Wingfield, Michael J.Pham, Nam Q.Marincowitz, SeonjuWingfield, Brenda D.2025-10-312025-10-312025-09Wingfield, M.J., Pham, N.Q., Marincowitz, S. & Wingfield, B.D. 2025, 'Cryphonectriaceae : biodiverse and threatening tree pathogens in the tropics and southern hemisphere', Annual Review of Phytopathology, vol. 63, pp. 553-575, doi : 10.1146/annurev-phyto-121823-030316.0066-4286 (print)1545-2107 (online)10.1146/annurev-phyto-121823-030316http://hdl.handle.net/2263/105067The chestnut blight pathogen Cryphonectria parasitica is well-known for the devastation it caused to North American forests. It is less well recognized that numerous other fungi in the Cryphonectriaceae are emerging as threats to native and planted forests in the tropics and Southern Hemisphere. Unlike C. parasitica, these fungi, such as Chrysoporthe cubensis, initially gained attention due to a canker disease in plantations of non-native Eucalyptus. More than four decades of research have revealed a wide diversity of Cryphonectriaceae species that infect many other tree genera in the Myrtales. These fungi often exist as endophytes but become problematic when trees are planted outside their native range. Growing numbers of species are also undergoing host shifts from native to susceptible trees such as Eucalyptus, posing serious risks to both natural and planted forests. These fungi provide an example of the biodiversity of tree-infecting fungi that is understudied, despite their significant potential to harm forest ecosystems.en© 2025 by the author(s). This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.CryphonectriaceaeEucalyptus cankerInvasive fungiForest pathogensFungal diversityHost shifCryphonectriaceae : biodiverse and threatening tree pathogens in the tropics and southern hemisphereArticle