Discovery of two northern hemisphere Armillaria species on Proteaceae in South Africa

Armillaria root rot symptoms were observed on native Protea and Leucadendron (Proteaceae) species in Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Intergenic spacer (IGS)-1 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) restriction fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP) profiling indicated the presence of at least two Armillaria species. The profiles of two isolates were identical to those of A. mellea s. str., originating in Europe. Phylogenetic analyses incorporating internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and IGS-1 sequence data identified the remaining isolates as closely related to A. calvescens, A. gallica, A. jezoensis and A. sinapina. These isolates displayed mating compatibility with A. gallica. From the RFLP profiles, sequencing results and sexual compatibility studies, it is concluded that the two species on Proteaceae in Kirstenbosch represent A. mellea and A. gallica. These are northern hemisphere fungi that have apparently been accidentally introduced into South Africa. This is the second report of Armillaria being introduced into South Africa. The introduction probably occurred early in the colonization of Cape Town, when potted plants from Europe were used to establish gardens.