Specificity and seasonal prevalence of anther smut disease Microbotryum on sympatric Himalayan Silene species

• DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13427
• Publication Date: 2019-02-12T18:31:09Z
• Authors: Hui Tang; Michael E. Hood; Zong‐Xin Ren; Hai‐Dong Li; Yan‐Hui Zhao; Lorne M. Wolfe; De‐Zhu Li; Hong Wang
• Keywords: Smut; Silene

Host sympatry provides opportunities for cross-species disease transmission and compounded effects on host population community structure. Using the Silene-Microbotryum interaction (the castrating anther smut disease), eleven Himalayan Silene species were assessed in regions of high diversity to ascertain levels pathogen specificity. We also investigated prevalence, seasonal dynamics infection flowering patterns five co-blooming species. identified several new Microbotryum lineages with varying degrees specialization that is likely influenced by divergence ecological similarities (i.e. shared pollinator guilds). Affected had 15%-40% plants infected smut. Flowering was seasonally overlapping among (except pair S. asclepiadea atrocastanea), but diseased onset earlier than healthy plants, leading dramatic shifts observed prevalence. Overlapping distributions floral movement between species, may be constrained plant phylogenetic relatedness, adaptation micro-habitats difference pollinator/vector guilds.