Local maladaptation in the anther-smut fungus Microbotryum violaceum to its host plant Silene latifolia: evidence from a cross-inoculation experiment

• Published in: Evolution Vol. 53; no. 2; pp. 395 - 407
• Main Authors: Kaltz, O, Gandon, S, Michalakis, Y, Shykoff, J.A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.04.1999
• Subjects: adaptation; coevolution; gene flow; host plants; interactions; plant pathogenic fungi; Silene latifolia; gene flow; local adaptation; Ustilago; coevolution; Caryophyllaceae; host-parasite coevolution

Conventional wisdom holds that parasites evolve more rapidly than their hosts and are therefore locally adapted, that is, better at exploiting sympatric than allopatric hosts. We studied local adaptation in the insect-transmitted fungal pathogen Microbotryum violaceum and its host plant Silene latif...