Forest Pathology (2005) 35, 305-314

Y.W. Lim, Y.C.A. Yeung, R. Sturrock, I. Leal and C. Breuil (2005)
Differentiating the two closely related species, Phellinus weirii and P. sulphurascens
Forest Pathology 35 (4), 305-314
Abstract: Phellinus weirii s.l., an aggressive root rot pathogen, causes extensive wood losses and lowers the productivity of western red cedar (WRC, Thuja plicata), Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and other conifers. This fungus has been recognized as a cedar form (P. weirii s.s.) and a non-cedar form (P. sulphurascens). Differentiating the two species is difficult because their fruiting bodies and cultural morphologies are very similar. However, differences in growth rate and colony morphology were observed when they were grown on malt extract agar with WRC feeder strips. In addition, different restriction fragment length polymorphism patterns were obtained using (i) the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region cut with the restriction enzyme RsaI, and (ii) the partial large subunit ribosomal DNA region cut with AgeI and NciI. Furthermore, a new specific primer set was designed from the ITS region of P. weirii s.s. and was used to differentiate it from P. sulphurascens and other decay fungi that are frequently found in coniferous trees. These species-specific primers will facilitate the detection of P. weirii in standing trees well before visible signs of infection are apparent.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Colette Breuil

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
identification/taxonomy
surveys/sampling/distribution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Coniferiporia weirii	Thuja (genus)	Canada (west)
	Porodaedalea pini	Spruce (Picea)	Canada (west)
	Coniferiporia sulphurascens	Pine (Pinus)	Canada (west)
	Coniferiporia sulphurascens	Hemlock (Tsuga)	Canada (west)
	Coniferiporia sulphurascens	Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)	Canada (west)