Characterisation of Chrysoporthe cubensis and Chrysoporthe deuterocubensis, the Stem Canker Diseases of Eucalyptus spp. in a Forest Plantation in Malaysia

Abstract

Commercial plantations of Eucalyptus species have been established in Malaysia, especially during the past 10 years, with the aim of sustaining the supply of wood and timber products for industrial use in Malaysia. As part of an assessment of fungal diseases affecting Eucalyptus species in four regions in Malaysia, including Kelantan, Pahang, Sabah, and Selangor, stem canker disease was discovered to be a widespread disease infecting Eucalyptus species in Malaysia. This study aimed to identify the fungus-causing stem canker disease, test its pathogenicity in Eucalyptus, and determine the mating type of isolates from the infected trees. The fungi were identified based on morphology and through comparisons of DNA sequence data from the ITS, β-tubulin 2 gene, and TEF-1α gene regions. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the causal agent of the stem canker was Chrysoporthe cubensis infecting Eucalyptus plantations in Pahang and Chrysoporthe deuterocubensis infecting Eucalyptus plantations in Kelantan, Sabah, and Selangor. We believe this is the first report of Chrysoporthe cubensis-infected Eucalyptus in Malaysia and Southeast Asia, while Chrysoporthe deuterocubensis is the first-reported species infecting Eucalyptus pellita in Malaysia. Moreover, the fact that the mating-type MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 genes and the pheromone genes ppg1, ppg2, pre1, and pre2 were identified in all isolates indicates that Chrysoporthe cubensis and Chrysoporthe deuterocubensis are homothallic mating systems. Pathogenicity was tested on a 3-year-old standing tree, 1-year-old seedling, and detached healthy leaves, which were re-isolated for fulfilling Koch’s postulates. In pathogenicity trials, both Chrysoporthe cubensis and Chrysoporthe deuterocubensis gave rise to lesions on wounded Eucalyptus. Both Chrysoporthe spp. were equally pathogenic to Eucalyptus urograndis and Eucalyptus pellita and should be regarded as a biosecurity concern in Malaysia’s forest plantation industry.