Exutisphaerella laricina
Exutisphaerella laricina (R. Hartig) Videira & Crous, in Videira, Groenewald, Nakashima, Braun, Barreto, de Wit & Crous, Stud. Mycol. 87: 352 (2017).
≡ Sphaerella laricina R. Hartig, Forst. naturw. Zeitschr. 4: 445 (1895)
Index Fungorum number: IF 822758; Facesoffungi number: FoF 03699, Fig. 1
Description: see Videira et al. (2017).
Material examined: see Videira et al. (2017).
Fig. 1. Exutisphaerella laricina (re-drawn from Sphaerella laricina Fig. 101 in Hartig et al. 2017). a. Tuft of larch needles, the greater number of which are more or less attacked by Sphaerella laricina. b. The rod-shaped conidia infect mainly the lower needles of the crown, and three weeks afterwards new conidial cushions.
Importance and role
Importance of genus to ecosystem
Species of Exutisphaerella are pathogenic and the causative agent of needle cast disease of European larch (Palmer and Ostry 1986). They have the potential to decrease tree growth and kill highly susceptible trees (Ostry and Nicholls 1989).
Industrial relevance and applications
The industrial applications of Exutisphaerella has not been investigated.
Quarantine significance
The biocontrol properties of Exutisphaerella has not been studied.
Biochemical importance of the genus, chemical diversity or applications
No chemical has been reported from Exutisphaerella. Exutisphaerella may produce important enzymes and toxins. Fresh cultures are needed for further studies.
Diversity of the genus
Exutisphaerella comprises only one species known on Larix decidua (Pinaceae) in Switzerland. The diversity of the genus Exutisphaerella is still only poorly studied. Numerous new taxa remain to be described.
Recent News
Recent paper to be publishedRecent Genus
TrichothallusStrigopodia
Xylopezia
Recent Species
Xylopezia hemisphaericaXenosporium mirabile
Wettsteinina gigantospora
