Abstract
Bark beetles belonging to the genus Dryocoetes (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Scolytinae) are known vectors of fungi, such as the pathogenic species Grosmannia dryocoetidis involved in alpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) mortality. Associations between hardwood-infesting Dryocoetes species and fungi in Europe have received very little research attention. Ectosymbiotic fungi residing in Ceratocystiopsis and Leptographium (Ophiostomatales, Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota) were commonly detected in previous surveys of the Dryocoetes alni-associated mycobiome in Poland. The aim of this study was to accurately identify these isolates and to provide descriptions of the new species. The identification was conducted based on morphology and DNA sequence data for six loci (ITS1-5.8S, ITS2-28S, ACT, CAL, TUB2, and TEF1-α). This revealed two new species, described here as Ceratocystiopsis synnematasp. nov. and Leptographium alneumsp. nov. The host trees for the new species included Alnus incana and Populus tremula. Ceratocystiopsis synnemata can be distinguished from its closely related species, C. pallidobrunnea, based on conidia morphology and conidiophores that aggregate in loosely arranged synnemata. Leptographium alneum is closely related to Grosmannia crassivaginata and differs from this species in having a larger ascomatal neck, and the presence of larger club-shaped cells.
Highlights
Bark beetles in the genus Dryocoetes (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are mainly secondary pests infesting dead, injured, and felled or windthrown conifer- and hardwood hosts
Taxon 1 produced a hyalorhinocladiella-like asexual morph with simple and highly branched conidiophores, which often aggregate in loosely synnemata that were arranged either singly or in groups topped with white mucilaginous spore drops
This study identified two new species of ophiostomatoid fungi associated with Dryocoetes alni on Alnus incana and Populus tremula in hardwood ecosystems in Poland
Summary
Bark beetles in the genus Dryocoetes (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) are mainly secondary pests infesting dead, injured, and felled or windthrown conifer- and hardwood hosts. For this reason, most members of Dryocoetes have no or only minor economic importance, Dryocoetes confusus, the most destructive species in the genus, may cause extensive mortality of subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) in North America (Bright 1963; Negrón and Popp 2009). In Poland it occurs rarely, but probably it is widespread. This beetle species attacks weakened or dead trees of Alnus spp., Populus spp. and Corylus avellana (Gutowski and Jaroszewicz 2001; Borowski et al 2012)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
