Barnes, Irene2025-02-032025-02-032025-052024-10*A2025http://hdl.handle.net/2263/100471Thesis (PhD (Genetics))--University of Pretoria, 2024.In this thesis, Detection, dispersal, and global distribution of Ceratocystis species on Eucalyptus, the candidate investigated the species boundaries and transmission mechanisms of two economically important fungal pathogens. Utilizing a dataset of 1174 isolates collected from 11 countries and 8 plant hosts, population genetics, phylogenetic analysis, and morphological comparisons were employed to confirm that Ceratocystis manginecans and C. eucalypticola are distinct species, resolving long-standing taxonomic confusion. Hybridization events between these species were also identified clarifying ambiguity in the literature. The candidate developed a cutting-edge qPCR-based HRMA diagnostic tool enabling rapid species identification of these fungal pathogens directly from infected plant material and fungal cultures. This tool was successfully applied to reveal key dispersal mechanisms, including insect-mediated and airborne transmission. These findings offer valuable insights into pathogen detection, dispersal, and species boundaries, providing crucial tools for effectively managing the spread of these economically significant pathogens within the global forestry industry.en© 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.UCTDSustainable Development Goals (SDGs)CeratocystisForestryPlant pathologyEntomologyDiagnosticsThesisu14049423https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.28284677