Journal
PHYTOPATHOLOGY
Volume 101, Issue 4, Pages 392-403Publisher
AMER PHYTOPATHOLOGICAL SOC
DOI: 10.1094/PHYTO-07-10-0192
Keywords
biodiversity; complexity and stability; modeling host-pathogen interactions; network theory; sudden oak death; systems biology
Categories
Funding
- Rural Economy and Land Use (RELU) Programme, UK
- French Ministries in charge of Agriculture and Sustainable Development
- ESRC [ES/E010873/1, ES/E01075X/1] Funding Source: UKRI
- Economic and Social Research Council [ES/E01075X/1, ES/E010873/1] Funding Source: researchfish
Ask authors/readers for more resources
There is increasing use of networks in ecology and epidemiology, but still relatively little application in phytopathology. Networks are sets of elements (nodes) connected in various ways by links (edges). Network analysis aims to understand system dynamics and outcomes in relation to network characteristics. Many existing natural, social, and technological networks have been shown to have small-world (local connectivity with short-cuts) and scale-free (presence of super-connected nodes) properties. In this review, we discuss how network concepts can be applied in plant pathology from the molecular to the landscape and global level. Wherever disease spread occurs not just because of passive/natural dispersion but also due to artificial movements, it makes sense to superimpose realistic models of the trade in plants on spatially explicit models of epidemic development. We provide an example of an emerging pathosystem (Phytophthora ramorum) where a theoretical network approach has proven particularly fruitful in analyzing the spread of disease in the UK plant trade. These studies can help in assessing the future threat posed by similar emerging pathogens. Networks have much potential in plant epidemiology and should become part of the standard curriculum.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available