#13 Tracing Adaptation: Population Genetics meets Plant Pathology – With Prof. Dr. Ralph Hückelhoven and Prof. Dr. Aurélien Tellier

In this episode, we explore the evolutionary dynamics between plants and their pathogens through the lenses of population genetics and plant pathology. Our guests, Prof. Dr. Ralph Hückelhoven and Prof. Dr. Aurélien Tellier, from the Technical University of Munich discuss how genome data helps trace adaptation in both crops and microbes, and how models reveal signatures of natural selection. A special focus lies on the barley powdery mildew fungus Blumeria hordei, whose genome is dominated by transposable elements – mobile DNA sequences that may drive rapid evolution and the emergence of new effector genes. From fungal infection strategies to plant immune responses and sustainable agriculture, this episode highlights how evolution shapes plant-microbe interactions. Image credit (Prof. Dr. Ralph Hückelhoven): Tom Freudenberg