Characterization of Neofusicoccum parvum causing canker and dieback on Brachychiton species

• Published in: European journal of plant pathology Vol. 161; no. 4; pp. 999 - 1005
• Main Authors: Gusella, Giorgio, Costanzo, Mariangela Benedetta, Aiello, Dalia, Polizzi, Giancarlo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-12-2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Agriculture; Bark; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Brachychiton; Canker; Conidia; Dieback; Discoloration; Ecology; Investigations; Life Sciences; Morphology; Mycelia; Neofusicoccum parvum; Nurseries; Ornamental plants; Ornamental trees; Pathogenicity; Pathogens; Phylogeny; Plant Pathology; Plant Sciences; Plugs; Polls & surveys; Trees; Italy; Pathogenicity; Phylogeny; Dieback; Canker
• ISSN: 0929-1873; 1573-8469
• DOI: 10.1007/s10658-021-02379-5

Brachychiton
species are planted in Italy as ornamental trees. A survey in a nursery in Sicily (Italy) revealed the presence of young
B. acerifolius
and
B. populneus
showing severe trunk cankers, massive gummosis from the bark cracks, wood discolouration, and twig dieback. Morphological characterization was based on conidia measurement, and molecular characterization was carried out performing phylogenetic analysis (Maximum Parsimony) based on multi-locus approach of partial ITS, EF-1α, and
tub2
. Identification of the causal agent resulted in
Neofusicoccum parvum
(Botryosphaeriaceae). Pathogenicity tests were conducted in order to fulfill the Koch’s postulates. Five and three-years-old potted
Brachychiton
plants were inoculated (indoor and outdoor) using mycelial plugs. All the inoculated plants showed severe symptoms similar of those observed in the nursery during the survey. Some of the inoculated plants were completely dead. Re-isolations fully confirmed the causal agent. For our knowledge, this is the first report worldwide of
N. parvum
attacking
Brachychiton
spp.