A checklist of plant pathogenic fungi and Oomycota in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Sri Lanka is blessed with a rich ecosystem diversity, however, only a small fraction of the diverse flora and fauna in the country is known. Only around 3,000 species of fungi are currently known out of the estimated number of 25,000 species of native fungal flora of Sri Lanka. This includes the 2,000 species, belonging to 640 genera, recorded prior to 1950. The fungi studied, prior to 1950, have been well documented, as journal publications, checklists or books. In contrast, the information on Sri Lankan fungal flora, available especially after 1950, is scattered. The present `Checklist of Plant Pathogenic Fungi in Sri Lanka’ is intended to bring together all species of plant pathogenic fungi and Oomycota recorded in the country after late nineteen forties. The checklist consists of 404 species of plant pathogenic fungi and Oomycota, belonging to 110 genera and 230 species, associated with diseases of horticultural, agricultural and plantation crops and their harvested produce and forests plants in Sri Lanka.