Multiple gene genealogies reveal important relationships between species of Phaeophleospora infecting Eucalyptus leaves

The majority of Eucalyptus species are native to Australia, but worldwide there are over 3 million ha of exotic plantations, especially in the tropics and subtropics. Of the numerous known leaf diseases, three species of Phaeophleospora can cause severe defoliation of young Eucalyptus; Phaeophleospora destructans, Phaeophleospora eucalypti and Phaeophleospora epicoccoides. Phaeophleospora destructans has a major impact on seedling survival in Asia and has not, as yet, been found in Australia where it is considered a serious threat to the biosecurity of native eucalypts. It can be difficult to distinguish Phaeophleospora species based on symptoms and micromorphology and an unequivocal diagnostic tool for quarantine purposes would be useful. In this study, a multiple gene genealogy of these Phaeophleospora species and designed specific primers has been constructed to detect their presence from leaf samples. The phylogenetic position of these Phaeophleospora species within Mycosphaerella was established. They are closely related to each other and to other important Eucalyptus pathogens, Mycosphaerella nubilosa, Mycosphaerella cryptica and Colletogloeopsis zuluensis. The specific primers developed can now be used for diagnostic and screening purposes within Australia.     

Occurrence of Ctenarytaina eucalypti (Maskell) (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) and its natural enemy Psyllaephagus pilosus Noyes (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) in Eucalyptus globulus in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Eucalyptus are hosts of several psyllid species. Among them, Ctenarytaina eucalypti (Maskell) is considered the most harmful to Eucalyptus globulus plantations. In Brazil, this pest has been observed in the state of Parana, and in 2005, it was found causing damage to plantations of E. globulus in Arroio Grande and Piratini cities, RS. The monophagous endoparasitoid Psyllaephagus pilosus Noyes was also observed parasitizing nymphs of C. eucalypti. This parasitoid has been shown to be highly efficient in controlling this psyllid species, making unnecessary the use of any other control method.     

四川石榴枯萎病的病原菌

2009年在四川省攀西地区的石榴上发现一种毁灭性的新病害,且有逐年加重危害的趋势,已对石榴生产造成了巨大威胁。通过对发病植株的症状观察,病原菌的分离培养和显微形态特征观察,rDNA-ITS序列分析,及致病性测定,最后确定该病害是由甘薯长喙壳Ceratocystis fimbriata 侵染引起的。该病害在印度和中国云南蒙自石榴产区曾有发生报道,但在四川省石榴产区为首次报道。     

Genetic variation in eastern North American and putatively introduced populations of Ceratocystis fimbriata f. platani

The plant pathogenic fungus Ceratocystis fimbriata f. platani attacks Platanus species (London plane, oriental plane and American sycamore) and has killed tens of thousands of plantation trees and street trees in the eastern United States, southern Europe and Modesto, California. Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA fingerprints and alleles of eight polymorphic microsatellite markers of isolates of C. fimbriata from these regions delineated major differences in gene diversities. The 33 isolates from the eastern United States had a moderate degree of gene diversity, and unique genotypes were found at each of seven collection sites. Fingerprints of 27 isolates from 21 collection sites in southern Europe were identical with each other; microsatellite markers were monomorphic within the European population, except that three isolates differed at one locus each, due perhaps to recent mutations. The genetic variability of C. fimbriata f. platani in the eastern United States suggests that the fungus is indigenous to this region. The genetic homogeneity of the fungus in Europe suggests that this population has gone through a recent genetic bottleneck, perhaps from the introduction of a single genotype. This supports the hypothesis that the pathogen was introduced to Europe through Naples, Italy during World War II on infected crating material from the eastern United States. The Californian population may also have resulted from introduction of one or a few related genotypes because it, too, had a single nuclear and mitochondrial genotype and limited variation in microsatellite alleles.     

