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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Hilo, Hawaii » Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center » Tropical Plant Genetic Resources and Disease Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #364005
Research Project: Management, Characterization, and Evaluation of Pacific Tropical and Subtropical Fruit and Nut Genetic Resources and Associated Information

Location: Tropical Plant Genetic Resources and Disease Research

Title: First report of ceratocystis huliohia causing mortality of metrosideros polymorpha trees on the island of Kaua'i, Hawai'i, USA

Author
item HELLER, WADE - University Of Hawaii
item HUGHES, MARC - University Of Hawaii
item LUIZ, BLAINE - University Of Hawaii
item BRILL, EVA - University Of Hawaii
item FRIDAY, JAMES - University Of Hawaii
item WILLIAMS, ADAM - Hawaii Department Of Land And Natural Resources
item Keith, Lisa

Submitted to: Forest Pathology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/12/2019
Publication Date: 10/10/2019
Citation: Heller, W.P., Hughes, M.A., Luiz, B.C., Brill, E., Friday, J.B., Williams, A.M., Keith, L.M. 2019. First report of ceratocystis huliohia causing mortality of metrosideros polymorpha trees on the island of Kaua'i, Hawai'i, USA. Forest Pathology. 49(5). https://doi.org/10.1111/efp.12546.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/efp.12546

Interpretive Summary: Ceratocystis huliohia is one of two newly described tree pathogens causing rapid ‘ohi‘a death. C. huliohia was recently detected on Kaua‘i, which is the first report of it beyond Hawai‘i Island.

Technical Abstract: The fungus Ceratocystis huliohia was detected for the first time in dead and dying Metrosideros polymorpha trees on the Island of Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i, U.S.A. Fungal isolates were recovered from diseased trees into culture and identities were confirmed by diagnostic qPCR assay and DNA sequencing. Growth chamber inoculations confirmed C. huliohia pathogenicity on M. polymorpha seedlings and subsequently the same fungus was recovered, completing Koch’s postulates. DNA sequence analysis revealed a unique ITS haplotype for Kaua‘i isolates of C. huliohia that has not been found on Hawai‘i Island.