Performance of a Hybrid Fungal Pathogen on Pure-Species and Hybrid Host Plants

Abstract

Premise of research. Recent hybridization events in fungi have produced emerging pathogens characterized by novel host specificities, increased infectivity, and/or elevated severity. We investigated the potential for host shifts and increased infectivity following hybridization of fungal pathogens in the genus Microbotryum, which causes anther-smut disease on caryophyllaceous hosts. Hybrids of the closely related species Microbotryum lychnidis-dioicae (MvSl) and Microbotryum silenes-dioicae (MvSd) are viable and fertile. Although historical genetic exchange between MvSl and MvSd is rare, there is evidence of recent hybridization of these fungal species, as well as of their plant hosts, Silene latifolia and Silene dioica. Methodology. We examined the fitness of hybrid pathogens and hosts by using F1 hybrids of MvSl × MvSd to inoculate S. latifolia × S. dioica hybrids. Experimental inoculations of S. latifolia and hybrid hosts with pure-species and hybrid pathogens allowed assessment of the likelihood of hybrid emergence on a novel host (the hybrid plant) and of increased infectiousness of the hybrid pathogen on the pure-species host. Pivotal results. We found no evidence for pathogen hybrid inferiority, arguing against interspecific incompatibilities at small genetic distances. Instead, we found that hybrid pathogens are more infectious on pure-species hosts, while pure-species pathogens are more infectious on hybrid hosts, indicating an interaction of host and parasite genotypes. Conclusions. This finding argues against emergence of hybrid pathogens on a novel hybrid host. However, our study suggests that hybridization of pathogens and hosts in natural populations may lead to elevated disease prevalence overall, thus furthering the impact of anther-smut disease in these Silene species.