Chrysoporthe doradensis sp. nov. pathogenic to Eucalyptus in Ecuador

Canker caused by Chrysoporthe cubensis is a serious disease of commercially grown Eucalyptus in various South American countries. This disease has not previously been recorded from Ecuador. Recent disease surveys in Ecuadorian Eucalyptus plantations have led to the discovery of canker symptoms typical of this disease with fruiting bodies resembling C. cubensis abundant on diseased tissues. The aim of this study was to characterise the fungus based on morphology and sequences of the ITS1/ITS2 regions of the ribosomal DNA operon and beta-tubul in genes. Phylogenetic analyses showed that isolates from Ecuador reside in a clade together with other Chrysoporthe spp., but in a clearly distinct group. The distinct phylogenetic position of the Ecuadorian fungus is supported by unique conidial morphology and it is, therefore, described as Chrysoporthe doradensis sp. nov. Pathogenicity trials on Eucalyptus deglupta showed that the fungus is highly pathogenic on this commonly planted tree as well as on saplings of Tibouchina urvilleana.