Poster

         Symbioses: Plant, Animal, and Microbe Interactions

Relationship of Virulence and Diet Complexity of Botrytis cinerea Over Generational Time

Presenting Author
Angela Gao
Description
Virulence is the extent of damage a pathogen can do to its host. In vitro, some pathogens lose virulence over time. Observing loss of virulence in vitro poses questions about pathogenicity and mechanisms of fungal traits, one being the role of diet complexity.  Observed loss of virulence in Botrytis cinerea may be a trade off for energy efficiency, leading to the pathogen to saprophytism. One way pathogenicity is restored is to rear the pathogen on its preferred host. Thus we hypothesize that one reason for the maintenance of pathogenicity is access to complex nutritional sources. Using different in vitro diet sources, we assess changes in a virulence and growth rate in a common host-generalist necrotrophic fungal pathogen, B. cinerea.