Comparison of feeding efficiency, development time and survival of Tasmanian eucalyptus leaf beetle larvae Chrysophtharta bimaculata (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on two hosts

The native Eucalyptus leaf beetle Chrysophtharta bimaculata (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) has become a pest of the introduced, plantation species, Eucalyptus nitens Maiden in Tasmania, Australia. However, in the field it prefers to oviposit on the Tasmanian native species, E. regnans F. Muell. This laboratory study found that the performance of C. bimaculata larvae was superior on foliage of E. nitens compared with E. regnans . Larval development was 4 days shorter on E. nitens than on E. regnans foliage. Total food consumption per larva and relative consumption rates were about 30% lower while relative growth rates and weight of emergent adults were more than 25% higher on E. nitens than E. regnans . Efficiency of conversion (ECI) of fresh food into larval wet weight was 0.26 on E. nitens compared with 0.14 on E. regnans . Mortality of larvae feeding on E. nitens (23%) was only one third of that on E. regnans (69%), a result of high first instar mortality on E. regnans . Although the amount of foliage consumed per larva was lower on E. nitens (0.23 g vs 0.32 g), the differential mortality meant that the amount of E. nitens consumed per egg batch was 60% more than that of E. regnans . If these results occurred in the field, then the same monitored population of C. bimaculata eggs may result in heavier defoliation of plantation E. nitens than of E. regnans . These data show that the reported oviposition preference of C. bimaculata for E. regnans in the field cannot be explained by selection of host factors related to superior larval performance.     

Phylogeny and taxonomy of the North American clade of the Ceratocystis fimbriata complex

Ceratocystis fimbriata is a widely distributed, plant pathogenic fungus that causes wilts and cankers on many woody hosts. Earlier phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequences revealed three geographic clades within the C. fimbriata complex that are centered respectively in North America, Latin America and Asia. This study looked for cryptic species within the North American clade. The internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS) of the rDNA were sequenced, and phylogenetic analysis indicated that most isolates from the North American clade group into four host-associated lineages, referred to as the aspen, hickory, oak and cherry lineages, which were isolated primarily from wounds or diseased trees of Populus, Carya, Quercus and Prunus, respectively. A single isolate collected from P. serotina in Wisconsin had a unique ITS sequence. Allozyme electromorphs also were highly polymorphic within the North American clade, and the inferred phylogenies from these data were congruent with the ITS-rDNA analyses. In pairing experiments isolates from the aspen, hickory, oak and cherry lineages were interfertile only with other isolates from their respective lineages. Inoculation experiments with isolates of the four host-associated groupings showed strong host specialization by isolates from the aspen and hickory lineages on Populus tremuloides and Carya illinoensis, respectively, but isolates from the oak and cherry lineages did not consistently reveal host specialization. Morphological features distinguish isolates in the North American clade from those of the Latin American clade (including C. fimbriata sensu stricto). Based on the phylogenetic evidence, interfertility, host specialization and morphology, the oak and cherry lineages are recognized as the earlier described C. variospora, the poplar lineage as C. populicola sp. nov., and the hickory lineage as C. caryae sp. nov. A new species associated with the bark beetle Scolytus quadrispinosus on Carya is closely related to C. caryae and is described as C. smalleyi.     

Novel species of Celoporthe from Eucalyptus and Syzygium trees in China and Indonesia

Many species in the Cryphonectriaceae cause diseases of trees, including those in the genera Eucalyptus and Syzygium. During disease surveys on these trees in southern China, fruiting structures typical of fungi in the Cryphonectriaceae and associated with dying branches and stems were observed. Morphological comparisons suggested that these fungi were distinct from the well known Chrysoporthe deuterocubensis, also found on these trees in China. The aim of this study was to identify these fungi and evaluate their pathogenicity to Eucalyptus clones/species as well as Syzygium cumini. Three morphologically similar fungal isolates collected previously from Indonesia also were included in the study. Isolates were characterized based on comparisons of morphology and DNA sequence data for the partial LSU and ITS nuclear ribosomal DNA, β-tubulin and TEF-1α gene regions. After glasshouse trials to select virulent isolates field inoculations were undertaken to screen different commercial Eucalyptus clones/species and S. cumini trees for susceptibility to infection. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the Chinese isolates and those from Indonesia reside in a clade close to previously identified South African Celoporthe isolates. Based on morphology and DNA sequence comparisons, four new Celoporthe spp. were identified and they are described as C. syzygii, C. eucalypti, C. guangdongensis and C. indonesiensis. Field inoculations indicated that the three Chinese Celoporthe spp., C. syzygii, C. eucalypti and C. guangdongensis, are pathogenic to all tested Eucalyptus and S. cumini trees. Significant differences in the susceptibility of the inoculated Eucalyptus clones/species suggest that it will be possible to select disease-tolerant planting stock for forestry operations in the future.     

