Evolution of the wheat blast fungus through functional losses in a host specificity determinant

• DOI: 10.1126/science.aam9654
• Publication Date: 2017-07-12T19:55:24Z
• Authors: Yoshihiro Inoue; Trinh T. P. Vy; Kentaro Yoshida; Hokuto Asano; Chikako Mitsuoka; Soichiro Asuke; Vu L. Anh; Christian J. R. C...; Izumi Chuma; Ryohei Terauchi; Kenji Kato; Thomas Mitchell; Barbara Valent; Mark Farman; Yukio Tosa
• Keywords: Blast disease; Take-all; Fungal pathogen

Genetic analysis of disease emergence In the 1980s, wheat crops began to fall fungal pathogen that causes blast disease. First seen in Brazil, last year caused devastating crop losses Bangladesh. Inoue et al. tracked down shifting genetics have allowed this potentially global threat (see Perspective by Maekawa and Schulze-Lefert). Wheat varieties with a disabled resistance gene were susceptible strains affected oat ryegrass crops. Subsequent genetic changes amped up virulence wheat. Science , issue p. 80 ; see also 31