A new Ceratocystis species from wounds made by - SANParks

A new A new CeratocystisCeratocystis species from species from wounds made by elephants on wounds made by elephants on

trees in the Kruger National Parktrees in the Kruger National Park

KAMGAN NKUEKAM GILBERTKAMGAN NKUEKAM GILBERTJ. Roux &J. Roux & M.J. WingfieldM.J. Wingfield

http://fabinet.up.ac.zahttp://fabinet.up.ac.za

PhytoplasmasPhytoplasmas

Environmental conditions Environmental conditions egeg. Drought, hail, frost etc.. Drought, hail, frost etc.

VirusesViruses

NutrientsNutrientsBacteriaBacteria

ChemicalsChemicalsFungiFungi

AbioticAbioticBioticBiotic

CAUSES OF TREE/PLANT DISEASECAUSES OF TREE/PLANT DISEASE

Macroscopic Macroscopic egeg. . AmanitaAmanita sppspp., ., ArmillariaArmillaria sppspp..

Microscopic Microscopic egeg. . CeratocystisCeratocystis sppspp., ., BotryosphaeriaBotryosphaeria sppspp..

Some edible for humans, others toxicSome edible for humans, others toxic

Grow on a wide range of substrates Grow on a wide range of substrates egeg. Bread, dung, plants, human . Bread, dung, plants, human skin etc.skin etc.

FUNGIFUNGI

FUNGI CAN CAUSE DEVASTATING FUNGI CAN CAUSE DEVASTATING DISEASES OF AGRICULTURAL CROPS DISEASES OF AGRICULTURAL CROPS

AND TREESAND TREES

CastaneaCastanea dentatadentata -- 50% 50% of forests in Eastern of forests in Eastern

U.S.AU.S.A

!!Estimated thousand million trees in 1900Estimated thousand million trees in 1900!!1963 only ~1801963 only ~180

USDA Forest Service USDA Forest Service -- NortheasternNortheastern Area Archives, USDA Forest Service, Area Archives, USDA Forest Service, wwww..forestryimagesforestryimages.org.org

!! Infects wounds on trees Infects wounds on trees

!! Vectored by insectsVectored by insects

!! Include many important pathogensInclude many important pathogens

!! Broad host rangeBroad host range

!! Wide geographical rangeWide geographical range

CERATOCYSTISCERATOCYSTIS SPECIESSPECIES

!! Oak wiltOak wilt

"" 83% of Oak death between 1960 83% of Oak death between 1960 �� 1971 1971

"" The fungus is transmitted below ground through The fungus is transmitted below ground through

root graftroot graft

"" Above ground it is transmitted by Above ground it is transmitted by NitidulidsNitidulids

"" Native in the USA Native in the USA �� Never been reported from otherNever been reported from other

continentscontinents

CERATOCYSTIS FAGACEARUMCERATOCYSTIS FAGACEARUM

!! African fungus?African fungus?-- wilt, wilt, sapstainsapstain

CERATOCYSTIS ALBIFUNDUSCERATOCYSTIS ALBIFUNDUS

!!During recent surveys of fungi infecting woundsDuring recent surveys of fungi infecting wounds

created by elephants in the Kruger National Parkcreated by elephants in the Kruger National Park

CeratocystisCeratocystis sppspp. was found to be very common on. was found to be very common on

these woundsthese wounds

!!Very little is known about the biodiversity andVery little is known about the biodiversity and

pathogenicitypathogenicity of of CeratocystisCeratocystis sppspp. on native trees . on native trees

in South Africa in South Africa

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

AIMSAIMS

!!Identify and describe a new species of Identify and describe a new species of CeratocystisCeratocystis collected during the surveyscollected during the surveys

!!Test the ability of the fungus to cause disease on its Test the ability of the fungus to cause disease on its hostshosts

MATERIALS AND METHODSMATERIALS AND METHODSCOLLECTION OF SAMPLESCOLLECTION OF SAMPLES

!!Wounds caused by elephants Wounds caused by elephants

DNA ExtractionDNA Extraction& Sequencing& Sequencing

Morphological Morphological IdentificationIdentification

PATHOGENICITY TESTSPATHOGENICITY TESTS

CeratocystisCeratocystis sp.sp.

Acacia Acacia nigrescensnigrescens

SclerocaryaSclerocarya birreabirrea

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONRESULTS AND DISCUSSION

CeratocystisCeratocystis sp.sp.Acacia Acacia nigrescensnigrescensCombretumCombretum zeyherizeyheriSclerocaryaSclerocarya birreabirreaTerminaliaTerminalia sericeasericea

C. C. albifundusalbifundusCombretumCombretum zeyherizeyheriTerminaliaTerminalia sericeasericea

SPECIESSPECIESHOSTSHOSTS

MORPHOLOGICAL IDENTIFICATIONMORPHOLOGICAL IDENTIFICATION

!!Culture Culture colourcolour and morphologyand morphology


!!Sexual fruiting structuresSexual fruiting structures


!!Sexual fruiting structuresSexual fruiting structures

C.C. moniliformopsismoniliformopsis

C. C. moniliformismoniliformis

C. C. tribiliformistribiliformis

C. C. bhutanensisbhutanensis

Consensus TreeConsensus Tree ITS & ITS & ββ--tubilinetubiline

C. C. virescensvirescens

KNPKNPCMW17300

CMW17298

CMW17297

AY528960.1 Bhutanensis



CMW9590 Moniliformis





CMW13011 Tribiliformis

CMW13012 Tribiliformis

CMW9986 Moniliformopsis

CMW10214 Moniliformopsis

CMW3276 Virescens

67

100

100

100

67

100

100

Majority rule

PATHOGENICITY TESTSPATHOGENICITY TESTS

S. S. birreabirreaA. A. nigrescensnigrescens

CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS!!CeratocystisCeratocystis sppspp. were common on wounds created by . were common on wounds created by

elephants, including elephants, including C. C. albifundusalbifundus and a newand a new

CeratocystisCeratocystis sp. sp.

!!Inoculation studies on available material showed Inoculation studies on available material showed

that the new species can cause lesions on young treesthat the new species can cause lesions on young trees

!!This is possibly an indigenous fungus that have This is possibly an indigenous fungus that have

coco--evolved with the trees and only cause disease evolved with the trees and only cause disease

to severely stressed and weak treesto severely stressed and weak trees

CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS

!!We are continuing to monitor elephant damage inWe are continuing to monitor elephant damage in

the KNP and the fungi that infect these wounds the KNP and the fungi that infect these wounds

!!This will in the future provide an indication of theThis will in the future provide an indication of the

interaction between elephant damage, fungalinteraction between elephant damage, fungal

pathogens and death of trees in the KNPpathogens and death of trees in the KNP

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

!!FABIFABI

!!ThembiThembi KhozaKhoza -- KNP Game guardsKNP Game guards

!!DST/NRFDST/NRF--CTHB (CTHB (CentreCentre of Excellence in Treeof Excellence in Tree

Health Biotechnology)Health Biotechnology)

!!THRIP Initiative of the Department ofTHRIP Initiative of the Department of

Trade and IndustryTrade and Industry

��KEEPING TREES HEALTHY�KEEPING TREES HEALTHY�

http://fabinet.up.ac.za/tpcp/

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A new Ceratocystis species from wounds made by - SANParks