Pestalotiopsis pini sp. nov., an Emerging Pathogen on Stone Pine (Pinus pinea L.)

Abstract

Research Highlights: Pestalotiopsis pini sp. nov. is an emerging pathogen on stone pine, Pinus pinea L., in Portugal. Background and Objectives: Stone pine is one of the most important forest tree species in Portugal and in the whole Mediterranean basin. Pestalotiopsis species are common endophytes, saprobes or pathogens in a variety of hosts and environments. The objective of the present study was to identify the Pestalotiopsis species associated with the symptomatic stone pine trees. Materials and Methods: Samples of stone pine trees showing shoot blight and stem necrosis were obtained from stone pine orchards and urban areas in Portugal, and the isolated Pestalotiopsis species were identified based on morphology and combined ITS, TEF and TUB DNA sequence data. Artificial inoculations on one-year-old stone pine seedlings were performed with the two species most frequently found in association with shoot blight disease. Results: Five Pestalotiopsis spp. were isolated. A taxonomic novelty, Pestalotiopsis pini is described, representing a new pathogen for stone pine. Conclusions: Pestalotiopsis species may represent a threat to the health of pine forests in the Mediterranean basin. Future research should be done in order to increase our knowledge about the potential impact of pestalotioid species in stone pine, in order to develop management strategies against these pathogens.

Five new species of Neopestalotiopsis associated with diseased Eucalyptus spp. in Portugal

“…Pestalotiopsis s. l. is generally considered to be endophytes or weak pathogens causing disease only when the plants are under stress (Maharachchikumbura et al 2011). However, a new Pestalotiopsis species, P. pini, was reported recently in Portugal causing shoot blight and trunk necrosis on Pinus pinea (Silva et al 2020). Furthermore, a common disease in nurseries in Brazil has been attributed to an unidentified species of Pestalotiopsis.…”

“…All PCR reactions were performed in a 25 μL reaction containing DNA template (diluted 10 ×), 10 × PCR reaction buffer, 3 mM MgCL 2 , 0.5 mM of each deoxyribonucleotide triphosphate, 1 U of Taq DNA polymerase (BioTaqTM DNA polymerase-Bioline, London, UK) and 2 μM each primer. PCR reactions were performed in a Biometra TGradient thermo cycler (Biometra, Göttingen, Germany) as described by Silva et al (2020). The products were resolved by electrophoresis at 5 Volts.cm −1 in agarose gel (1%) containing 0.5 μg/ mL ethidium bromide and 1 × TBE running buffer.…”

“…These fungi have ubiquitous distribution and are mostly regarded as secondary pathogens affecting weakened plants, or opportunistic saprobes found on dead material (Almeida et al 2003;Bakry et al 2011;Hopkins and McQuilken 2000;Old et al 2000;Stone et al 2004;Tejesvi et al 2007). However, they have been found to cause damage on economically important plants, both in forestry and agriculture (Akinsanmi et al 2017;Bakry et al 2011;Chen et al 2018;Espinoza et al 2008;Hopkins and McQuilken 2000;Ismail et al 2013;Lin et al 2011;Morales-Rodríguez et al 2019;Qi et al 2021;Silva et al 2020).…”

Three novel species of fungi associated with pine species showing needle blight-like disease symptoms

“…3). Pestalotiopsis pini was found in association with P. pinea and P. pinaster needles in Portugal showing shoot blight, trunk necrosis, needle blight and pine cone decay (Silva et al, 2020). Other authors reported this species also in Pinus spp.…”

“…(Madar et al, 1991) and Pinus spp. (Ivanová, 2016;Magnani et al, 2003;Qi et al, 2021;Silva et al, 2020;Zamora et al, 2008). Therefore, it is not uncommon that in this study a species of Pestalotiopsis was successfully isolated from needles of Pinus radiata and P. sylvestris.…”