Abstract:
Mangifera indica, a disease known as mango blight, murcha or seca da
mangueira in Brazil, is caused by the canker wilt pathogen Ceratocystis fimbriata sensu
lato. It is also closely associated with infestation by the non-native wood-boring beetle
Hypocryphalus mangiferae (Coleoptera: Scolytinae). The aim of this study was to characterize
Ceratocystis isolates obtained from diseased mango trees in Brazil. Identification was based
on sequence data from ITS1+5.8S+ITS2 rDNA, part of the Beta-tubulin 1 gene, and part of
the Transcription Elongation Factor 1-alpha gene. The Brazilian isolates grouped in two well
defined and unique clades within C. fimbriata s.l. These were also distinct from C. manginecans,
which causes a similar disease associated with H. mangiferae in Oman and Pakistan. Based
on sequence comparisons and morphological characteristics, isolates representing the two
phylogenetic clades are described as C. mangicola sp. nov. and C. mangivora sp. nov.
