Black root rot : a long known but little understood disease

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Authors

Nel, Wilma Janine
Duong, Tuan A.
De Beer, Z. Wilhelm
Wingfield, Michael J.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Wiley

Abstract

Black root rot caused by the pathogen Thielaviopsis basicola has been known since the mid 1800s. The disease is important on many agricultural and ornamental plant species and has been found in at least 31 countries. Since its description, the pathogen has had a complex taxonomic history that has resulted in a confused literature. A recent revision of the Ceratocystidaceae following the advent of DNA sequencing technology has made it possible to resolve this confusion. Importantly, it has also shown that there are two pathogens in the Ceratocystidaceae that cause black root rot. They reside in the newly established genus Berkeleyomyces and are now known as B. basicola and B. rouxiae. This review considers the taxonomic history of the black root rot pathogens, and their global distribution. Prospects relating to the serious diseases that they cause and the likely impact that the era of genomics will have on our understanding of the pathogens are also highlighted.

Description

Table S1. Hosts reported to be susceptible to black root rot infection.
Table S2. Variation in host susceptibility to black root rot infection by the fungus formally known as Thielaviopsis basicola.

Keywords

Berkeleyomyces basicola, Berkeleyomyces rouxiae, Ceratocystidaceae, Sexual reproduction, Taxonomy, Thielaviopsis basicola, Black root rot

Sustainable Development Goals

Citation

Nel, W.J., Duong, T.A., De Beer, Z.W. et al. 2019, 'Black root rot: a long known but little understood disease', Plant Pathology, vol. 68, no. 5, pp. 834-842.