First Report of Postharvest Fruit Rot on Passion Fruit () caused by in the U.S.A.

The commercial production of passion fruit is geographically limited (California, Florida, and Hawaii), but the development of cold-tolerant varieties could expand it beyond warm-climate states (Stafne et.al. 2023).

Unveiling root nodulation in Tribulus terrestris and Roystonea regia via metagenomics analysis.

Root nodule symbiosis is traditionally recognized in the Fabales, Fagales, Cucurbitales, and Rosales orders within the Rosid I clade of angiosperms. However, ambiguous root nodule formation has been reported in Zygophyllaceae and Roystonea regia (Arecaceae), although a detailed analysis has yet to be conducted. We aimed to perform morphological analyses of root structures in these plants and utilize metagenomic techniques to identify and characterize the bacterial populations within the nodule-like structures.

causes rachis blight on coconut palms ( L.) in Florida.

, a genus in the family Botryosphaeriaceae, has a broad host range and causes dieback, root rot, fruit rot, leaf rot, and blights in many plant species across sub-tropical and tropical geographical areas (Alves et al., 2008). In palms, this fungal pathogen is known to cause fruit and heart rot, wood decay and leaf blight around the globe (Atallah et al.

Searching for Laurel Wilt Resistance in Avocados of Mexican and Mexican-Guatemalan Ancestry.

Laurel wilt (LW), a lethal vascular disease caused by the ambrosia fungus , has severely reduced avocado ( Mill.) production in Florida and decimated populations of native lauraceous trees across 12 U.S.

Two novel endophytic species identified from native pines in south Florida.

This study investigated the incidence and diversity of within trunks of south Florida slash pines (). Thirty-five isolates were recovered from trunk tissue including living phloem, cambium, and sapwood. Two novel species of ( and ) are described here based on morphological and molecular analysis of concatenated LSU, ITS, -1, , and sequences.

Susceptibility of centipede tongavine () commercially grown in nurseries in Florida to aroid leaf rust ().

Epipremnum pinnatum (L.) Engl., (Araceae, Monocots) known as dragon-tail plant or centipede tongavine, is the most cultivated aroid species worldwide (Boyce 2004).

Genome Sequence Resource of the Avocado Scab Pathogen Elsinoe perseae.

We present a draft genome sequence of Elsinoe perseae, an economically important plant pathogen of commercially grown avocados. The 23.5-Mb assembled genome consists of 169 contigs.

Genome Resources for the Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Species Complex: 13 Tree Endophytes from the Neotropics and Paleotropics.

Thirteen draft genome assemblies are presented for four Colletotrichum gloeosporioides complex species, namely, Colletotrichum aeschynomenes, Colletotrichum asianum, Colletotrichum fructicola, and Colletotrichum siamense, which were isolated from tropical tree hosts as endophytes.

Detection of aroid leaf rust on Swiss cheese plant in the continental USA.

Liebm. (Araceae, Monocots), sometimes referred to as Swiss cheese plant, is one of the most common aroids used as an indoor and landscape ornamental plant (Cedeño et al. 2020).

Native ectomycorrhizal fungi from the endangered pine rocklands are superior symbionts to commercial inoculum for slash pine seedlings.

The south Florida pine rocklands is a critically endangered, fire-dependent ecosystem dominated by the overstory tree Pinus densa (South Florida slash pine). Because pine recruitment in this ecosystem has proven problematic, restoration efforts need to include replanting slash pine trees. Even though ectomycorrhizal fungi are known to be critical symbionts of young pines and are necessary for the development of healthy pines, virtually nothing is known about these mutualists and their role in pine establishment and survival in the pine rocklands.

Characterization and microsatellite marker development for a common bark and ambrosia beetle associate, Geosmithia obscura.

Symbioses between Geosmithia fungi and wood-boring and bark beetles seldom result in disease induction within the plant host. Yet, exceptions exist such as Geosmithia morbida, the causal agent of Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD) of walnuts and wingnuts, and Geosmithia sp. 41, the causal agent of Foamy Bark Canker disease of oaks.

, a New Causal Agent of Tuber Rot on Yam ( Species) Imported into the United States and Implications for Quarantine Decisions.

