Evidence for a common toolbox based on nectrophy in a fungal lineage spanning necrotrophs, biotrophs, endophytes, host generalists and specialists
Marion's paper appeared in the January issue of PLoS one. In this paper, Marion examines the evolutionary origins and molecular and phenotypic mechanisms underlying different types of fungal pathogen attack (nectrophy and biotrophy) by both specialist and generalist species. Using an impressive combination of comparative molecular phylogenetic tools, quantitative PCR and in vitro and in plantaexperiments, Marion’s results support the hypothesis that biotrophy and nectrophy share a common molecular toolbox, and that biotrophy evolved from nectroophy multiple times.
Well done, Marion!