“…Many authors suggest that the equal presence of both mating types and the high genetic diversity of European D. septosporum populations increases the likelihood of sexual reproduction of the fungus and genetic recombination (Adamson et al., 2018; Barnes et al., 2008; Boron et al, 2019; Drenkhan et al., 2013; Groenewald et al, 2007; Mullett, Brown, & Barnes, 2015), as well as increases the possibility of the pathogen to co‐evolve with the native pine hosts (Barnes et al., 2011, 2014; Boroń et al, 2016; Drenkhan et al., 2014, 2016; Kowalski & Jankowiak, 1998; McDonald & Linde, 2002; Perry, Brown, Cavers, Cottrell, & Ennos, 2016; Perry, Wachowiak, et al, 2016; Piotrowska et al., 2017). Recent studies in the UK have shown a high variability in the aggressiveness of the pathogen and in the susceptibility of Scots pine populations to D. septosporum , including the different adaptive capacity of trees to survive and co‐exist with the pathogen (Fraser et al., 2015; Perry, Brown, et al, 2016).…”