Foliicolous fungi from Arctostaphylos pungens in Mexico

Onésimo Moreno-Rico, Johannes Z Groenewald, Pedro W Crous

    Research output: Contribution to journal/periodicalArticleScientificpeer-review

    12 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Arctostaphylos pungens "Manzanita" is an important shrub in the southwestern USA, and northern and central Mexico. Manzanita bears apple-like fruit that is utilised for a range of edible products. Over the past two years, several foliar disease problems were noted on this host in the San José de Gracia region of Mexico. The aim of the present study was to elucidate their identity through the analysis of morphological characters and DNA phylogeny (based on the large subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene and the ITS spacers and the intervening 5.8S rRNA gene of the nrDNA operon) of the fungi associated with these disease symptoms. Three species are newly described: Phaeococcomyces mexicanus sp. nov., a presumed epiphyte, and two species associated with leaf spots and defoliation, namely Coccomyces arctostaphyloides sp. nov. and Passalora arctostaphyli sp. nov. A fourth species is also associated with leaf spots and tip dieback is Harknessia arctostaphyli, for which an epitype is designated. All species can co-occur on the same shrub, which adds to the stress experienced by the plant, leading to further defoliation and dieback.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)7-15
    Number of pages9
    JournalIMA Fungus
    Volume5
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Jun 2014

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Foliicolous fungi from Arctostaphylos pungens in Mexico'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this