Ecological competence

Ecological competence is the ability of a pathogen to invade and multiply rapidly in suitable new habitats. In the case of plant pathogens, it is also their ability to survive between growing seasons. For example, Peanut clump virus can survive in the spores of its fungal vector until a new growing season begins and it can proceed to infect its primary host again. If a pathogen does not have ecological competence it will likely become extinct.