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Experimental Techniques in Plant Disease Epidemiology pp 165–178Cite as

Analysis of Virulence in Pathogen Populations

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Abstract

Virulence analyses are performed to measure the frequency and/or distribution of specific virulence genes or factors in populations of plant pathogens. However, also insects or nematodes that interact with their hosts in gene-for-gene systems may be subject to virulence analyses. Virulence will be considered here as a qualitative or binary trait related to race-specific resistance genes or factors, while the term aggressivenes will be related to the quantitative ability of a pathogen isolate to cause disease (Van der Plank 1975). Virulence and aggressiveness are the main components of pathogen fitness. Since the latter term relates to survival and dominance over time it may also include other components, particularly when periods longer than a single epidemic are considered. For example, the ability to overwinter or to remain infectious during dissemination may be important components of fitness. Fitness is defined in relative and absolute terms. Relative fitness is usually related to the phenotype with the highest reproduction in the sample and calculated from frequency changes. Absolute fitness is usually expressed as the absolute number of progeny per individual. It can be estimated by measuring the components of aggressiveness (latent period, disease efficiency, colony growth, etc.). If the word fitness is used in this text without an adjective, relative fitness is meant.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Phytopathologie und Angewandte Entomologie, Tropeninstitut, Justus-Liebig-Universität, Schottstr. 2, 6300, Gießen, Germany

    Günter Welz

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  1. Günter Welz
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Tropeninstitut Phytopathologie, Schottstr. 2, 6300, Gießen, Germany

    Jürgen Kranz

  2. Department of Plant Pathology, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, 50-250, Bet Dagan, Israel

    Joseph Rotem

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© 1988 Springer-Verlag Heidelberg

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Welz, G. (1988). Analysis of Virulence in Pathogen Populations. In: Kranz, J., Rotem, J. (eds) Experimental Techniques in Plant Disease Epidemiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-95534-1_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-95534-1_12

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

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