Fungal clones win the battle, but recombination wins the war
Abstract Clonal reproduction is common in fungi and fungal-like organisms during epidemics and invasion events. The success of clonal fungi shaped systems for their classification and some pathogens are tacitly treated as asexual. We argue that genetic recombination driven by sexual reproduction mus...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-10-01
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| Series: | IMA Fungus |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s43008-019-0020-8 |
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| author | André Drenth Alistair R. McTaggart Brenda D. Wingfield |
| author_facet | André Drenth Alistair R. McTaggart Brenda D. Wingfield |
| author_sort | André Drenth |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Clonal reproduction is common in fungi and fungal-like organisms during epidemics and invasion events. The success of clonal fungi shaped systems for their classification and some pathogens are tacitly treated as asexual. We argue that genetic recombination driven by sexual reproduction must be a starting hypothesis when dealing with fungi for two reasons: (1) Clones eventually crash because they lack adaptability; and (2) fungi find a way to exchange genetic material through recombination, whether sexual, parasexual, or hybridisation. Successful clones may prevail over space and time, but they are the product of recombination and the next successful clone will inevitably appear. Fungal pathogen populations are dynamic rather than static, and they need genetic recombination to adapt to a changing environment. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b32a3b1b41bb4f8b809628b8b8eaba60 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2210-6359 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2019-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | IMA Fungus |
| spelling | doaj-art-b32a3b1b41bb4f8b809628b8b8eaba602025-02-02T19:28:55ZengBMCIMA Fungus2210-63592019-10-011011610.1186/s43008-019-0020-8Fungal clones win the battle, but recombination wins the warAndré Drenth0Alistair R. McTaggart1Brenda D. Wingfield2Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of QueenslandQueensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of QueenslandDepartment of Genetics, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of PretoriaAbstract Clonal reproduction is common in fungi and fungal-like organisms during epidemics and invasion events. The success of clonal fungi shaped systems for their classification and some pathogens are tacitly treated as asexual. We argue that genetic recombination driven by sexual reproduction must be a starting hypothesis when dealing with fungi for two reasons: (1) Clones eventually crash because they lack adaptability; and (2) fungi find a way to exchange genetic material through recombination, whether sexual, parasexual, or hybridisation. Successful clones may prevail over space and time, but they are the product of recombination and the next successful clone will inevitably appear. Fungal pathogen populations are dynamic rather than static, and they need genetic recombination to adapt to a changing environment.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s43008-019-0020-8EpidemicsEvolutionFungal adaptationFungal pathogensFungiInvasive species |
| spellingShingle | André Drenth Alistair R. McTaggart Brenda D. Wingfield Fungal clones win the battle, but recombination wins the war IMA Fungus Epidemics Evolution Fungal adaptation Fungal pathogens Fungi Invasive species |
| title | Fungal clones win the battle, but recombination wins the war |
| title_full | Fungal clones win the battle, but recombination wins the war |
| title_fullStr | Fungal clones win the battle, but recombination wins the war |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fungal clones win the battle, but recombination wins the war |
| title_short | Fungal clones win the battle, but recombination wins the war |
| title_sort | fungal clones win the battle but recombination wins the war |
| topic | Epidemics Evolution Fungal adaptation Fungal pathogens Fungi Invasive species |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s43008-019-0020-8 |
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