The Green Revolution (GR), characterized by the extensive use of agrochemicals and the</p><p>cultivation of new plant varieties, significantly altered plant-microorganism interactions.</p><p>Phytopathogenic fungi pose major challenges to agriculture by reducing crop yield and quality,</p><p>increasing production costs, and causing economic losses. They also impact food security, global</p><p>trade, and environmental sustainability. Therefore, historical biological collections that preserve</p><p>pre-GR biological diversity are essential for understanding how the intensive agronomical</p><p>practices of the modern era have influenced these interactions. The aim of the current study was</p><p>to highlight the importance of a phytopathogenic fungi collection as a vital resource for</p><p>addressing present-day plant disease issues for future sustainable agriculture.</p><p>We successfully revived two museum strains of Botrytis cinerea, collected in the early 1940s,</p><p>before the onset of GR, and performed phenotypic, whole-genome sequencing, transcriptomics,</p><p>and metabolomics analyses revealing their unique characteristics. Comparing these historical</p><p>strains with modern laboratory strains validated the authenticity of the historical samples and</p><p>revealed significant variations between them. These variations highlight adaptations likely driven</p><p>by anthropogenic activities, such as fungicide usage, as well as ecological adaptations, including</p><p>host-specific virulence, pH tolerance, and other environmental factors. The research portrays the</p><p>importance of natural history collections, by demonstrating how museum specimens can be</p><p>revived and analyzed using advanced omic techniques to reveal temporal and spatial changes.</p><p>The obtained data is crucial for managing and mitigating plant diseases in modern agriculture,</p><p>tracking and predicting disease outbreaks, conserving biodiversity, and ensuring sustainability.
