Zymoseptoria tritici is the causal fungus of Septoria blotch (STB), a globally important foliar disease wheat. Infections by more than one strain pathogen, or co-infections, are known to be most prevalent form infection in field. The impact that co-infection Z. has on severity for plant host and its effect defence not fully understood. Here, isolates were extracted from STB-presenting leaves UK...

We conducted a comprehensive analysis of virulence in the fungal wheat pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici using QTL mapping. High throughput phenotyping based on automated image analysis allowed measurement of pathogen virulence on a scale and with a precision that was not previously possible. Across two mapping populations encompassing more than 520 progeny, 540,710 pycnidia were counted and their ...