Neofusicoccum parvum and N. ribis are closely related species whose identities often have been confused. These fungal plant pathogens were identified recently as the most abundant species of Botryosphaeriaceae (Ascomycetes) isolated from native Syzygium cordatum trees in South Africa. In another study using multiple gene genealogies from five nuclear loci three undescribed cryptic phylogenetic ...

After recent changes to the taxonomy of the Botryosphaeriaceae species with diplodia-like (= dark, ovoid, often pigmented) conidia are considered to belong to at least three genera including Diplodia, Lasiodiplodia and Dothiorella. In a recent molecular phylogenetic study it became apparent that two groups of isolates with diplodia-like conidia required taxonomic revision. One group of isolates...

The endophyte Guignardia mangiferae is closely related to G. citricarpa, the causal agent of citrus black spot; for many years these species had been confused with each other. The development of molecular analytical methods has allowed differentiation of the pathogen G. citricarpa from the endophyte G. mangiferae, but the physiological traits associated with pathogenicity were not described. We...

Stem blight of blueberry caused by fungal pathogens in the family Botryosphaeriaceae presents a major challenge to global production. Since its first documented outbreak North Carolina, USA 1950s, Botryosphaeria stem has been reported production regions more than nine countries across five continents. The lack effective management strategies or resistant cultivars makes disease control especial...