Botryosphaeria dothidea: a latent pathogen of global importance to woody plant health

TY - JOUR

T1 - Botryosphaeria dothidea: a latent pathogen of global importance to woody plant health

AU - Marsberg, Angelica

AU - Kemler, Martin

AU - Jami, Fahimeh

AU - Nagel, Jan H.

AU - Postma-Smidt, Alisa

AU - Naidoo, Sanushka

AU - Wingfield, Michael J.

AU - Crous, Pedro W.

AU - Spatafora, Joseph W.

AU - Hesse, Cedar N.

AU - Robbertse, Barbara

AU - Slippers, Bernard

PY - 2017/5

Y1 - 2017/5

N2 - Botryosphaeria dothidea is the type species of Botryosphaeria (Botryosphaeriaceae, Botryosphaeriales). Fungi residing in this order are amongst the most widespread and important canker and dieback pathogens of trees worldwide, with B. dothidea one of the most common species on a large number of hosts. Its taxonomic circumscription has undergone substantial change in the past decade, making it difficult to interpret the large volume of literature linked to the name B. dothidea. This pathogen profile synthesizes the current understanding of B. dothidea pertaining to its distribution, host associations and role as a pathogen in managed and natural woody environments. The prolonged latent infection or endophytic phase is of particular importance, as it implies that the fungus can easily pass undetected by quarantine systems in traded living plants, fruits and other plant parts. Infections typically become obvious only under conditions of host stress, when disease symptoms develop. This study also considers the knowledge emerging from the recently sequenced B. dothidea genome, elucidating previously unknown aspects of the species, including mating and host infection strategies. Despite more than 150 years of research on B. dothidea, there is clearly much to be learned regarding this global tree pathogen. This is increasingly important given the stresses imposed on various woody hosts as a result of climate change.

AB - Botryosphaeria dothidea is the type species of Botryosphaeria (Botryosphaeriaceae, Botryosphaeriales). Fungi residing in this order are amongst the most widespread and important canker and dieback pathogens of trees worldwide, with B. dothidea one of the most common species on a large number of hosts. Its taxonomic circumscription has undergone substantial change in the past decade, making it difficult to interpret the large volume of literature linked to the name B. dothidea. This pathogen profile synthesizes the current understanding of B. dothidea pertaining to its distribution, host associations and role as a pathogen in managed and natural woody environments. The prolonged latent infection or endophytic phase is of particular importance, as it implies that the fungus can easily pass undetected by quarantine systems in traded living plants, fruits and other plant parts. Infections typically become obvious only under conditions of host stress, when disease symptoms develop. This study also considers the knowledge emerging from the recently sequenced B. dothidea genome, elucidating previously unknown aspects of the species, including mating and host infection strategies. Despite more than 150 years of research on B. dothidea, there is clearly much to be learned regarding this global tree pathogen. This is increasingly important given the stresses imposed on various woody hosts as a result of climate change.

KW - Botryosphaeria dothidea

KW - climate change

KW - endophyte

KW - global pathogen

KW - latent pathogen

KW - quarantine

U2 - 10.1111/mpp.12495

DO - 10.1111/mpp.12495

M3 - Article

SN - 1364-3703

VL - 18

SP - 477

EP - 488

JO - Molecular Plant Pathology

JF - Molecular Plant Pathology

IS - 4

ER -