Gene transfer between fungal species triggers repeated coffee wilt disease outbreaks

by Brenda D. Wingfield, Michael J. Wingfield

Two outbreaks of coffee wilt disease have devastated African coffee production. A PLOS Biology study suggests that horizontal gene transfer via large Starship transposons between 2 fungal species played a key role in the repeated emergence of the disease. Two outbreaks of coffee wilt disease have devastated African coffee production. A PLOS Biology study suggests that horizontal gene transfer via Starships between two fungal strains played a key role in the repeated emergence of the disease.