Ecology, evolution and adaptation of plant-pathogen interactions in a changing climate

Plant disease is often a consequence of an interaction between three components: a plant, a pathogen and the environment. This research explored each of these aspects to understand what determines whether disease develops. On the plant side, the work investigated how plants defend themselves against fungal pathogens, investigating the role of flower pigments of Chrysanthemum in disease resistance. On the pathogen side, it examined how a pathogenic fungus may evolve to become tolerant to plant chemical defense. On the environmental side, the research studied how higher temperatures influence plant immunity and disease development. Together, the results show that disease is not determined by a single factor, but by the interaction between the three components. Understanding multiple aspects of disease development is important for predicting disease and for developing plants that remain more resistant under changing environmental conditions.