Phylogenetic ecology of plant disease

What is it about?

Because more closely related plants have more similar traits, using phylogenetic (evolutionary) relationships among plant species provides a framework for how we expect plant pathogens to spread and affect natural and more managed communities.

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Why is it important?

Tools and theory in phylogenetic ecology have developed rapidly in the last decade, but have only begun to be applied for plant diseases. What they may offer, however, is a way to predict likely outcomes from novel systems -- like emergent pathogens or invasive plant species -- for which we do not yet have much empirical data.