12/05/2018
The race between wheat and Zymoseptoria tritici epidemics
Full paper: https://buff.ly/2KQJ1wX FREE access for a limited time
Robert et al. explore how canopy growth, spatial organization, and leaf senescence impact epidemics of wheat Septoria tritici blotch (STB) caused by Zymoseptoria tritici. Strikingly, the timing of leaf senescence is one of the most influential traits. When the green lifespan duration of leaves is reduced epidemics are strongly reduced.
They introduce the notion of a race between the growing canopy and the developing epidemics. This race is twofold: (i) an upward race at the canopy scale where Z. tritici must keep up with the emerging leaves, (ii) a local race at the leaf scale where Z. tritici must use the resources before leaf apical senescence sets in. The results shed new light on the importance of dynamic interactions between host and pathogen.
Robert, C., Garin, G., Abichou, M., Houlès, V., Pradal, C., & Fournier, C. (2018). Plant architecture and foliar senescence impact the race between wheat growth and Zymoseptoria tritici epidemics. Annals of Botany, 121(5), 975–989. https://buff.ly/2KQJ1wX
Image: Plant architecture simulated by the model ADELWheat for the four experimental treatments (canopies of 15 plants at 1500 °Cd since sowing).