Rhachisphaerella mozambica
Rhachisphaerella mozambica (Arzanlou & Crous) Videira & Crous, in Videira, Groenewald, Nakashima, Braun, Barreto, de Wit & Crous, Stud. Mycol. 87: 338 (2017).
≡ Mycosphaerella mozambica Arzanlou & Crous, Persoonia 20: 26 (2008).
Index Fungorum number: IF 822798; Facesoffungi number: FoF xxx, Fig. 1
Description: see Arzanlou et al. (2008); Videira et al. (2017).
Material examined: see Arzanlou et al. (2008); Videira et al. (2017).
Fig. 1. Rhachisphaerella mozambica (CBS 122464; redrawn from Mycosphaerella mozambica Fig. 6 in Arzanlou et al. 2018). a. Ascus with biseriate ascospores. b. Ascospore germination pattern. c. Conidiophores with sympodially proliferating conidiogenous cells, which give rise to short conidiumbearing rachis. d. Conidia. Scale bar = 10 μm.
Importance and role
Importance of genus to ecosystem
Species of Rhachisphaerella are saprobic or pathogenic on host plant. As saprobes, they can help in nutrient recycling in the ecosystem. As pathogen, they may cause lesions and leaf spot on host plants (Jacome et al. 2003).
Industrial relevance and applications
No industrial use of Rhachisphaerella have been reported.
Quarantine significance
No biocontrol agent from Rhachisphaerella has been investigated. Rhachisphaerella may have the potential to control some pathogen. Further studies are needed.
Biochemical importance of the genus, chemical diversity or applications
Rhachisphaerella may produce important compounds and toxins responsible for blight and spots on the host. Further studies are needed for identification of those chemicals.
Diversity of the genus
Rhachisphaerella comprises only one species known on Musa sp. (Musaceae) in Mozambique. The diversity of the genus Rhachisphaerella is still only poorly understood, and the lineages described so far likely represent only a small fraction of the true diversity of Rhachisphaerella. Numerous new taxa remain to be described.
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