Witches' broom caused by Moniliophthora perniciosa is the main disease of cacao (Theobroma cacao) in Brazil. The fungus is known to occur on other host families and these populations have been addressed in the literature as biotypes: C (Malvaceae); H (Malpighiaceae); L (Bignoniaceae) and S (Solanaceae). No complete elucidation of the phylogenetic relationships of isolates obtained from this disparate host range appears in the literature. One member of H (ex Heteropterys acutifolia) has been described as a distinct species. But should other biotypes be also recognized as distinct taxa? In the present study, a survey yielding 24 isolates of M. perniciosa from ten hosts and covering a wide range of geographic regions in Brazil was undertaken. These isolates were compared with those from T. cacao using three DNA regions for the phylogenetic analyses: ITS, LSU and RPB1. Morphology was also examined. All isolates in this study were found to belong to M. perniciosa, including the population from H. acutifolia, formerly treated as Moniliophthora brasiliensis but reduced here to a synonym of M. perniciosa. This species ranged from pathogenic to a previously unreported occurrence as a non-pathogenic endophyte in the Atlantic rainforest tree Allophylus edulis (Sapindaceae). M. perniciosa was recorded on a range of solanaceous hosts (16 species) over a wide variety of ecosystems. The ecological and evolutionary significance of these novel findings are discussed.

中文翻译：

---

Moniliophthora perniciosa，引起可可女巫扫帚病的蘑菇：对巴西分类学、生态学和寄主范围的见解

由Moniliophthora perniciosa 引起的女巫扫帚是巴西可可（Theobroma cacao）的主要病害。已知该真菌发生在其他寄主家族中，这些种群在文献中被称为生物型：C（锦葵科）；H（锦葵科）；L（紫杉科）和 S（茄科）。文献中没有完全阐明从这个不同宿主范围获得的分离株的系统发育关系。H 的一个成员（ex Heteropterys acutifolia）已被描述为一个独特的物种。但是其他生物型也应该被认为是不同的分类群吗？在本研究中，进行了一项调查，从十个宿主中产生了 24 株鼠尾草分离株，覆盖了巴西的广泛地理区域。这些分离物与来自 T. cacao 使用三个 DNA 区域进行系统发育分析：ITS、LSU 和 RPB1。还检查了形态学。本研究中的所有分离株都被发现属于 M. perniciosa，包括来自 H. acutifolia 的种群，以前被视为 Moniliophthora brasiliensis，但在此处被简化为 M. perniciosa 的同义词。该物种的范围从致病性到以前未报告的大西洋热带雨林树木 Allophylus edulis（无患子科）中的非致病性内生菌。M. perniciosa 在各种生态系统中的一系列茄科宿主（16 种）上都有记录。讨论了这些新发现的生态和进化意义。以前作为 Moniliophthora brasiliensis 处理，但在此简化为 M. perniciosa 的同义词。该物种的范围从致病性到以前未报告的大西洋热带雨林树木 Allophylus edulis（无患子科）中的非致病性内生菌。M. perniciosa 在各种生态系统中的一系列茄科宿主（16 种）上都有记录。讨论了这些新发现的生态和进化意义。以前作为 Moniliophthora brasiliensis 处理，但在此简化为 M. perniciosa 的同义词。该物种的范围从致病性到以前未报告的大西洋热带雨林树木 Allophylus edulis（无患子科）中的非致病性内生菌。M. perniciosa 在各种生态系统中的一系列茄科宿主（16 种）上都有记录。讨论了这些新发现的生态和进化意义。