Problems inferring the specificity of plant—pathogen genetics
Parker (1996, Evol. Ecol. 10, 319-22) argued that data from agricultural genetics are sufficient to draw a strong conclusion about the nature of genetic specificity in plant – pathogen interactions. By contrast, I have argued that the current data are not sufficient (Frank, 1993, Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B 254, 191; 1994, Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B 346, 283; 1996a, Evol. Ecol. 10, 307-17). There are biochemical, evolutionary, epidemiological and statistical reasons to doubt Parker's conclusion.