Biological control of Pyrrhoderma noxium: an aggressive basidiomycete responsible for brown root rot of trees

Abstract

Globally, various biotic stressors are threatening the production of crops including wheat, cotton, maize, vegetables, fruit and ornamentals with up to 50–75% yield losses caused predominantly by fungal pathogens. One such fungal pathogen is Pyrrhoderma noxium, an aggressive basidiomycete fungus that induces the invasive disease of brown root rot in a variety of tree hosts, spanning over 250 species. This mini review will focus on various characteristics of this pathogen which is now a widespread across tropical and subtropical regions of the world infecting broad-leaved, coniferous woody, herbaceous, fruit and ornamental trees with examples of the research conducted at the University of the Sunshine Coast jointly with the Brisbane City Council.