Genomic Exploration of Climate-driven Evolution and Evolutionary Convergence in Forest Pathogens
Pauline Hessenauer1,2,3, Nicolas Feau4,5, Renate Heinzelmann6
1Département des Sciences du bois et de la Forêt, Faculté de Foresterie, Géographie et Géomatique, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
Genome Biology and Evolution
|April 17, 2025
Summary
Climate change drives fungal pathogen evolution. Moisture adaptation, particularly in cytoskeleton and transporter genes, is a key evolutionary response observed across diverse forest pathogens, informing disease management strategies.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Forest Pathology
Background:
- Climate change significantly impacts fungal communities and forest pathogen dynamics.
- Understanding genomic adaptations is crucial for predicting pathogen spread and virulence.
- Three major forest pathogens (Dutch elm disease, dothistroma needle blight, Swiss needle cast) were studied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate genomic adaptations of three fungal forest pathogens to climate.
- To identify climate drivers and specific genes/pathways involved in these adaptations.
- To forecast pathogen adaptations under future climate scenarios.
Main Methods:
- Advanced landscape genomics techniques were employed.
- Genomic data were analyzed to identify signatures of selection related to climate variables.
- Comparative genomics was used to find convergent evolutionary patterns.
Main Results:
- Precipitation and humidity were identified as primary drivers of adaptation.
- Convergent evolution in moisture adaptation was observed across distantly related species.
- Specific genes and pathways, including those for the cytoskeleton and transporters, were associated with climate responses.
Conclusions:
- Fungal pathogens exhibit significant genomic adaptation to climate, particularly moisture.
- Convergent evolution highlights common adaptive strategies in response to environmental pressures.
- These findings provide critical insights for forest disease management under climate change.
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