Stem die‐back of highbush blueberries caused by Neofusicoccum parvum in China

Zhou

et al. 2015

Eur J Plant Pathol

Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) has developed rapidly in China over the past 20 years because of its perceived health and nutritional benefits. Blueberry stem blight, caused by fungi in the family Botryosphaeriaceae, is the most destructive disease affecting blueberry production and quality worldwide. A field survey of 20 blueberry plantations in eight provinces across China was conducted to determine the occurrence and distribution of Botryosphaeriaceae species. In total, 69 Botryosphaeriaceae isolates associated with blueberry twig dieback and stem blight were identified based on morphological characteristics and analyses of nucleotide sequences of three genomic regions: the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2), a partial sequence of the β-tubulin gene, and part of the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (EF1-α). Three species were identified, including: Botryosphaeria dothidea, Neofusicoccum parvum and Lasiodiplodia theobromae. Botryosphaeria dothidea and N. parvum were the most prevalent species and were widely distributed in all blueberry-growing regions. In contrast, L. theobromae was only found in southeastern regions. Koch's postulates showed all three species to be pathogenic when inoculated with mycelial plugs on detached and intact blueberry stems (cv. Bluecrop). Pathogenicity tests showed N. parvum and L. theobromae to be more virulent than B. dothidea. To our knowledge, this study is the first comprehensive description for morphology, phylogenetic analysis, and distribution of Botryosphaeriaceae spp. as causal agents of blueberry stem blight in China.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 66%

“…In severe cases, the fungus expands into the crown of the plant and results in systemic infection of the vascular tissue, eventually causing mortality (Milholland 1972;Wright and Harmon 2010). Espinoza et al 2009;Harmon 2009, 2010;Kong et al 2010;Choi 2011;Xu et al 2012Xu et al , 2013Yu et al 2012Yu et al , 2013a.…”

mentioning

confidence: 97%

Identification and distribution of Botryosphaeriaceae species associated with blueberry stem blight in China

Zhou

et al. 2015

Eur J Plant Pathol

“…The fruits are well known and are widely consumed for their protective properties against heart diseases and cancer, they can help to maintain bone strength and mental health and can regulate blood pressure [ 1 ]. Blueberries are widely distributed in temperate regions, such as North America, Europe, Canada and Northern China [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Due to their health benefits and economic value, blueberries have been commercially cultivated worldwide, particularly in the USA, Canada and European countries [ 14 , 15 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multigene Phylogenetics and Morphology Reveal Five Novel Lasiodiplodia Species Associated with Blueberries

Wang

Bhoyroo

et al. 2021

Life

Botryosphaeriaceous fungi cause stem blight, canker and dieback in woody plants. During a survey on the fungal pathogens associated with blueberries in China, 135 blighted, cankered or dead blueberry branches were collected from Fujian and Shandong Provinces. Based on the morphological characterization and phylogenetic analyses of a concatenated ITS rDNA, tef1-α, TUB, and RPB2 loci, five new species of Lasiodiplodia, viz., L. clavispora, L. fujianensis, L. henanica, L. nanpingensis and L. paraphysoides were recognized. Detailed descriptions and illustrations, as well as multigene phylogenies, are provided in this paper. The diversity of plant pathogens on agriculturally and economically important plants is higher than anticipated.

“…could be influenced by several environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and wounding of the host plant (44). In other studies, these four species of the Botryosphaeria were also identified as casual agents responsible for diseases of many other host species in China (18,47,(49)(50)(51)(52). Whether pear trees can be infected by the inoculums of these species from other hosts plants requires further investigation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Biological and Molecular Characterization of Four Botryosphaeria Species Isolated from Pear Plants Showing Stem Wart and Stem Canker in China

Zhai¹,

et al. 2014

Plant Disease

Pear stem wart and pear stem canker, which have been considered as two different fungal diseases caused by pathogens belonging to Botryosphaeria spp., commonly occur and cause serious damage in the main pear-producing areas in China. To identify the species of this genus infecting pear in China, 131 Botryosphaeria isolates were recovered from pear samples exhibiting symptoms collected from 20 different provinces and areas. Morphological characterization and phylogenetic analyses of the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer region and the β-tubulin and EF1-α genes revealed that Botryosphaeria dothidea, B. rhodina, B. obtusa, and B. parva were associated with different pear stem wart and stem canker symptoms. Remarkably, all isolates of B. dothidea were obtained from the samples showing either stem wart or stem canker lesions; however, the isolates of the other three species were obtained only from the samples showing stem canker. Pathogenicity tests on the pear shoots showed that B. dothidea isolates could induce stem wart or stem canker lesions but all the isolates of the other three species could only induce stem cankers. However, the isolates of B. parva, B. rhodina, and B. obtusa exhibited higher virulence than that of the B. dothidea isolates on the pear fruit. Our results suggest that B. dothidea is the common causal agent for these two diseases (a pear stem wart and a pear-related stem canker), whereas B. parva, B. rhodina, and B. obtusa only cause pear stem canker diseases. To our knowledge, this study represents the first report for biological and molecular characterization of four Botryosphaeria spp. isolated from pear plants showing stem wart and stem canker in China.