Evidence that the Ceratobasidium-like white-thread blight and black rot fungal pathogens from persimmon and tea crops in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest agroecosystem are two distinct phylospecies

Abstract

The white-thread blight and black rot (WTBR) caused by basidiomycetous fungi of the genus Ceratobasidium is emerging as an important plant disease in Brazil, particularly for crop species in the Ericales such as persimmon (Diospyros kaki) and tea (Camellia sinensis). However, the species identity of the fungal pathogen associated with either of these hosts is still unclear. In this work, we used sequence variation in the internal transcribed spacer regions, including the 5.8S coding region of rDNA (ITS-5.8S rDNA), to determine the phylogenetic placement of the local white-thread-blight-associated populations of Ceratobasidium sp. from persimmon and tea, in relation to Ceratobasidium species already described world-wide. The two sister populations of Ceratobasidium sp. from persimmon and tea in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest agroecosystem most likely represent distinct species within Ceratobasidium and are also distinct from C. noxium, the etiological agent of the first description of white-thread blight disease that was reported on coffee in India. The intraspecific variation for the two Ceratobasidium sp. populations was also analyzed using three mitochondrial genes (ATP6, nad1 and nad2). As reported for other fungi, variation in nuclear and mitochondrial DNA was incongruent. Despite distinct variability in the ITS-rDNA region these two populations shared similar mitochondrial DNA haplotypes.

Association between dipsacus saponin VI level and diversity of endophytic fungi in roots of Dipsacus asperoides

“…Ceratobasidium sp. can cause sheath blight and act as a saprotroph in rice (Mosquera-Espinosa et al 2013), persimmon (Ceresini et al 2012) and soybean (Salehi et al 2005). Aspergillus sp.…”

Brazilian fungal diversity represented by DNA markers generated over 20 years

“…2). Also, Ascomycota is the best represented phylum for most markers, except for ATP6, which is predominantly composed of sequences of Basidiomycota, mainly phytopathogens that belong to the order Cantharellales (Agaricomycetes) [83]. The total number of ITS sequences includes 7837 sequences of Ascomycota, 2100 Basidiomycota, 1138 unidentified, 130 Mucoromycota, two sequences of Olpidium bornovanus, one sequence of Blastocladiomycota (Allomyces arbusculus), and one sequence of Chytridiomycota (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis).…”

Detection and Molecular Phylogenetic-Morphometric Characterization of Rhizoctonia tuliparum, Causal Agent of Gray Bulb Rot of Tulips and Bulbous Iris

“…Moreover, the NCBI BLAST search (dated 14 January 2022) of the Rtul probe showed 100% sequence homology with ITS sequence region of C. pseudocornigerum (MH861653), C. angustisporum (NR_154601), and several species of mycorrhizal Ceratobasidium, mostly from orchid hosts (Table S6). The Rtul probe also matched 13 out of 17 bases (data not shown) with its close phylogenic relative, C. anceps (Figure 6), which is a pathogen of persimmon (Diospyros kaki) and tea [32]. Because of host differences, the presence of above pathogens in proximity to Rtul pathogen would be remote.…”