Biology:Biscogniauxia atropunctata

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Short description: Species of fungus

Biscogniauxia atropunctata
Biscogniauxia atropunctata.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Ascomycota
Class: Sordariomycetes
Order: Xylariales
Family: Graphostromataceae
Genus: Biscogniauxia
Species:
B. atropunctata
Binomial name
Biscogniauxia atropunctata
(Schwein.) Pouzar (1979) [1]

Biscogniauxia atropunctata, the hypoxylon canker, is a species[2] of sac fungus in the family Graphostromataceae. Like many other fungi in the genus, it is a plant pathogen; specifically this species can cause Biscogniauxia (Hypoxylon) canker and dieback disease in host trees. [3] [4]

Range

This species is found in spring and early summer east of the Rocky Mountains of North America. [5]

Ecology

When not pathogenic, Biscogniauxia atropunctata is saprobic on oak and other hardwood trees, causing a white rot on the host deadwood. The fruiting body grows in patches with a whitish-gray surface covered by black dots that grow to be blackened overall. [5]

The fungus can colonize healthy trees and live undetected and harmlessly in the bark and sapwood for some time, its spread kept in check by the host's natural defenses. However, when the trees become stressed, the fungus invades weakened host tissues, causing the dieback disease. Initially the infection kills affected branches, then progresses down the trunk to form a canker, girdling the tree and killing the entire crown. [4]

Taxonomy

Biscogniauxia atropunctata contains the following varieties:

  • Biscogniauxia atropunctata maritima[2]
  • Biscogniauxia atropunctata atropunctata[2]

References

Wikidata ☰ Q10430022 entry