title: Leaf-spot disease on European mistletoe (Viscum album) caused by Phaeobotryosphaeria visci: a potential candidate for biological control.
abstract: Viscum album (European mistletoe), a perennial, evergreen, hemiparasitic shrub, infects a wide range of woody species. It adversely affects the height and diameter of growth and it is associated with increased mortality of its hosts. There is no effective control methods against it. We have found a specific hyperparasitic fungus, which can completely destroy European mistletoe by infecting its branches, leaves and berries. Both morphological and molecular identification, based on ribosomal internal transcribed spacer sequences (rDNA-ITS), established its identity as Phaeobotryosphaeria visci. Our analysis also revealed unexpected ITS variability, as compared to the previous studies, that needs to be considered in identifying of this pathogen. Because of its efficient pathogenicity this fungus might be a good candidate for biological control of mistletoe.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plant Protection, Georgikon Faculty, University of Pannonia, Keszthely, Hungary. ildikovarga@hotmail.hu
authors.forename: Ildikó
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Varga
authors.forename: János
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Taller
authors.forename: Tivadar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baltazár
authors.forename: Jaakko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hyvönen
authors.forename: Péter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Poczai
mesh_terms: D001203:Ascomycota / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005638:Fruit / Q000382:microbiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000382:microbiology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D028182:Viscum album / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer