Taxonomical Notes on Graphiola phoenicis - Causal Organism of False Smut Disease of Date Palm

摘要

Graphiola poit belongs to Graphiolaceae with five species widespread in tropics. G. phoenicis is the type species.The Taxonomy of Graphiola phoenicis poit is still a matter of controversy and is hampered by different views regarding the systematics position. Mougeot (in Fries, 1823) had described a new fungal parasite on palm leaves and accommodated in the ascomycetes genus Phacidium fr. as P. phoenicis moug. Poiteau (1824) described in detail a fungal parasite growing on the leaves and date palm (Phoenix canariensis hort. ex Chabaud) and named Graphiola phoenicis. Fisher (1883) pointed out that the two parasitic forms were identical and thus, the correct nomenclature for this fungus is Graphiola phoenicis (Moug.) poit. Link (1824) also described afungal parasite of palms and included in Elpidophora Ehrenberg, a genus which was later (Mussat, 1901) made synonymous with Graphiola Poit.