Ceratocystis species, including two new species associated with nitidulid beetles, on eucalypts in Australia

The genus Ceratocystis includes important fungal pathogens of trees, including Eucalyptus spp. Ironically, very little is known regarding the diversity or biology of Ceratocystis species on Eucalyptus species in Australia, where most of these trees are native. The aim of this study was to survey for Ceratocystis spp., and their possible insect associates, on eucalypts in Australia and thus to establish a foundation of knowledge regarding these fungi on the continent. Collections were made in three states of Australia from wounds on trees, as well as from nitidulid beetles associated with these wounds. Ceratocystis spp. were identified based on morphology and multigene sequence comparisons. Of the 54 isolates obtained, two previously unknown species of Ceratocystis were found and these are described here as Ceratocystis corymbiicola sp. nov. and Ceratocystis tyalla sp. nov. Furthermore, the distribution of Ceratocystis pirilliformis is expanded to include Eucalyptus spp. in Tasmania.     

Intersterility, morphology and taxonomy of Ceratocystis fimbriata on sweet potato, cacao and sycamore

Ceratocystis fimbriata is a large, diverse complex of species that cause wilt-type diseases of many economically important plants. Previous studies have shown that isolates in three monophyletic lineages within the Latin American clade of C. fimbriata are host-specialized to cacao (Theobroma cacao), sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and sycamore (Platanus spp.), respectively. We paired testers of opposite mating type from isolates of these lineages to find intersterility groups. Two intersterility groups corresponded to the sweet potato and sycamore lineages, respectively. The cacao lineage contained two intersterility groups, corresponding to two genetic sublineages centered in western Ecuador and Brazil/Costa Rica/Colombia. Six isolates from cacao that were not members of the cacao lineage and were not pathogenic to cacao in an earlier study also were intersterile with members of the two cacao intersterility groups. Some pairings between testers from different lineages or sublineages yielded perithecia from which a few abnormal progeny could be recovered, typical of interspecific hybrids. These progeny showed abnormal segregation of the MAT-2 gene and mycelial morphology, showing that they were indeed the result of crosses. Isolates of the sweet potato, cacao, and sycamore lineages were indistinguishable morphologically except for the presence or absence of a doliform (barrel-shaped) conidial state and minor differences in size of perithecial bases and necks and ascospores. C. fimbriata originally was described from sweet potato. We describe the cacao pathogen as a new species, Ceratocystis cacaofunesta and we raise the sycamore pathogen from a form to species Ceratocystis platani.     

Energy potential of waste from 10 forest species in the North of Spain (Cantabria)

In this work, the waste from 10 forest species of Cantabria have been characterized from the point of view of energy. The studied species were the waste of: Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus nitens, the hybrid E. globulusxE. nitens, Eucalyptus viminalis, Eucalyptus smithii, Eucalyptus regnans, Eucalyptus gunni, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur and Pinus radiata. The leaves were the tree part with the greatest NCV (net calorific value) in all the species. The best results were obtained for the leaves of E. smithii (24.5 MJ/kg), F. sylvatica (22.8 MJ/kg) and E. nitens (22.5 MJ/kg), at minimum moisture. Values around 65,000 MJ per hectare and year were obtained for the Eucalyptus spp., and 47,000 MJ per hectare and year for the P. radiata. The economic-environmental analysis revealed that the use of the forest waste for energy production would mean an approximate annual income of 8 Meuro and would fix the annual CO(2) emitted by the Cantabrian industries at 78%.     

