Endophytic Cryphonectriaceae on native Myrtales : possible origin of Chrysoporthe canker on plantation-grown Eucalyptus

摘要

Chrysoporthe austroafricana (Cryphonectriaceae) is a damaging canker pathogen onEucalyptus species in Southern Africa. Recent studies have shown that the fungusoccurs on native Syzygium species and that it has apparently undergone a host rangeexpansion from these native trees to infect non-native Eucalyptus. The aim of thisstudy was to consider whether C. austroafricana and other Cryphonectriaceae mightexist as endophytes in native Myrtaceae, providing a source of inoculum to infectnon-native Myrtales. Healthy branches were collected from Myrtaceae in Mozambique, incubated in florist foam, allowed to dry gradually and monitored forthe appearance of fruiting bodies resembling species in the Cryphonectriaceae.Isolates were identified based on DNA sequence data. Two species in theCryphonectriaceae were obtained, representing the first evidence that species in theCryphonectriaceae occur as endophytes on native Myrtales, thus providing a source ofinoculum to infect non-native and susceptible trees. This has important implicationsregarding the movement of planting stock used by ornamental tree and forestryenterprises.