Fusicoccum aesculi

Fusicoccum aesculi is a species of fungus that belongs to the Botryosphaeriaceae family. It is known to cause diseases in plants, particularly the horse chestnut tree (Aesculus hippocastanum).

Taxonomy

The species was first described in 1961 by mycologists G. C. A. van der Aa and J. Vanev. The genus Fusicoccum was established by Piero Saccardo, an Italian mycologist, in 1884. The species name aesculi refers to its host, the horse chestnut tree.

Description

Fusicoccum aesculi produces conidia, a type of fungal spore, which are hyaline, aseptate, and fusiform. The conidia are produced in pycnidia, which are flask-shaped fruiting bodies. The fungus also produces ascospores, which are borne in asci, the spore-bearing cells of ascomycete fungi.

Pathogenicity

Fusicoccum aesculi is a pathogen of the horse chestnut tree. It causes a disease known as horse chestnut canker, which is characterized by the formation of cankers on the trunk and branches of the tree. The disease can lead to the death of the tree if not controlled.

Control

Control of Fusicoccum aesculi involves the use of fungicides and the removal of infected branches. It is also important to maintain the overall health of the tree, as stressed trees are more susceptible to infection.

See also

• List of horse chestnut diseases
• Botryosphaeriaceae
• Fungus