Host population structure for tolerance determines the evolution of plant–virus interactions

What is it about?

Plant populations consist of individuals with varying defence levels against pathogens. This variation determines how plant populations limit the effects of infection, which in turn determine pathogen fitness. Here, we show for the first time that plant viruses (the main causal agents of emerging plant diseases) respond differently to varying levels of tolerance to infection in the host population by modulating their multiplication and virulence, which in turn modifies the efficacy of host tolerance.

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