FABI Articles : Ecology & population structure of a tree wound-infecting fungus in a native SA forest environment
previous pageEcology and population structure of a tree wound-infecting fungus in a native South African forest environment
Alain C. Missea, Irene Barnesb, Francois Roetsc, Michael Mbenouna, Michael J. Wingfielda, Jolanda Rouxd,
Abstract
Ceratocystis tsitsikammensis was
first isolated from bark harvesting wounds on two indigenous tree
species in the Afromontane forests of the Western Cape Province of South
Africa. Inoculation studies indicated that it is a potential pathogen
of nativeRapanea melanophloeos trees. In this study, we investigated the distribution, ecology and biology of C. tsitsikammensis in the Garden Route National Park of South Africa. Isolates were obtained from wounds on R. melanophloeos, three
non-native hosts as well as from nitidulid and staphylinid beetles
visiting wounds on these trees. The genetic diversity and population
biology of the fungus was examined using microsatellite markers. Its
mating strategy was also determined by amplifying its mating type genes
and the fungus was shown to be homothallic. Despite the homothallic
nature of the fungus, high levels of random mating and absence of
genetic structure was found in the investigated population, suggesting a
strong effect of gene flow, probably linked to insect dispersal. The
gene diversity of C. tsitsikammensis was similar to that of a related fungus,Ceratocystis albifundus, that is known to be native in Africa. This, together with the fact that C. tsitiskamensis is not known elsewhere, within or outside South Africa, suggests that it is native and endemic to the Cape Afromontane region.
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