Species of Ganoderma a wood decay fungus: plant pathogen in avocado trees cultured at the Michoacn, Mexico

Relevant characteristics for Ganoderma species delimitation are based on the macro and micromorphological characteristics. The basidiomes are annual or perennial, dimidiate, sessile or substipitate to stipitate, with distinctive non-laccate (dull) or weakly to strongly laccate, glossy, shiny, smooth, spathulate, furrows, which are sulcate on the pileus surface. In this study, we identified several avocado orchards with the presence of dead trees or trees with symptoms of white rot in their roots or trunks in Michoacan, Mexico. Basidiomes attached to the wood trunks and associated with this disease were determined as Ganoderma australe and G. curtisii by morphological and phylogenetic methods.