Fungal trunk pathogens associated with wood decay of almond trees on Mallorca (Spain)

Severe decline of almond trees has recently been observed in several orchards on the island of Mallorca (Balearic Islands, western Mediterranean Sea). However, the identity of the causal agents has not yet been investigated. Between August 2008 and June 2010, wood samples from branches of almond trees showing internal necroses and brown to black vascular streaking were collected in the Llevant region on the island of Mallorca. Several fungal species were subsequently isolated from the margin between healthy and symptomatic tissue. Five species of Botryosphaeriaceae (namely Botryosphaeria dothidea, Diplodia olivarum, D. seriata, Neofusicoccum australe and N. parvum), Eutypa lata, Phaeoacremonium iranianum and Phomopsis amygdali were identified based on morphology, culture characteristics and DNA sequence comparisons. Neofusicoccum parvum was the dominant species, followed by E. lata, D. olivarum and N. australe. First reports from almond include D. olivarum and Pm. iranianum. Two species are newly described, namely Collophora hispanica sp. nov. and Phaeoacremonium amygdalinum sp. nov.We thank 'Conselleria d'Agricultura, Mediambient i Territori' of the Balearic Islands for funding this research. We appreciate the helpful assistance in field works from technicians and land owners: Tomeu Melis, Toni Nicolau, Beatriz Blanquer and Alejandro Aristondo. The authors also wish to thank the staff of 'Conselleria d'Agricultura, Mediambient i Territori': Alicia Nieto, