In this section
@article{Yang:2026:10.1111/ppa.70183,
author = {Yang, H and Yuen, FW and Ryan, MJ and Flood, J and Spanu, PD and Peck, LD},
doi = {10.1111/ppa.70183},
journal = {Plant Pathology},
title = {Pathogenicity of <i>Fusarium xylarioides</i> , the Causal Pathogen of Coffee Wilt Disease, in Coffee Seedlings and an Alternate Host, Tomato Fruit},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ppa.70183},
volume = {75},
year = {2026}
}
TY - JOUR
AB - <jats:title>ABSTRACT</jats:title> <jats:p> Widespread crop cultivation has offered more opportunity for pathogens to evolve resulting in the emergence of new virulence and lifestyle patterns. Alternate hosts surrounding a crop field can also help pathogens survive, spread and provide inoculum for subsequent growing seasons. Examining pathogen hosts under laboratory conditions can explain disease emergence mechanisms. Here, we studied four strains of <jats:italic>Fusarium xylarioides</jats:italic> , a soilborne, vascular fungal pathogen that causes coffee wilt disease collected over several decades and preserved in the CABI culture collection. We observed that these fungi can colonise tomato fruits as an alternate host to coffee and used these to test the pathogenicity of historic <jats:italic>F. xylarioides</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>F. oxysporum</jats:italic> f. sp. <jats:italic>lycopersici</jats:italic> strains. Expression of effector genes in <jats:italic>F. xylarioides</jats:italic> was compared in both the primary (coffee) and an alternate plant host (tomato). We used pathogenicity assays on coffee seedlings and tomato fruits by fungal staining, diagnostic endpoint PCRs and realtime quantitative PCRs to verify the infection of both plant hosts. Passaging through coffee seedlings (infection followed by reisolation of the pathogen) resulted in increased effector gene expression and enhanced pathogenicity. These findings indicate that alternate hosts may act as reservoirs for the pathogen, with implications for disease persistence and spread. A clearer understanding of plant disease cycles is therefore essential for the development of effective management st
AU - Yang,H
AU - Yuen,FW
AU - Ryan,MJ
AU - Flood,J
AU - Spanu,PD
AU - Peck,LD
DO - 10.1111/ppa.70183
PY - 2026///
SN - 0032-0862
TI - Pathogenicity of <i>Fusarium xylarioides</i> , the Causal Pathogen of Coffee Wilt Disease, in Coffee Seedlings and an Alternate Host, Tomato Fruit
T2 - Plant Pathology
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ppa.70183
UR - https://doi.org/10.1111/ppa.70183
VL - 75
ER -
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