The role of Euwallacea nr. fornicatus (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) in the wilt syndrome of avocado trees in Israel

Exotic plant disease threats to the New Zealand avocado industry and climatic suitability: a review

“…Euwallacea nr. fornicatus found in avocado trees in Israel (Mendel et al 2017) was in the same clade as PSHB and is Euwallacea sp. nr.…”

“…Both these diseases are vectored by ambrosia beetles that attack healthy trees. It has been hypothesised that this is the effect of vectors being exposed to naïve and new hosts, which produces confusing olfactory cues and results in invasion of healthy tissue (Mendel et al 2017). Thus, the establishment of these vectors could have unexpected outcomes for the native vegetation of New Zealand such as new hosts being attacked.…”

“…This fungus and its associated ambrosia beetle vectors have been described as causing a serious dieback disease in Israel (Mendel et al 2012;Mendel et al 2017) and California (Eskalen et al 2012). Further examination has shown that molecular phylogenetics distinguishes six morphologically identical clades of F. euwallaceae, of which at least four attack and reproduce in avocado (O'Donnell et al 2016).…”

“…Naturally spread F. euwallaceae has been found causing symptoms on 112 tree species in 40 families in botanical gardens in California , and in Israel 52 tree species from 26 botanical families (Mendel et al 2017). Families with the highest number of infected species were the Aceraceae, Fabaceae and Fagaceae.…”

“…A further eight reproductive hosts were found in Israel (Quercus ithaburensis, Q. calliprinos, Q. pedunculi ora, Morus alba, Platanus occidentalis, P. orientalis, Acer obutsifolium, A. pseudopltanus (Mendel et al 2017).…”