Pleurostoma Decline of Olive Trees Caused by Pleurostoma richardsiae in California

A single fungal pathogen was consistently isolated from symptomatic wood of olive trees (Olea europaea) displaying branch and trunk cankers in superhigh-density orchards in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys of California. Morphological characters of the pathogen included two distinct types of conidia (thick-walled, dark brown, and globose and thin-walled, hyaline, and oblong to ellipsoid) and three types of phialides, indicating a pleurostoma-like fungus. Phylogenetic results of four nuclear loci including the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) and partial sequences of the actin, beta-tubulin, and translation elongation factor 1-alpha genes confirmed the isolates as Pleurostoma richardsiae. Pathogenicity trials conducted in the field involving 2- to 3-year-old branches of three widely planted oil olive cultivars (Arbequina, Arbosana, and Koroneiki) satisfied Koch's postulates and confirmed the pathogenic nature of this species to cause the decline of olive trees in California. All three cultivars were equally susceptible to Pl. richardsiae, indicating no detectable resistance to the pathogen. Additional isolations from symptomatic hosts including almond, peach, pistachio, and plum, also confirmed this species, suggesting that Pl. richardsiae is widespread in agricultural systems and should be considered an emerging pathogen of fruit and nut crops in California.

Automated summary

A new pathogenic fungus causing decline of olive trees in California has been identified, with different olive cultivars showing equal susceptibility to it. Moreover, its presence in other symptomatic hosts suggests that it is widespread in agricultural systems in California and should be considered an emerging pathogen.