Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #172217

Title: FUSICOCCUM ARBUTI SP. NOV. CAUSING CANKERS ON PACIFIC MADRONE IN WESTERN NORTH AMERICA WITH NOTES ON FUSICOCCUM DIMIDIATUM, THE CORRECT NAME FOR NATTRASSIA MANGIFERAE

Author
item Farr, David
item ELLIOTT, M. - UNIV OF WASHINGTON
item Rossman, Amy
item EDMONDS, R.L. - UNIV. OF WASHINGTON

Submitted to: Mycologia
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/13/2005
Publication Date: 7/14/2005
Citation: Farr, D.F., Elliott, M., Rossman, A.Y., Edmonds, R. 2005. Fusicoccum arbuti sp. nov. causing cankers on Pacific madrone in western North America with notes on Fusicoccum dimidiatum, the correct name for Scytalidium dimidiatun and Nattrassia mangiferae. Mycologia. 97(3):730-741.

Interpretive Summary: Pacific madrone, a broadleaf evergreen tree native to western North America, has been suffering a decline for the past thirty years. A fungus has been isolated and was verified as the cause of cankers on dying madrone trees. This fungus was determined to be a previously undescribed species belonging to a group that commonly causes canker diseases of trees. In the paper the fungus causing canker disease of madrone is characterized, described, illustrated, and named as a new species. Evidence suggests that this fungus has been present in western North America since 1968. Prior to this research, plant pathologists had misidentified the causal fungus. This research will be used by plant pathologists to accurately determine the cause of this disease in order to develop control measures.

Technical Abstract: Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii) is a broadleaf evergreen tree native to western North America that has been suffering a decline for the past thirty years. A fungus has been isolated and was verified as the cause of cankers on dying trees. This fungus was determined to belong in Fusicoccum, an anamorph of Botryosphaeria, a genus that commonly causes canker diseases of deciduous woody trees. Using morphological and molecular data this fungus is characterized, described and illustrated as a new species of Fusicoccum, F. arbuti D.F. Farr & M. Elliott sp. nov. No sexual state is known for this fungus. Evidence from the literature, cultures and specimens suggests that this fungus has been causing madrone canker as far back as 1968. Initially identified as Nattrassia mangiferae, this species was determined to be allied with but distinct from Fusicoccum aesculi, the anamorph of Botryosphaeria dothidea. Fusicoccum dimidiatum (Penz.) D.F. Farr, comb. nov. provides the most accurate name for Nattrassia mangiferae and its numerous synonyms (Fusicoccum eucalypti, Exosporina fawcetii, Hendersonula toruloidea, Scytilidium dimidiatum, and S. lignicola).