Dothichiza populea

Dothichiza populea Sacc. & Briard, in Saccardo, Syll. fung. (Abellini) 3: 672 (1884)                                 Fig. 50

º  Chondroplea populea (Sacc. & Briard) Kleb., Phytopath. Z. 6: 291 (1933)

Index Fungorum number: IF275050; Facesoffungi number: FoF 06235

Pathogenic on various substrates of a range of host plants. Sexual morph: Undetermined. Asexual morph: Conidiomata 254–744 µm high × 874–1063 µm diam (x̅ = 433.8 × 972.8 µm, n = 10), numerous in the bark, stromatic, initially in pustules covered by the epidermis of the host, rupturing at the apex when mature, immersed to sub-peridermal, solitary, multilocular and convoluted, often irregular in shape, dark brown to black, ostiolate. Conidiomata wall 11.2–26.6 µm with irregular surface at the base on the inside, outer layer composed of 2–3 layers of brown cells of textura angularis, inner layer composed of hyaline-walled cells of textura angularis. Conidiophores 4–6 µm × 1 µm (x̅ = 5 × 1 µm, n = 10), hyaline, branched at the base, septate, smooth, hyaline. Conidiogenous cells enteroblastic, phialidic, cylindrical, indeterminate, integrated or discrete, hyaline, smooth. Conidia 2–3 µm × 1–2 µm (x̅ = 3.6 × 2.1 µm, n = 10), subglobose to ovoid, or rarely ellipsoid, apex obtuse, base truncate or rounded, aseptate, creamy to tanny olive or pale brown, median guttulate, thick and smooth-walled.

Material examined – USA, New York, Dutchess, Poughkeepsie, on Populus nigra (Salicaceae), 25 May 1923, Unknown collector (CUP 012269).

Economic significance –The genus Dothichiza is parasitic and responsible for outbreaks of cankers in many hosts. There is evidence that damage caused from members of the genus Dothichiza is European in origin. Trees under stress are most frequently infected by this taxon and show discoloration of the bark in the cankers (Hedgcock & Hunt 1916, Phillips & Burdekin 1992).