One negative consequence of international trade of agricultural commodities is the inadvertent global spread of crop diseases. Yam ( spp.) is a staple food crop in many countries and is traded globally.

, a new genus and species of sequestrate found in Florida nursery production.

We describe a novel sequestrate genus and species, found associated with nursery production of ferns in south Florida. This truffle species has a unique combination of morphological characters among described in that it lacks a stipe or columella, has large, ornamented spores, the fresh sporocarps rapidly stain pink-red when cut or bruised, and they have a rancid smell. Although this fungus does not appear to be a direct plant pathogen, the hyphae of produce a thick hydrophobic mycelial mat that binds the organic matter and therefore prevents water and fertilizer from being absorbed by plants, consequently causing wilting and chlorosis.

First Look Into the Ambrosia Beetle-Fungus Symbiosis Present in Commercial Avocado Orchards in Michoacán, Mexico.

Most beetle-fungus symbioses do not represent a threat to agricultural and natural ecosystems; however, a few beetles are able to inoculate healthy hosts with disease-causing fungal symbionts. Here, we report the putative nutritional symbionts associated with five native species of ambrosia beetles colonizing commercial avocado trees in four locations in Michoacán. Knowing which beetles are present in the commercial orchards and the surrounding areas, as well as their fungal associates, is imperative for developing a realistic risk assessment and an effective monitoring system that allows for timely management actions.

Exploration of stem endophytic communities revealed developmental stage as one of the drivers of fungal endophytic community assemblages in two Amazonian hardwood genera.

Many aspects of the dynamics of tropical fungal endophyte communities are poorly known, including the influence of host taxonomy, host life stage, host defence, and host geographical distance on community assembly and composition. Recent fungal endophyte research has focused on Hevea brasiliensis due to its global importance as the main source of natural rubber. However, almost no data exist on the fungal community harboured within other Hevea species or its sister genus Micrandra.

Endophytes from Wild Rubber Trees as Antagonists of the Pathogen .

The Corynespora leaf fall disease of rubber trees, caused by the necrotrophic fungus is responsible for important yield losses in Asian and African plantations, whereas its impact is negligible in South America. The objective of this study was to identify potential antagonists of among fungal endophytes (i.e.

Assessment of Alternative Candidate Subcortical Insect Vectors From Walnut Crowns in Habitats Quarantined for Thousand Cankers Disease.

Thousand cankers disease (TCD) results from the combined activity of the fungal pathogen, Geosmithia morbida Kolařík, Freeland, Utley, and Tisserat and its principle vector, Pityophthorus juglandis (Blackman) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in Juglans L. spp. and Pterocarya Kunth spp.

Partnerships Between Ambrosia Beetles and Fungi: Lineage-Specific Promiscuity Among Vectors of the Laurel Wilt Pathogen, Raffaelea lauricola.

Nutritional mutualisms that ambrosia beetles have with fungi are poorly understood. Although these interactions were initially thought to be specific associations with a primary symbiont, there is increasing evidence that some of these fungi are associated with, and move among, multiple beetle partners. We examined culturable fungi recovered from mycangia of ambrosia beetles associated with trees of Persea humilis (silk bay, one site) and P.

Mycobiota associated with insect galleries in walnut with thousand cankers disease reveals a potential natural enemy against Geosmithia morbida.

Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD) affects Juglans and Pterocarya species. This disease poses not only a major threat to the nut and timber industries but also to native stands of walnut trees. Galleries created by Pityophthorus juglandis (vector) are colonized by the fungus Geosmithia morbida (causal agent of necrosis).

A novel molecular toolkit for rapid detection of the pathogen and primary vector of thousand cankers disease.

Thousand Cankers Disease (TCD) of Juglans and Pterocarya (Juglandaceae) involves a fungal pathogen, Geosmithia morbida, and a primary insect vector, Pityophthorus juglandis. TCD was described originally from dying Juglans nigra trees in the western United States (USA), but it was reported subsequently from the eastern USA and northern Italy. The disease is often difficult to diagnose due to the absence of symptoms or signs on the bark surface of the host.