Phyto-pathogenic fungi associated with tropical fruit crops in Thailand – 1

Abstract

This paper is the first in a series focused on documenting and providing a stable platform for phytopathogenic fungi associated with tropical fruit crops in Thailand. It focuses on the taxonomy and phylogenetic inferences of fungi present in Ananas comosus (Pineapple) and Nephelium lappaceum (Rambutan). This study details 17 species of plant pathogenic fungi in the Ascomycota to facilitate current and future research. This includes one new species, and 16 new hosts and geographical records. Curvularia clavata, C. pandanicola, Daldinia bambusicola, D. eschscholtzii, Fusarium sulawense, Neoscytalidium dimidiatum from pineapple and Diaporthe nepheliicola sp. nov, D. rosae, D. siamensis, D. tectonae, D. tulliensis, D. unshiuensis, D. yunnanensis, F. verticillioides, F. petroliphilum, F. parceramosum, and F. phyllophilum from rambutan were identified with morpho-molecular data. A disease review and the worldwide checklist with names of all fungi and fungi-like species occurring on pineapple and rambutan were compiled and presented. In total, 262 records were reported in the checklist of pineapple and 78 records were reported in the checklist of rambutan. The disease management approaches strongly depend on ample knowledge of the causative agents and their updated information. Moreover, knowledge of the threat posed by the most recently identified fungal pathogens in tropical fruit plantations and harvested fruits becomes crucial for biosecurity purposes and should be listed as quarantine pathogens, considering the worldwide trade market of tropical fruits.