Adaptation of Melampsora medusae to increasing temperature and light intensities on a clone of Populus deltoides

Race 4A of Melampsora medusae Thum. produces an incompatible reaction on Populus deltoides Marsh. cv. W-79/307 when incubated at high temperature and low light intensity (26 °C and 100 μE∙m−2∙s−1) or low temperature and high light intensity (17 °C and 700 μE∙m−1∙s−1), but a compatible one at low temperature and low light intensity 17 °C and 100 μE∙m−2∙s−1). When in separate studies, a population of this race was sequentially cultured on detached leaves, at increasing temperatures (17, 20, 23, or 26 °C) or light intensities (100, 300, 500, or 700 μE∙m−2∙s−1), isolates that were adpated to each of these regimes were selected. Such isolates, particularly those from low temperature and low light intensity, exhibited some specificity to their "own" environments, although isolates selected at 26 °C and 500 μE∙m−2∙s−1 were most aggressive at all temperatures and light intensity regimes, respectively. Such adaptation appeared to result from pathogen response to host-mediated environmental selection pressure. Isolate, incubating environment, and their interaction were significant contributors to the variation in aggressiveness traits (disease timing and intensity). This rust demonstrates considerable ability to adapt to varying environmental conditions. Thus physical environmental variables may be important selective forces in the regulation of this pathosystem, as spatial and temporal heterogeneity of the environment in nature may result in polymorphism of the pathogen by disruptive selection.