Ceratocystis paradoxa

Ceratocystis paradoxa is a species of fungus that belongs to the family Ceratocystidaceae. It is a plant pathogen that causes diseases in a variety of plants, most notably pineapples, where it is responsible for the condition known as pineapple wilt disease or pineapple black rot.

Taxonomy

The species was first described in 1890 by the American mycologist Charles Horton Peck. The genus name Ceratocystis comes from the Greek words keras (horn), kystis (bladder), and -oides (resembling), referring to the distinctive shape of the fruiting bodies. The species epithet paradoxa is derived from the Latin word for "paradoxical", reflecting the unusual nature of the fungus.

Description

Ceratocystis paradoxa is characterized by its dark, flask-shaped fruiting bodies that produce asexual spores called conidia. The conidia are hyaline and cylindrical, and are typically produced in chains. The fungus also produces sexual spores called ascospores, which are borne in sac-like structures called asci.

Pathogenicity

Ceratocystis paradoxa is a necrotrophic pathogen, meaning it kills host tissue and then feeds on the dead material. It is capable of infecting a wide range of plant species, but is particularly notorious as a pathogen of pineapples. In pineapples, the fungus causes a disease known as pineapple wilt disease or pineapple black rot. This disease is characterized by wilting, yellowing, and eventual death of the plant. The fungus can also cause a condition known as staining in hardwood trees, where it discolors the wood.

Management

Management of Ceratocystis paradoxa involves a combination of cultural practices and chemical control. Cultural practices include the use of resistant varieties, proper sanitation, and crop rotation. Chemical control typically involves the use of fungicides.

See also

• List of pineapple diseases
• Ceratocystis fimbriata
• Ceratocystis platani