Oviposition by introduced Ophelimus eucalypti (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and morphogenesis of female-induced galls on Eucalyptus saligna(Myrtaceae) in New Zealand

An Australian gall-inducing eulophid, Ophelimus eucalypti (Gahan) was first recorded on the foliage of Eucalyptus botryoides after it invaded New Zealand in 1987. It has spread throughout the eucalypt plantations in the North Island and in the northern parts of the South Island affecting several species of Eucalyptus in the section Transversaria (subgenus Symphyomyrtus). Because gall-inducing insects usually have extremely narrow host ranges, O. eucalypti that induces galls on E. saligna and E. botryoides is currently recognized as a biotype, O. eucalypti(Transversaria). Heavily galled leaves abscise from the plant. Repeated defoliation led to widespread die-back of susceptible eucalypt species in the 1990s. Female larvae of O. eucalypti induce circular, protruding galls on the leaves of E. botryoides and E. saligna, whereas the males induce pit galls on the same species. The biology of O. eucalypti females and the development of their galls are described. Adult female O. eucalypti antennate the leaf surface before inserting the ovipositor (otherwise concealed within the metasomal apex) into the young host leaf. The egg is inserted at approximately 45 degrees and discharged between differentiating palisade cells. Callus-type cells surround the egg chamber, but cytologically specialized nutritive cells appear once the egg hatches and the larva begins to feed. The gall also differentiates a multi-layered sclerenchymatous tissue around the nutritive tissue. After feeding for many months, the larva pupates and the active nutritive tissue degenerates. The adult wasp emerges after cutting an exit hole through to the outside of the gall. Abscission of heavily galled leaves results in widespread defoliation and loss of growth and vigour in susceptible trees in New Zealand.     

Sporothrix eucalypti (sp. nov.), a shoot and leaf pathogen ofEucalyptus in South Africa

A species ofSporothrix was consistently isolated from leaf spots and serious shoot infections on a clone ofEucalyptus grandis in Northern Natal, South Africa. The fungus was morphologically distinct from other species in the genus and is consequently described as a new taxon,S. eucalypti. Sporothrix eucalypti was shown to be highly virulent in pathogenicity tests on a number ofE. grandis clones. Significant differences amongst susceptibility of clones were also detected in these tests.Sporothrix eucalypti represents a new pathogen ofEucalyptus that has the potential to cause substantial damage to this host in South Africa and probably elsewhere in the world.     

Aurapex penicillata gen. sp. nov. from native Miconia theaezans and Tibouchina spp. in Colombia

Conidiomata of a fungus resembling Chrysoporthe cubensis, a serious canker pathogen of Eucalyptus spp. (Myrtaceae, Myrtales) in tropical and subtropical parts of the world, was found on Eucalyptus grandis in Colombia. Fruiting structures of the fungus could be distinguished from those of C. cubensis by their distinctly orange conidiomatal necks. This fungus also was found on several plant species native to Colombia including Tibouchina urvilleana, T. lepidota and Miconia theaezans (Melastomataceae, Myrtales). Morphological comparisons, as well as those based on sequences of the ITS1/ITS2 region of the ribosomal DNA repeat and the beta-tubulin gene, were used to characterize this fungus. Its pathogenicity was assessed on various plants from which it has been collected, either in field or greenhouse trials. Phylogenetic analyses showed that isolates reside in a clade distinct from the four clades accommodating Chrysoporthe, Cryphonectria, Endothia and Rostraureum. Members of this clade are distinguished by the presence of orange conidiomatal necks with black bases and a unique internal stromatal structure. No teleomorph has been found for this fungus, for which we have provided the name Aurapex penicillata gen. sp. nov. A. penicillata produced only small lesions after inoculation on young T. urvilleana, M. theaezans and E. grandis trees and appears not to be a serious pathogen.     

