February 29, 2024 | Phytotaxa |
Conducted by Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand, this study addresses the fungal infections affecting rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum), a significant seasonal fruit crop in Thailand. Despite Thailand's role as a major rambutan exporter, fungal infections pose a threat to its yield, prompting the need for thorough investigation.
The research focused on fungi associated with Nephelium lappaceum in northern Thailand, aiming to identify new host and geographical records. Three previously undocumented fungi were discovered: Rhytidhysteron neorufulum, Scolecobasidium spiralihyphum, and Wiesneriomyces laurinus. These fungi were characterized using a combination of morphological analysis and multigene phylogeny, including ITS, LSU, SSU, tef, and β-tub genes.
The study's findings contribute valuable insights into the fungal communities affecting the host plant, their geographic distribution, and their ecological roles. Herbarium specimens and pure cultures of the identified fungi were deposited in the Mae Fah Luang University Fungarium and culture collection, enriching the available resources for further research in this field.
