title: Novel ophiostomatalean fungi from galleries of Cyrtogenius africus (Scolytinae) infesting dying Euphorbia ingens.
abstract: Euphorbia ingens trees have been dying in large numbers in the Limpopo Province of South Africa for approximately 15 years. The ambrosia beetle Cyrtogenius africus is often found infesting diseased and dying trees. The aim of this study was to identify the ophiostomatoid fungi occurring in the galleries of C. africus. Logs infested with this beetle were collected from the KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and North West Provinces of South Africa. Fungi belonging to the Ophiostomatales were identified based on morphology and comparison of sequence data for the β-tubulin, ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and LSU gene regions. A novel species of Ophiostoma and a novel genus in the Ophiostomatales were identified. Inoculation studies with these fungi produced lesions in the branches of healthy E. ingens trees.
authors: Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa.
authors: Johannes Alwyn
authors: JA
authors: van der Linde
authors: College of Forestry and Conservation, Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA.
authors: Diana L
authors: DL
authors: Six
authors: Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa.
authors: Wilhelm Z
authors: WZ
authors: De Beer
authors: Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa.
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Wingfield
authors: Department of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa. jolanda.roux@fabi.up.ac.za.
authors: Jolanda
authors: J
authors: Roux
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D028481:Euphorbia / Q000469:parasitology*; D055156:Ophiostoma / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D055155:Ophiostomatales / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013019:South Africa; D014197:Trees / Q000382:microbiology; D014404:Tubulin / Q000235:genetics; D048889:Weevils / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal; D014404:Tubulin
keywords: Ophiostoma; Ophiostomataceae; Ophiostomatalean fungi; Ophiostomatales; Scolytinae