Abstract
Species of Raffaelea ( Ophiostomatales : Ascomycota ) are obligate symbionts of ambrosia beetles, some of which pose a substantial threat to forest trees. Leucaena leucocephala is a small mimosoid tree species that is considered as an invasive weed in most of its introduced range globally. During a field expedition on the French island of Réunion, dying L. leucocephala trees were observed. Samples were taken from these trees and isolations made from symptomatic wood tissues that included beetle tunnels, but in the absence of the beetles themselves. Multiple isolates of a fungus resembling a Raffaelea species were obtained from the discoloured wood associated with the beetle tunnels. To determine their identity, microscopic examination was performed and DNA sequences for three gene regions (ITS, LSU, TUB ) were obtained. Phylogenetic analyses based on these gene regions revealed that the isolates represent a new species of Raffaelea , described here as R. borbonica sp. nov. A pathogenicity test was conducted with the fungus, which was shown to cause lesions on the inoculated seedlings, but with a low level of aggressiveness.
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Claims 4
Claim · model-written summary
Dying L. leucocephala trees were observed on the island of Reunion.
- Taxon
- Leucaena leucocephala
Leucaena leucocephalat0 - Outcome
- dying L. leucocephala treese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“beetle-infested Leucaena leucocephala”
e0“dying L. leucocephala trees were observed”
Claim · model-written summary
Multiple isolates of a fungus resembling a Raffaelea species were obtained from discoloured wood associated with beetle tunnels.
- Taxon
- Leucaena leucocephalaLeucaena leucocephalat0
- Organ / stage
- discoloured woode0
- Outcome
- Multiple isolates of a fungus resembling a Raffaelea speciese0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“beetle-infested Leucaena leucocephala”
e0“Multiple isolates of a fungus resembling a Raffaelea species were obtained from the discoloured wood associated with the beetle tunnels”
Claim · model-written summary
Phylogenetic analyses of ITS, LSU and TUB gene regions showed the isolates represent a new species, described as R. borbonica sp. nov.
Verbatim
e0“the isolates represent a new species of Raffaelea , described here as R. borbonica sp. nov.”
Claim · model-written summary
In a pathogenicity test the fungus caused lesions on inoculated seedlings but with a low level of aggressiveness.
- Taxon
- Leucaena leucocephalaLeucaena leucocephalat0
- Treatment
- pathogenicity test was conducted with the funguse0
- Outcome
- lesions on the inoculated seedlingse0
- Qualifier
- low level of aggressivenesse0
Not reportedComparatorDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“beetle-infested Leucaena leucocephala”
e0“A pathogenicity test was conducted with the fungus, which was shown to cause lesions on the inoculated seedlings, but with a low level of aggressiveness”