QTL mapping for resistance to Ceratocystis wilt in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus</Emphasis>

Ceratocystis wilt caused by the fungus Ceratocystis fimbriata, is currently one of the major diseases in commercial plantations of Eucalyptus trees in Brazil. Deployment of resistant genotypes has been the main strategy for effective disease management. The present study aimed at identifying genomic regions underlying the genetic control of resistance to Ceratocystis wilt in Eucalyptus by quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping in an outbred hybrid progeny derived from a cross between (Eucalyptus dunnii × Eucalyptus grandis) × (Eucalyptus urophylla × Eucalyptus globulus). A segregating population of 127 individuals was phenotyped for resistance to Ceratocystis wilt using controlled inoculation under a completely randomized design with five clonal replicates per individual plant. The phenotypic resistance response followed a continuous variation, enabling us to analyze the trait in a quantitative manner. The population was genotyped with 114 microsatellite markers and 110 were mapped with an average interval of 12.3 cM. Using a sib-pair interval-mapping approach five QTLs were identified for disease resistance, located on linkage groups 1, 3, 5, 8, and 10, and their estimated individual heritability ranged from 0.096 to 0.342. The QTL on linkage group 3 overlaps with other fungal disease-resistance QTLs mapped earlier and is consistent with the annotation of several disease-resistance genes on this chromosome in the E. grandis genome. This is the first study to identify and attempt to quantify the effects of QTLs associated with resistance to Ceratocystis wilt in Eucalyptus.     

Transgenic sweet potato expressing thionin from barley gives resistance to black rot disease caused by Ceratocystis fimbriata in leaves and storage roots

Black rot of sweet potato caused by pathogenic fungus Ceratocystis fimbriata severely deteriorates both growth of plants and post-harvest storage. Antimicrobial peptides from various organisms have broad range activities of killing bacteria, mycobacteria, and fungi. Plant thionin peptide exhibited anti-fungal activity against C. fimbriata. A gene for barley α-hordothionin (αHT) was placed downstream of a strong constitutive promoter of E12Ω or the promoter of a sweet potato gene for β-amylase of storage roots, and introduced into sweet potato commercial cultivar Kokei No. 14. Transgenic E12Ω:αHT plants showed high-level expression of αHT mRNA in both leaves and storage roots. Transgenic β-Amy:αHT plants showed sucrose-inducible expression of αHT mRNA in leaves, in addition to expression in storage roots. Leaves of E12Ω:αHT plants exhibited reduced yellowing upon infection by C. fimbriata compared to leaves of non-transgenic Kokei No. 14, although the level of resistance was weaker than resistance cultivar Tamayutaka. Storage roots of both E12Ω:αHT and β-Amy:αHT plants exhibited reduced lesion areas around the site inoculated with C. fimbriata spores compared to Kokei No. 14, and some of the transgenic lines showed resistance level similar to Tamayutaka. Growth of plants and production of storage roots of these transgenic plants were not significantly different from non-transgenic plants. These results highlight the usefulness of transgenic sweet potato expressing antimicrobial peptide to reduce damages of sweet potato from the black rot disease and to reduce the use of agricultural chemicals.     

Phylogenetic and taxonomic evaluation of Chalara, Chalaropsis, and Thielaviopsis anamorphs associated with Ceratocystis

Parsimony analysis of sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region of the nuclear rDNA and partial sequences of the large subunit (LSU) place four anamorphic Chalara species as a monophyletic grouping within the teleomorph genus Ceratocystis. Chalara ovoidea, Ch. thielavioides, Ch. populi, and Ch. elegans (synanamorph: Thielaviopsis basicola) form aleurioconidia typical of the anamorph genus Thielaviopsis, to which the species are transferred. Three of these species (T. ovoidea, T. thielavioides, and T. populi) are morphologically similar to each other but are shown to be distinct by rDNA sequences. The anamorphic genera Chalaropsis and Hughesiella are considered synonyms of Thielaviopsis. Thielaviopsis punctulata, which forms aleurioconidia singly, is shown to be the anamorph of Ce. radicicola. The respective anamorphs for Ce. coerulescens, Ce. fagacearum, and Ce. eucalypti, which lack aleurioconidia, are also transferred to the amended genus Thielaviopsis as T. ungeri, T. quercina, and T. eucalypti. Although Ch. australis and Ch. neocaledoniae do not form aleurioconidia, they are placed in Thielaviopsis based on their endoconidial state and clear affinities to Ceratocystis eucalypti. Three apparently asexual Ambrosiella species belong in the Ce. moniliformis clade based on LSU rDNA sequences, but the cultures available are not suitable for detailed morphological study, and these species are not transferred to Thielaviopsis.     

