Several species of Dendroctonus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) have cuticular invaginations, or mycangia, in the integument which are specialized for carrying specific symbiotic fungi. The mycangium of Dendroctonus adjunctus, located under a callus that surrounds the prothorax, has been recognized but the mycangial fungus has not yet been identified. Fungi from mycangia of Dendroctonus adjunctus were...

The Ophiostomatales is an Ascomycete order of fungi that accommodates several tree pathogens and many species that degrade wood. These fungi are commonly vectored by Scolytine bark and ambrosia beetles. In recent years it has also been shown that hyperphoretic mites on these beetles can vector some Ophiostomatales. Little is known regarding the Ophiostomatales in China and we have consequently ...

Hypovirulence in fungal plant pathogens refers to the reduced ability of selected isolates within a population of a pathogen to infect, colonize, kill, and (or) reproduce on susceptible host tissues and is often associated with fungal viruses and associated double-stranded RNA elements. It has been reported to occur in numerous fungal plant pathogens, including Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, S. mino...

The ascomycete Ophiostoma piceae produces a sterol esterase (OPE) with high affinity toward p-nitrophenol, glycerol, and sterol esters. Recently, this enzyme has been heterologously expressed in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris under the AOX1 methanol-inducible promoter (PAOX1) using sorbitol as co-susbtrate, and the hydrolytic activity of the recombinant protein (OPE*) turned out to be...

Ceratocystis. Ceratocxstiopsis and Ophiostoma are important pathogens of trees and some agricultural crops and have recently been found on proteas and forest trees in South Africa. Taxonomic controversy exists regarding these genera and ultrastructural studies on the development of asci, uniquely shaped ascospores and centrum structure are inadequate. This rev iew summarises current knowledge o...