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Title: A Review of the Phylogeny and Biology of the Diaporthales

Author
item Rossman, Amy
item Farr, David
item Castlebury, Lisa

Submitted to: Mycoscience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/11/2007
Publication Date: 6/18/2007
Citation: Rossman, A.Y., Farr, D.F., Castlebury, L.A. 2007. A Review of the Phylogeny and Biology of the Diaporthales. Mycoscience. 48:135-144.

Interpretive Summary: Each year fungi cause billions of dollars damage to agricultural and natural resources in the United States. One group includes the fungus that caused chestnut blight in the Eastern United States. Many additional fungi that cause disease of plants belong to the same group. This paper presents a synopsis of what is known about this group of fungi based on recent molecular research and knowledge of their families. In addition, a new family is described for fungi that cause diseases of strawberries and other fruit crops and their close relatives. This paper will be used by plant pathologist to determine the cause of crop and tree diseases as well as by plant quarantine officials to predict which fungi outside the United States threaten our agricultural commodities.

Technical Abstract: The ascomycete order Diaporthales is reviewed based on recent phylogenetic data that outline the families and integrate related asexual fungi. The order is now considered to consist of nine families one of which is newly recognized as the Schizoparmeaceae fam. nov. and two families are recircumscribed. The Schizoparmeaceae including the genus Schizoparme and its anamorphic state Coniella as well as the related Pilidiella is distinguished by the three-layered ascomatal wall and the basal pad from which the asci and conidiogenuous cells originate. The Pseudovalsaceae is recognized in a restricted sense and the Sydowiellaceae is circumscribed more broadly than originally conceived. Many species in the Diaporthales are saprobes although a number are plant pathogenic on woody plants such as Cryphonectria parasitica cause of chestnut blight and agricultral crops such as canker diseases of soybean and sunflower cause by species of Diaporthe Phomopsis in both temperate and tropical regions. In addition members of the Diaporthales such as Apiognomonia-Driscula and Diaporthe-Phomopsis are commonly encountered as endophytes of woody plants.