Host adaptation in Phytophthora infestans: a review from a population biology perspective

Didier Andrivon

andrivon@rennes.inra.fr
INRA, UMR INRA-ENSAR BiO3P, Domaine de la Motte, BP 35327, F-35653 Le Rheu Cedex, France (France)

Roselyne Corbière

INRA, UMR INRA-ENSAR BiO3P, Domaine de la Motte, BP 35327, F-35653 Le Rheu Cedex, France (France)

Lionel Lebreton

INRA, UMR INRA-ENSAR BiO3P, Domaine de la Motte, BP 35327, F-35653 Le Rheu Cedex, France (France)

Fabian Pilet

INRA, UMR INRA-ENSAR BiO3P, Domaine de la Motte, BP 35327, F-35653 Le Rheu Cedex, France (France)

Josselin Montarry

INRA, UMR INRA-ENSAR BiO3P, Domaine de la Motte, BP 35327, F-35653 Le Rheu Cedex, France (France)

Roland Pellé

INRA, UMR INRA-ENSAR APBV, Keraiber, F-29260 Ploudaniel, France (France)

Daniel Ellissèche

INRA, UMR INRA-ENSAR APBV, Keraiber, F-29260 Ploudaniel, France (France)

Abstract

Phytophthora infestans behaves in natural and agricultural ecosystems as a biotrophic pathogen, although it can be cultured on artificial media. Pathogenicity and host adaptation are therefore essential traits to understand its biology and to come up with durable, efficient management of late blight. The present review focuses on adaptation to host species and host cultivars, and to both qualitative and quantitative types of resistance. It also discusses some of the patterns and population mechanisms involved in this adaptation, such as selection, genetic drift and migration. This highlights the need for an in-depth analysis of each local situation to accurately describe and understand the mechanisms responsible for observed population displacements.

Keywords:

aggressiveness, host resistance, late blight, non-host resistance, specificity, virulence