Natural Fungicolous Regulators of <i>Biscogniauxia</i> <i>destructiva</i> sp. nov. That Causes Beech Bark Tarcrust in Southern European (<i>Fagus sylvatica</i>) Forests
Mycoparasites are a collection of fungicolous eukaryotic organisms that occur on and are antagonistic to a wide range of plant pathogenic fungi. To date, this fungal group has largely been neglected by biodiversity studies. However, this fungal group is of interest, as it may contain potential bioco...
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MDPI AG
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/12/1999 |
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| author | Vladimir Vujanovic Seon Hwa Kim Jelena Latinovic Nedeljko Latinovic |
| author_facet | Vladimir Vujanovic Seon Hwa Kim Jelena Latinovic Nedeljko Latinovic |
| author_sort | Vladimir Vujanovic |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mycoparasites are a collection of fungicolous eukaryotic organisms that occur on and are antagonistic to a wide range of plant pathogenic fungi. To date, this fungal group has largely been neglected by biodiversity studies. However, this fungal group is of interest, as it may contain potential biocontrol agents of pathogenic fungi that cause beech Tarcrust disease (BTC), which has contributed to the devastation of European beech (<i>Fagus sylvatica</i>) forests. <i>Biscogniauxia nummularia</i> has been demonstrated to cause BTC. However, a trophic association between mycoparasites and pathogenic <i>Biscogniauxia</i> spp., has not been established. This study aimed to taxonomically identify and characterize <i>Biscogniauxia</i>, a fungus causing destructive BTC disease in European beech at Lovćen national park, Montenegro and to uncover the diversity of mycopathogens that are natural regulators of xylariaceous <i>Biscogniauxia</i> stroma formation, associated with beech decline. This finding is supported by distinctive phylogenetic and evolutionary characteristics, as well as unique morphological-microscopic fungal features indicating that <i>Biscogniauxia</i> from Montenegro, which is a major cause of BTC occurring in ancient beech forests at the edge of southern <i>Fagus sylvatica</i> distribution, may be described as a novel fungus specific to <i>Fagus.</i> Its evolutionary nuSSU–complete ITS–partial nuLSU rDNA phylogeny indicates its likely emergence by asexual fusion or introgressive hybridization between diverged <i>B. nummularia</i> and <i>B. anceps</i> species. The name <i>Biscogniauxia destructiva</i> is proposed for the novel fungus, as it is aggressive and highly destructive BTC disease. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:03:51Z |
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| id | doaj.art-5f2c3e409a124e92aa532358550b8665 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T14:03:51Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-5f2c3e409a124e92aa532358550b86652023-11-21T00:51:41ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072020-12-01812199910.3390/microorganisms8121999Natural Fungicolous Regulators of <i>Biscogniauxia</i> <i>destructiva</i> sp. nov. That Causes Beech Bark Tarcrust in Southern European (<i>Fagus sylvatica</i>) ForestsVladimir Vujanovic0Seon Hwa Kim1Jelena Latinovic2Nedeljko Latinovic3College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, CanadaCollege of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, CanadaBiotechnical Faculty, University of Montenegro, Mihaila Lalića 1, 81 000 Podgorica, MontenegroBiotechnical Faculty, University of Montenegro, Mihaila Lalića 1, 81 000 Podgorica, MontenegroMycoparasites are a collection of fungicolous eukaryotic organisms that occur on and are antagonistic to a wide range of plant pathogenic fungi. To date, this fungal group has largely been neglected by biodiversity studies. However, this fungal group is of interest, as it may contain potential biocontrol agents of pathogenic fungi that cause beech Tarcrust disease (BTC), which has contributed to the devastation of European beech (<i>Fagus sylvatica</i>) forests. <i>Biscogniauxia nummularia</i> has been demonstrated to cause BTC. However, a trophic association between mycoparasites and pathogenic <i>Biscogniauxia</i> spp., has not been established. This study aimed to taxonomically identify and characterize <i>Biscogniauxia</i>, a fungus causing destructive BTC disease in European beech at Lovćen national park, Montenegro and to uncover the diversity of mycopathogens that are natural regulators of xylariaceous <i>Biscogniauxia</i> stroma formation, associated with beech decline. This finding is supported by distinctive phylogenetic and evolutionary characteristics, as well as unique morphological-microscopic fungal features indicating that <i>Biscogniauxia</i> from Montenegro, which is a major cause of BTC occurring in ancient beech forests at the edge of southern <i>Fagus sylvatica</i> distribution, may be described as a novel fungus specific to <i>Fagus.</i> Its evolutionary nuSSU–complete ITS–partial nuLSU rDNA phylogeny indicates its likely emergence by asexual fusion or introgressive hybridization between diverged <i>B. nummularia</i> and <i>B. anceps</i> species. The name <i>Biscogniauxia destructiva</i> is proposed for the novel fungus, as it is aggressive and highly destructive BTC disease.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/12/1999Tarcrust diseasebeech forest<i>Biscogniauxia</i>fungicolous fungimycoparasites |
| spellingShingle | Vladimir Vujanovic Seon Hwa Kim Jelena Latinovic Nedeljko Latinovic Natural Fungicolous Regulators of <i>Biscogniauxia</i> <i>destructiva</i> sp. nov. That Causes Beech Bark Tarcrust in Southern European (<i>Fagus sylvatica</i>) Forests Microorganisms Tarcrust disease beech forest <i>Biscogniauxia</i> fungicolous fungi mycoparasites |
| title | Natural Fungicolous Regulators of <i>Biscogniauxia</i> <i>destructiva</i> sp. nov. That Causes Beech Bark Tarcrust in Southern European (<i>Fagus sylvatica</i>) Forests |
| title_full | Natural Fungicolous Regulators of <i>Biscogniauxia</i> <i>destructiva</i> sp. nov. That Causes Beech Bark Tarcrust in Southern European (<i>Fagus sylvatica</i>) Forests |
| title_fullStr | Natural Fungicolous Regulators of <i>Biscogniauxia</i> <i>destructiva</i> sp. nov. That Causes Beech Bark Tarcrust in Southern European (<i>Fagus sylvatica</i>) Forests |
| title_full_unstemmed | Natural Fungicolous Regulators of <i>Biscogniauxia</i> <i>destructiva</i> sp. nov. That Causes Beech Bark Tarcrust in Southern European (<i>Fagus sylvatica</i>) Forests |
| title_short | Natural Fungicolous Regulators of <i>Biscogniauxia</i> <i>destructiva</i> sp. nov. That Causes Beech Bark Tarcrust in Southern European (<i>Fagus sylvatica</i>) Forests |
| title_sort | natural fungicolous regulators of i biscogniauxia i i destructiva i sp nov that causes beech bark tarcrust in southern european i fagus sylvatica i forests |
| topic | Tarcrust disease beech forest <i>Biscogniauxia</i> fungicolous fungi mycoparasites |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/8/12/1999 |
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