Temporal and Spatial Genetic Population Structure of <i>Cryphonectria parasitica</i> and Its Associated Hypovirus Across an Invasive Range of Chestnut Blight in Europe

Chestnut blight has spread throughout Europe since the introduction of its causal agent, Cryphonectria parasitica, &gt;70 years ago. In our study, we analyzed diversity vegetative compatibility (vc) and microsatellite genotypes C. as well sequence hypovirus 1 (CHV1) in six populations from Switzerland, Croatia, North Macedonia. Resampling local that were already investigated more than a decade ago allowed us to analyze spatial temporal population structure across an invasive range pathogen Europe. Regardless which genetic marker was used, &gt;60-year-old Swiss Croatian had high diversity, whereas recent Macedonian mostly clonal. These differences between remained stable over time. A CHV1 observed all three countries, with strains forming separate cluster obtained other countries. No correlation vc prevalence observed, suggesting well-established maintained natural hypovirulence further corroborated by increase parasitica time, without collapse prevalence.