Endophytic Cryphonectriaceae on native Myrtales: Possible origin of Chrysoporthe canker on plantation-grown Eucalyptus.
Chrysoporthe austroafricana (Cryphonectriaceae) is a damaging canker pathogen on Eucalyptus species in Southern Africa. Recent studies have shown that the fungus occurs on native Syzygium species and that it has apparently undergone a host range expansion from these native trees to infect non-native Eucalyptus. The aim of this study was to consider whether Chr. austroafricana and other Cryphonectriaceae might exist as endophytes in native Myrtaceae, providing a source of inoculum to infect non-native Myrtales. Healthy branches were collected from Myrtaceae in Mozambique, incubated in florist foam, allowed to dry gradually and monitored for the appearance of fruiting bodies resembling species in the Cryphonectriaceae. Isolates were identified based on DNA sequence data. Two species in the Cryphonectriaceae were obtained, representing the first evidence that species in the Cryphonectriaceae occur as endophytes on native Myrtales, thus providing a source of inoculum to infect non-native and susceptible trees. This has important implications regarding the movement of planting stock used by ornamental tree and forestry enterprises.
Department of Microbiology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa.
Silvia N D
SN
Mausse-Sitoe
Forestry Protection Programme, Smurfit Kappa - Colombia, Calle 15 #18-109, Puerto Isaacs, Yumbo, Valle, 760502, Colombia.
Carlos A
CA
Rodas
Department of Microbiology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa.
Michael J
MJ
Wingfield
Department of Microbiology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa; China Eucalypt Research Centre (CERC), Chinese Academy of Forestry (CAF), Zhanjiang, 524088, Guangdong, China.
ShuaiFei
S
Chen
Department of Microbiology, Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa. Electronic address: jolanda.roux@fabi.up.ac.za.
Jolanda
J
Roux
D001203:Ascomycota / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D060026:Endophytes / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009073:Mozambique; D027822:Myrtaceae / Q000382:microbiology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D004271:DNA, Fungal
Canker pathogens; Forestry; Melastomataceae; Myrtaceae; Plants for planting; Quarantine