<strong><em>Pseudopestalotiopsis gilvanii sp. nov.</em> and <em>Neopestalotiopsis formicarum</em> leaves spot pathogens from guarana plant: a new threat to global tropical hosts</strong>

Abstract

Pestalotioid species (Pestalotiopsis, Pseudopestalotiopsis and Neopestalotiopsis) cause extremely damaging diseases in a wide range of hosts across the word. Recently, pestalotioid strains isolated from damaged guarana leaf tissue were subject to morphological and molecular characterization. Six monosporic isolates were obtained and analysed based on the following conidial characters: length, width, septation, absence or presence of basal appendage, number and length of apical appendages. For phylogenetic inference, sequences of the Internal Transcribed Spacer region (ITS), partial sequences of the genes encoding the translation elongation factor 1-α (tef1-α) and β-tubulin (tub2) were used. Three out of six strains analysed were identified as Neopestalotiopsis formicarum, while the three other isolates are described here as a new species of Pseudopestalotiopsis, named Ps. gilvanii sp. nov.. The pathogenicity of N. formicarum and Ps. gilvanii were confirmed following Koch’s postulate. Besides guarana, the potential of N. formicaram and Ps. gilvanii to cause diseases in other economically important tropical plants were investigated. Ps. gilvanii was pathogenic to açaí palms (Euterpe oleracea, E. precatoria), and oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), but not to banana (Musa paradisiaca var. pacovan) and rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis). N. formicarum was not pathogenic to rubber trees but was pathogenic to other species tested. To our knowledge this is the first report of N. formicarum as a plant pathogen in the guarana plant, and Ps. gilvanii as novel plant pathogen capable of causing disease in important plant crops from tropical regions.

Neopestalotiopsis ibericainduces leaf spots onSynsepalum dulcificumin China

“…(2014) based on distinct morphological features and phylogenetic analysis. Neopestalotiopsis species are known to exist as endophytes and also as pathogens to plants, humans, and animals, causing postharvest fruit rots, trunk diseases, stem and twigs blight, leaf fall, root and seed rot and leaf spots across various countries and different plant species (Chaninun et al., 2020; Debbab et al., 2013; Deng et al., 2013; Gualberto et al., 2021; Monden et al., 2013; Norphanphoun et al., 2016, 2019; Qian et al., 2021; Senanayake et al., 2015, 2020; Tang et al., 2021). Disease associated with fungus of Neopestalotiopsis have been documented in strawberries in regions such as America (Baggio et al., 2021), Aregntina (Kirschbaum et al., 2018), India (Mahapatra et al., 2018), and Spain (Chamorro et al., 2016).…”

“…cell is transparent, extends 2-6 μm, presenting a cylindrical to subcylindrical shape, and possesses smooth, thin walls, featuring 2-4 tubular apical appendages (mostly 3), originating from the apical crest, exhibiting unbranched, thread-like, and flexuous (5-) 6-24 (−27) μm long, 13 ± 4 μm, and a single basal appendage that is unbranched, tubular, and centrally aligned, extending 3-9 μm (Figure 3). Deng et al, 2013;Gualberto et al, 2021;Monden et al, 2013;Norphanphoun et al, 2016Norphanphoun et al, , 2019Qian et al, 2021;Senanayake et al, 2015Senanayake et al, , 2020Tang et al, 2021). Disease associated with fungus of Neopestalotiopsis have been documented in strawberries in regions such as America (Baggio et al, 2021), Aregntina (Kirschbaum et al, 2018), India (Mahapatra et al, 2018), and Spain (Chamorro et al, 2016).…”

Pestalotioid Species Associated with Medicinal Plants in Southwest China and Thailand

“…Notes: Neopestalotiopsis formicarum was introduced by Maharachchikumbura et al ( 13 ) as a saprobic species isolated from dead ants in Ghana and plant debris from Cuba. Later, many studies have proven that N. formicarum is a serious phytopathogen, which can cause leaf fall disease in rubber trees in Thailand ( 46 ), leaf spot pathogens of the guarana plant in Brazil ( 47 ), and leaf brown blight of jabuticaba in Taiwan province, China ( 48 ). In this study, a new N. formicarum taxon was isolated from leaf spots of Photinia serrulate in China.…”

“…In recent years, there have been more reports on diseases caused by Neopestalotiopsis ; for example, N. vitis caused grapevine leaf spots in China, N. rosicola caused stem canker of Rosa chinensis in China, N. clavispora caused leaf spots and fruit rot of strawberry in India, N. maddoxii caused flower diseases of Macadamia integrifolia in Australia, N. eucalyptorum was associated with disease of Eucalyptus plants in Portugal, and N. siciliana caused stem lesion and dieback on avocado plants in Italy ( 22 , 23 , 26 , 29 , 30 , 63 ). However, only six Pseudopestalotiopsis species were reported as plant pathogens ( 47 , 64 – 67 ). In this study, there are nine Neopestalotiopsis species, and only one Pseudopestalotiopsis species was encountered.…”

Diversity ofSporocadaceae(pestalotioid fungi) fromRosain China

“…Sporocadaceae contains many important plant pathogens associated with diseases on a wide range of plant hosts worldwide ( Maharachchikumbura et al 2014 , Liu et al 2019 , Norphanphoun et al 2019 ). Within the family, pestalotiopsis-like taxa ( Neopestalotiopsis , Pestalotiopsis and Pseudopestalotiopsis ) are the group that has received the most attention ( Maharachchikumbura et al 2014 , Wang et al 2019b , Gualberto et al 2021 ) . For example, N .…”