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Characterization of Neofusicoccum parvum causing canker and dieback on Brachychiton species

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Abstract

Brachychiton species are planted in Italy as ornamental trees. A survey in a nursery in Sicily (Italy) revealed the presence of young B. acerifolius and B. populneus showing severe trunk cankers, massive gummosis from the bark cracks, wood discolouration, and twig dieback. Morphological characterization was based on conidia measurement, and molecular characterization was carried out performing phylogenetic analysis (Maximum Parsimony) based on multi-locus approach of partial ITS, EF-1α, and tub2. Identification of the causal agent resulted in Neofusicoccum parvum (Botryosphaeriaceae). Pathogenicity tests were conducted in order to fulfill the Koch’s postulates. Five and three-years-old potted Brachychiton plants were inoculated (indoor and outdoor) using mycelial plugs. All the inoculated plants showed severe symptoms similar of those observed in the nursery during the survey. Some of the inoculated plants were completely dead. Re-isolations fully confirmed the causal agent. For our knowledge, this is the first report worldwide of N. parvum attacking Brachychiton spp.

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Funding

The authors thank the grants that supported this work: MEDIT-ECO Piano della Ricerca Linea 2—University of Catania (Italy), and Research Project 2016–2018 seconda annualità, University of Catania 5A722192134.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento Di Agricoltura, Alimentazione E Ambiente, Sezione Patologia Vegetale, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia 100, 95123, Catania, Italy

    Giorgio Gusella, Mariangela Benedetta Costanzo, Dalia Aiello & Giancarlo Polizzi

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  1. Giorgio Gusella
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  2. Mariangela Benedetta Costanzo
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  3. Dalia Aiello
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  4. Giancarlo Polizzi
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Correspondence to Giorgio Gusella.

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Gusella, G., Costanzo, M.B., Aiello, D. et al. Characterization of Neofusicoccum parvum causing canker and dieback on Brachychiton species. Eur J Plant Pathol 161, 999–1005 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10658-021-02379-5

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