[APWG] NEWS: Cheatgrass facilitates spillover of a seed bank pathogen onto native grass species

[Olivia Kwong]

http://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/34171

Title: Cheatgrass facilitates spillover of a seed bank pathogen onto 
native grass species
Author: Beckstead, Julie; Meyer, Susan E.; Connolly, Brian M.; Huck, 
Michael B.; Street, Laura E.
Date: 2009
Source: Journal of Ecology. 98: 168-177.

Description: Attack by pathogens can have ecological consequences for 
plants at many scales, such as the individual, population and community 
scale, although the latter is the least studied. Community-level 
consequences of disease in natural plant communities can drive 
facilitation in succession (Van der Putten, Van Dijk & Peters 1993), 
maintain species diversity in tropical rain forest (i.e. Janzen-Connell 
hypothesis; Clark & Clark 1984) and promote exotic invasion via negative 
feedback loops (Callaway et al. 2004). The pathogens involved in the above 
community-level interactions are often restricted to a narrow host range 
and target the seedling or reproductive stage. Although these studies are 
useful in providing an understanding of the consequences of disease in 
natural plant communities, they do not address the dynamic and complex 
consequences of disease caused by multiple-host pathogens, nor do they 
address pathogens that target the critical seed stage.

See the link above for the copy of this publication.