Studies in Mycology (2004) 50, 195-214
Pedro W. Crous, Johannes Z. Groenewald, J. Pedro Mansilla, Gavin C. Hunter and Michael J. Wingfield (2004)
Phylogenetic reassessment of Mycosphaerella spp. and their anamorphs occurring on Eucalyptus
Studies in Mycology 50, 195-214
Abstract: Species of Eucalyptus, mostly native to Australia, are widely planted as exotics in the tropics and Southern Hemisphere. These plantations represent an important source of fuel-wood, structural timber and pulp. Eucalyptus plantations are, however, vulnerable to infection by pathogens, including Mycosphaerella spp. and their anamorphs, which have caused substantial damage, in many parts of the world. More than 30 species of Mycosphaerella, and close to 30 anamorph species for which the Mycosphaerella state remains unknown, are associated with leaf and shoot disease on Eucalyptus spp., worldwide. Although several studies using DNA sequence data have been applied to resolve the phylogenetic relationships between Mycosphaerella spp. on Eucalyptus, the number of species treated has been incomplete. In the present study, isolates of 44 Mycosphaerella species or their anamorphs associated with lesions on Eucalyptus leaves were compared based on DNA sequence data for the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1 and ITS2) and the 5.8S gene. In addition, DNA sequence data from the elongation factor 1-alpha and the ß-tubulin gene regions were used to resolve species in the M. nubilosa species complex. As a result of these comparisons, 11 new species are described. Mycosphaerella juvenis is reduced to synonymy with M. nubilosa and an epitype specimen and ex-epitype culture are designated for the latter. Mycosphaerella nubilosa is recorded as a serious agent of Mycosphaerella leaf blotch on E. globulus in Spain. This is also the first definitive record of this pathogen occurring on Eucalyptus in Europe.
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Database assignments for author(s): Pedro W. Crous, Michael J. Wingfield, Johannes Z. Groenewald, Gavin C. Hunter
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
identification/taxonomy
