Phytopathology (2001) 91, 628-632

S.W. van Heerden, L.M. Geletka, O. Preisig, D.L. Nuss, B.D. Wingfield and M.J. Wingfield (2001)
Characterization of South African Cryphonectria cubensis isolates infected with a C. parasitica hypovirus
Phytopathology 91 (7), 628-632
Abstract: Cryphonectria cubensis is the causal agent of a serious canker disease of Eucalyptus spp. in tropical and subtropical parts of the world. In this study, a South African C. cubensis isolate was transfected by electroporation with a synthetic RNA transcript corresponding to the full-length coding strand of the C. parasitica hypovirus (CHV1-EP713). Hypovirus infection resulted in pronounced morphological changes that included a striking increase in bright yellow-orange pigment production, a reduction in mycelial growth rate, and reduced sporulation. Greenhouse studies revealed that the virus-containing strain was significantly less virulent than the original virulent C. cubensis isolate. Although the hypovirus was not transmitted through conidia produced by infected C. cubensis, the virus was readily transmitted via hyphal anastomosis to C. cubensis isolates representing a broad range of vegetative compatibility groups. These results suggest that vegetative incompatibility may not pose a strong barrier against virus transmission in South African isolates of C. cubensis and that hypovirus-mediated biological control could provide opportunities to reduce the impact of Cryphonectria canker in South Africa.
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Full text of article
Database assignments for author(s): Schalk W. van Heerden, Brenda D. Wingfield, Michael J. Wingfield, Donald L. Nuss

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Chrysoporthe cubensis	Eucalypt (Eucalyptus)	South Africa
	Chrysoporthe austroafricana	Eucalypt (Eucalyptus)	South Africa
Cryphonectria parasitica hypoviruses (antagonist)	Chrysoporthe cubensis	Eucalypt (Eucalyptus)	South Africa