Ceratocystis tiliae sp. nov., a wound pathogen on Tilia americana

Abstract

Species in the North American clade (NAC) of the Ceratocystis fimbriata complex are mostly weak pathogens that infect native tree hosts through fresh wounds. Isolations from discolored tissue of wounded Tilia americana (basswood) in Iowa and Nebraska yielded a Ceratocystis species that was similar to but distinct from isolates of C. variospora from other hosts. Sequences of 28S rDNA showed that isolates from basswood did not differ from C. variospora, but there were minor differences in ITS rDNA sequences. The DNA sequences of a portion of the Cerato-platanin gene and TEF1α showed the basswood fungus to be a unique lineage. Cross inoculations in two experiments showed that the basswood isolates and C. variospora isolates from Quercus spp. were most aggressive to their respective hosts. Isolates from basswood grew slower and were less pigmented than C. variospora isolates from Quercus spp. The basswood fungus thus is distinguished from C. variospora based on phylogenetic analyses and phenotype and is herein described as C. tiliae sp. nov.

Molecular phylogenetics and microsatellite analysis reveal a new pathogenic Ceratocystis species in the Asian‐Australian clade

“…In the present investigation, tree stems of E. grandis and E. japonica were inoculated and C. changhui was shown to be non‐pathogenic. Nevertheless, results of pathogenicity tests suggested host preferences for C. changhui and C. cercfabiensis and this is similar to those found for various other Ceratocystis species (Baker et al ., ; Marin et al ., ; Oliveira et al ., ).…”

Taxonomic Revision and Multi-locus Phylogeny of the North American Clade Of Ceratocystis

“…Morphological features have been used to distinguish isolates from the NAC and LAC, most notably, slightly smaller ascospores in the NAC and the presence of a collar at the base of the neck of the perithecium; this diagnostic feature is absent in members of the LAC (Johnson et al 2005). Within the NAC, Ceratocystis species are distinguished from one another based on the presence or absence of conidial stages, host range, isozyme alleles, and DNA-based phylogenetic analyses (Johnson et al 2005, de Beer et al 2014, Oliveira et al 2015a). Yet, the taxonomy and systematics in the NAC needs more rigorous investigation (Johnson et al 2005, Oliveira et al 2015a.…”

“…Within the NAC, Ceratocystis species are distinguished from one another based on the presence or absence of conidial stages, host range, isozyme alleles, and DNA-based phylogenetic analyses (Johnson et al 2005, de Beer et al 2014, Oliveira et al 2015a). Yet, the taxonomy and systematics in the NAC needs more rigorous investigation (Johnson et al 2005, Oliveira et al 2015a.…”

“…Although isolates of C. variospora from oak and Prunus differ in their ITS sequences, they could not be distinguished based on morphology nor host association (Johnson et al 2005). A new species within C. variospora was recently described as C. tiliae, a wound-associated pathogen of basswood (Tilia americana) in Nebraska and Iowa (Oliveira et al 2015a). Individual phylogenetic analysis across three loci (LSU, TEF1, and Ceratoplatanin) strongly suggests that C. variospora is a paraphyletic taxon as currently defined (Oliveira et al 2015a).…”

“…A new species within C. variospora was recently described as C. tiliae, a wound-associated pathogen of basswood (Tilia americana) in Nebraska and Iowa (Oliveira et al 2015a). Individual phylogenetic analysis across three loci (LSU, TEF1, and Ceratoplatanin) strongly suggests that C. variospora is a paraphyletic taxon as currently defined (Oliveira et al 2015a). Interfertility tests have shown that isolates from the Quercus lineage (C. variospora s.…”