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Title: A NEW SPECIES OF FUSICOCCUM CAUSING A CANKER DISEASE OF PACIFIC MADRONE

Author
item ELLIOTT, M - UNIV OF WASH, SEATTLE, WA
item Rossman, Amy
item Farr, David
item EDMONDS, R - UNIV OF WASH, SEATTLE, WA

Submitted to: Phytopathology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2004
Publication Date: 6/1/2004
Citation: Elliott, M., Rossman, A.Y., Farr, D.F., Edmonds, R.L. A new species of fusicoccum causing a canker disease of pacific madrone. Phytopathology.Vol.94(6)P.527,2004.

Interpretive Summary: Abstract Only

Technical Abstract: Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii) is a broadleaf evergreen tree native to Western North America and has been suffering a decline during the past thirty years. A fungus, previously identified as Nattrassia mangiferae, causes a canker disease that is primarily responsible for the decline. Isolates of the pathogen were studied using morphological and molecular methods. Only asexual spores were observed, but sequencing of the ITS region of the ribosomal rDNA places the fungus in the genus Botryosphaeria. The madrone canker fungus resembles Fusicoccum anamorphs of closely related Botryosphaeria species B. ribis and B. parva, and has a similar pathology. Based on rDNA sequences, isolates of Nattrassia mangiferae from a culture collection were shown to have teleomorphs in Botryosphaeria in a clade with B. mamane and B. corticis. However, the madrone fungus is not identical or even closely related to Nattrassia and should be considered a new species of Fusicoccum.