Plant Disease (2021) 105 (12 - 0289)

C.J. Zhuang, Q.W. Wang, Q.Q. Wu, Z.L. Qiu, B.C. Xu and C.Q. Zhang (2021)
Diversity of Botryosphaeriaceae species associated with Chinese hickory tree (Carya cathayensis) trunk cankers
Plant Disease 105 (12 - 0289)
Abstract: Tree trunk cankers represent serious fungal diseases that pose significant threats to Chinese hickory trees (Carya cathayensis). To characterize the pathogen diversity associated with this disease, tissues were collected between 2016 and 2018 from the primary Chinese hickory plantation regions. A total of 97 cultures were isolated from trees in six towns (Longgang, Qingliangfeng, Changhua, Tuankou, Taiyang Town, and Lin'an urban area) within the Linan district, where 60% of Chinese hickory tree yields originate. The isolated cultures caused cankers on Chinese hickory tree branches, but infections did not occur on fruits or leaves under tested conditions. Combined morphological observations and phylogenetic analysis of multiple genes (ITS, β-tubulin, and EF) indicated that five Botryosphaeriaceae species were recovered, including 89 isolates of Botryosphaeria dothidea, 4 isolates of Botryosphaeria fabicerciana, 1 isolate of Botryosphaeria qingyuanensis, 1 isolate of Botryosphaeria corticis, and two isolates of Lasiodiplodia theobromae. B. dothidea was the most prevalent, and this is the first report of B. corticis, B. qingyuanensis, and L. theobromae infections in Chinese hickory trees. We investigated the mycelial growth, spore germination, and pathogenicity of these species at different temperatures. L. theobromae grew the fastest and B. cortices grew the slowest on potato dextrose agar. The optimum temperature of spore germination for all species was 30°C. L. theobromae was the most virulent species, followed by B. dothidea and B. qingyuanensis, then B. fabicerciana, and finally B. cortices. These new insights into fungal pathogen diversity provide critical new information to understand and manage tree trunk cankers of Chinese hickory.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Chuan-Qing Zhang

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Lasiodiplodia theobromae	Pecan/hickory (Carya)	China (south)
	Botryosphaeria dothidea	Pecan/hickory (Carya)	China (south)