Host genotype diversity and its effects on pathogen populations
Host genotype diversity = “host heterogeneity”
Basic idea: if monoculture maximizes selection for new virulences, take a step back
“Mid-component”: the mean of the mixture’s component cultivars when they are grown as pure stands
Mechanisms of disease reduction in small-grain blends
Club wheat mixture: components can be distinguished by head color
Characteristics that predict whether blends will reduce disease (Garrett & Mundt, 1999)
Spatial scale is predicted by theory to be important to blend effectiveness