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Category: Communication

Description: Ascochyta rabiei, a pathogenic fungus and the causing agent of Ascochyta blight of chickpea, is represented by a highly clonal population in Australia, due to the presence of only a single mating type. This presentation will summarise the current knowledge of the patterns and trends found in this unique population structure, as discovered by genetic analysis of isolates collected between 2013-2020 as part of ongoing monitoring studies led by Prof. Rebecca Ford at Griffith University. The identified patterns suggest that A. rabiei displays micro-evolution in local regions, probably driven by founder effects, along with cross-regional gene flow, most likely due to anthropogenic activities.