Maternal inheritance of the chloroplast genome in Eucalyptus globulus and interspecific hybrids.

The utility of chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) in Eucalyptus, either as a molecular marker for genetic studies or as a potential vehicle for genetic manipulation, is based on knowledge of its mode of inheritance. Chloroplast inheritance in angiosperms can vary among and within species, and anomalous inheritance has been reported in some interspecific-hybrid combinations. In Eucalyptus, abnormalities of pollen-tube growth occur in a number of interspecific-hybrid combinations, and this might increase the likelihood of anomalous chloroplast transmission. We used a rapid PCR technique to determine chloroplast heritability in 425 progeny of Eucalyptus, comprising 194 progeny of the premier pulpwood species E. globulus and 231 interspecific hybrids between E. globulus and E. nitens (F1, F2, and backcrosses). At this sampling intensity, no pollen-mediated transmission of cpDNA was found in any of the 40 families tested. The results are discussed with reference to chloroplast engineering and the use of cpDNA as a seed-specific marker in phylogeographic studies of Eucalyptus.     

Analysis of microsatellite markers in the genome of the plant pathogen Ceratocystis fimbriata

Ceratocystis fimbriata sensu lato represents a complex of cryptic and commonly plant pathogenic species that are morphologically similar. Species in this complex have been described using morphological characteristics, intersterility tests and phylogenetics. Microsatellite markers have been useful to study the population structure and origin of some species in the complex. In this study we sequenced the genome of C. fimbriata. This provided an opportunity to mine the genome for microsatellites, to develop new microsatellite markers, and map previously developed markers onto the genome. Over 6000 microsatellites were identified in the genome and their abundance and distribution was determined. Ceratocystis fimbriata has a medium level of microsatellite density and slightly smaller genome when compared with other fungi for which similar microsatellite analyses have been performed. This is the first report of a microsatellite analysis conducted on a genome sequence of a fungal species in the order Microascales. Forty-seven microsatellite markers have been published for population genetic studies, of which 35 could be mapped onto the C. fimbriata genome sequence. We developed an additional ten microsatellite markers within putative genes to differentiate between species in the C. fimbriata s.l. complex. These markers were used to distinguish between 12 species in the complex.     

Multiple gene sequences delimit Botryosphaeria australis sp. nov. from B. lutea

Botryosphaeria lutea (anamorph Fusicoccum luteum) most easily is distinguished from other Botryosphaeria spp. by a yellow pigment that is formed in young cultures. This fungus has been reported from a number of cultivated hosts in New Zealand and Portugal. During a survey of Botryosphaeria fungi that occur on native Acacia species in Australia, a yellow pigment was observed in some cultures. These isolates were morphologically similar to B. lutea, but the pigment differed slightly from the one formed by authentic B. lutea isolates. Preliminary data also revealed small differences in ITS rDNA sequence data. The aim of this study was to determine whether these small differences were indicative of separate species or merely variations within B. lutea. Anamorph, teleomorph and culture morphology were compared between B. lutea and Acacia isolates from Australia. Sequence data of two other genome regions, namely the β-tubulin and EF1-α gene and intron regions, were combined with ITS rDNA sequence data to determine the phylogenetic relationship between these isolates. Isolates of B. lutea and those from Australian Acacia species were not significantly different in spore morphology. The yellow pigment, however, was much more distinct in cultures of B. lutea than in cultures from Acacia. There were only a few base pair variations in each of the analyzed gene regions, but these variations were fixed in the two groups in all regions. By combining these data it was clear that B. lutea and the isolates from Acacia were distinct species, albeit very closely related. We, therefore, propose the new epithet B. australis for the fungus from Australia. Botryosphaeria australis also was isolated in this study from exotic Sequoiadendron trees in Australia. Re-analyses of GenBank data in this study showed that B. australis also occurs on other native Australian hosts, namely a Banksia sp. and a Eucalyptus sp., as well as a native Protea sp. in South Africa and on Pistachio in Italy. These records from GenBank have been identified previously as B. lutea. The common occurrence of B. australis on a variety of native hosts across Australia suggests that this fungus is native to this area.