Potentially pathogenic and biocontrol Ascomycota associated with green wall structures of basket willow (Salix viminalis L.) revealed by phenotypic characters and ITS phylogeny

Ascomycota are among the fungi that cause serious willow diseases in all natural habitats worldwide. This study was conducted to determine if basket willow used in green wall structures (GWS) built of willow stems were infected by potentially important fungal diseases or their antagonists in urban areas of eastern Canada. In total, 13 different phenotypic genera belonging to eight families of ascomycetous fungi were isolated and identified according to their sexual and/or asexual forms. Venturia pathogenic species complex were represented by three different anamorphs: Fusicladium, Fusicladium-Cladosporium, and Pollaccia as anamorph. They were responsible for the highest incidence value on leaves (IF > 15%). Cryptodiaporthe, Drepanopeziza, and Glomerella dominated on bark (IF > 5%). A significantly higher incidence value of fungal communities was found on first year than on second year GWS. The correspondence analysis using χ² distance showed that communities of potentially pathogenic species are closely related to diseased plants, while healthy plants often contain biocontrol species such as Cladobotryum mycoparasite on healthy bark and Alternaria sp. antagonist on healthy leaves. The phylogenetic positions of the different fungal taxa and their relationship have been revealed by use of PCR amplified internal transcriber spacer (ITS) region of rDNA.