New Fungal Species and New Plant Diseases

Описание: In this edition of our Seminar Series, Dr. DeWei Li, the Chief Scientist and Department Head from The CAES's Valley Laboratory, discusses new fungal species and plant diseases.

There are between 2.2 and 3.8 million fungal species according to Hawksworth and Lücking (2017). However, more than 90% of fungi remain undescribed. Thus, studies on fungal diversity and taxonomy are crucial to discover new fungal species and to understand their functions in ecosystems and agriculture. In the last five years, a number of new fungal species have been described by the author and his collaborators, among these new species Striatibotrys neoeucylindrosporus, Botrytrichum domesticum, Fusarium rosicola, and Phytophthora abietivora will be covered in this presentation. The four fungi were studied from both morphology and multi-locus phylogeny. Striatibotrys neoeucylindrosporus and Botrytrichum domesticum are saprobes. Fusarium rosicola and Phytophthora abietivora are not only new fungal species, but also pathogens causing newly emerged and severe plant diseases. Koch’s postulates tests confirmed their pathogenicity. Fusarium rosicola causes vascular wilt on rose (Rosa chinensis). Phytophthora abietivora causes root rot of Christmas trees (Abies fraseri)

This seminar was given on Wednesday, May 4, 2022.