microbial agents and their arboreal hosts against the backdrop of environmental and anthropogenic change. Fungal root and butt rot organisms, foliar blight fungi, and vascular pathogens can alter tree physiology, community composition and biogeochemical cycling. Infection severity is shaped by the life strategies of pathogens – from aggressive necrotrophs that kill host tissues to latent endophytes that switch to virulence under stress. Dispersal of inoculum occurs through basidiospores, mycelial contact or vector transmission, while host susceptibility is influenced by genetic resistance and induced defence pathways. Climatic shifts, logging practices and soil disturbance frequently amplify disease outbreaks by weakening host defences or favouring pathogen reproduction. Integrative research has advanced rapid detection methods, refined biocontrol agents and elucidated genetic loci controlling host resistance. A systems-level understanding of pathogen life cycles, host genetics and environmental mediators underpins sustainable forest management strategies aimed at minimising timber losses, preserving biodiversity and maintaining carbon sequestration.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Recent findings reveal that mitochondrial–nuclear interactions can govern the fitness and virulence of hybrid fungal pathogens. Experiments crossing two congeneric root-rot species demonstrated that hybrid strains show variation in saprobic growth rates and pathogenic potential depending on mitochondrial origin. Gene expression analyses highlighted that compatibility between nuclear genomes and mitochondrial haplotypes modulates enzymatic pathways involved in wood decay. These insights into mitonuclear crosstalk underscore the evolutionary mechanisms by which novel hybrid pathogens may emerge and adapt in forest settings.
Pathogen Dynamics in Forest Ecosystems publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in pathogen dynamics in forest ecosystems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Necrotroph: A pathogen that kills host tissue and derives nutrients from the dead biomass.
Saprobic: A mode of fungal growth in which the organism degrades dead organic matter for nutrition.
Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP): A molecular technique for rapid DNA amplification under constant temperature, enabling fast pathogen detection.
Quantitative trait locus (QTL): A genomic region associated with variation in a quantitative trait, such as disease resistance.
Mitonuclear interactions: Functional communication between nuclear and mitochondrial genomes that affects organismal fitness and phenotype.
References
- Mitonuclear interactions may contribute to fitness of fungal hybrids. Scientific Reports (2018).
- Rapid detection of Heterobasidion annosum using a loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology (2023).
- Efficacy of Biological and Chemical Control Agents against Heterobasidion Spore Infections of Norway Spruce and Scots Pine Stumps on Drained Peatland. Journal of Fungi (2023).
- Association genetics identifies a specifically regulated Norway spruce laccase gene, PaLAC5, linked to Heterobasidion parviporum resistance. Plant Cell & Environment (2020).
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