Summary
This computational study demonstrates that host mixtures combining two resistant plant varieties should employ biased rather than equal proportions to minimise disease prevalence, with the optimal ratio containing a lower proportion of the resistance most costly for the pathogen to overcome. The finding is counterintuitive but robust: the benefit is amplified when priming-induced cross-protection occurs among plants exposed to non-infective pathogen genotypes. The strategy also reduces the risk of pathogen populations evolving to break all resistances present in the mixture.
UK applicability
The modelling framework and strategic principles are applicable to UK crop protection contexts where host mixtures are promoted as sustainable alternatives to monocultures, particularly for disease management in cereals and field vegetables. However, validation through field trials under UK agronomic and climatic conditions would be necessary before recommending specific variety ratios to growers.
Key measures
Disease prevalence; pathogen genotype invasion dynamics; optimal ratio of resistant variety proportions; effect of priming on disease control
Outcomes reported
The study used epidemiological modelling to determine optimal proportions of resistant plant varieties in mixtures and their effect on disease prevalence. The model evaluated how pathogen genotypes with different resistance-breaking costs interact with priming-induced cross-protection between host varieties.
Topic tags
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