Ceratocystis fimbriata

Ceratocystis fimbriata is a fungal species belonging to the Ceratocystidaceae family. It is a plant pathogen that causes diseases in a wide range of host plants, including economically important crops such as sweet potato and coffee.

Taxonomy

The species was first described in 1890 by the American mycologist Charles Horton Peck. It belongs to the genus Ceratocystis, which comprises around 30 species of plant-pathogenic fungi.

Description

Ceratocystis fimbriata is characterized by its dark, flask-shaped fruiting body known as an ascocarp, which produces ascospores. The fungus also produces conidia, or asexual spores, in structures called conidiophores.

Pathogenicity

Ceratocystis fimbriata is a necrotrophic pathogen, meaning it kills host tissue and then feeds on the dead cells. It enters the host plant through wounds and then spreads through the xylem, causing wilting and eventually death of the plant.

Management

Control of Ceratocystis fimbriata involves a combination of cultural practices, such as avoiding wounding of plants, and chemical control with fungicides. Biological control using antagonistic microorganisms is also being explored.

Economic Impact

Ceratocystis fimbriata causes significant economic losses in agriculture. For example, it is the causal agent of black rot in sweet potatoes and coffee wilt disease in coffee plants.

See Also

• Ceratocystis wilt
• Fungal plant pathogens and diseases
• List of sweet potato diseases
• List of coffee diseases