The Dynamics of Disease: Can Plant Pathogens Take the Heat?

Biology Assistant Professor Emily Bruns studies a common plant pathogen to understand disease interactions in a changing environment.

In her research at the University of Maryland, Assistant Professor of Biology Emily Bruns studies the dynamics of disease—how it affects natural plant populations and how these interactions unfold in a changing, warming environment. Bruns’ work focuses on a wild plant called Silene vulgaris and a harmful fungal pathogen known as anther smut disease, which is sensitive to high temperatures.

“We use this as a model system in my lab to understand disease dynamics,” Bruns explained, “and it’s very easy to understand how much disease there is and how it’s changing over time.”

In a major project currently underway, Bruns and her team are looking at how the thermal tolerance of the anther smut pathogen might change or evolve depending on its environment—especially the temperature. By testing 30 different strains of the fungus, collected from different environments, to measure their heat sensitivity, the team hopes to learn whether disease can evolve to tolerate—and survive—warmer conditions. 

“If they can manage with the heat better and cure at a higher temperature, that’s really important because it implies that this is a trait that could evolve through natural selection over time,” she said. “As the temperature continues to increase, the disease may be able to continue to increase its tolerance.”

What will happen to disease as temperatures rise and growing seasons get hotter? Will we lose disease or keep it? These are questions Bruns is working to answer.

“Disease impacts all kinds of aspects, so it’s not just wild plants but it’s also agricultural plants; there’s human disease interactions that are also changing with temperature,” she said. “We’re interested in trying to understand how that changing climate is going to affect disease now and into the future.”