Mycologia (2014) 106, 66-76

Yuko Ota, Tsutomu Hattori, Hitoshi Nakamura, Yoshie Terashima, Su-See Lee, Yurika Miyuki and Sotome Kozue (2014)
Taxonomy and phylogenetic position of Fomitiporia torreyae, a causal agent of trunk rot on Sanbu-sugi, a cultivar of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) in Japan
Mycologia 106 (1), 66-76
Abstract: Trunk rot poses a substantial threat to Sanbu-sugi, one of the most economically important cultivars of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica). The etiology of this disease, including its main agents, is incompletely known. This trunk rot was attributed to Fomitiporia (Phellinus) hartigii or F. (Phellinus) punctata. Here we phylogenetically analyzed DNA sequences of four markers from a set of strains isolated from trunk-rot symptoms and recovered a single, monophyletic clade, indicating that a single taxon is involved. This clade was identified as Fomitiporia torreyae, a species described from eastern China. This analysis also proved that trunk rot and/or dieback of other conifers and broadleaf trees, including Sawara cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera), Japanese umbrella pine (Sciadopitys verticillata) and Japanese pear (Pyrus pyrifolia var. culta), were caused by the same species. The phylogenetic approach to Fomitiporia revealed that the F. torreyae clade was closely related to F. bannaensis but clearly distinct from F. punctata, which originally was thought to be the cause of trunk rot in Sanbu-sugi. Fomitiporia torreyae is redescribed on the basis of more than 40 specimens from multiple hosts from Japan and China. Fomitiporia juniperina comb. nov. is proposed.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Su-See Lee

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
identification/taxonomy
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Fomitiporia torreyae	Pear (Pyrus)
	Fomitiporia torreyae	Cryptomeria japonica	Japan
	Fomitiporia torreyae	Japanese cypress and relatives (Chamaecyparis)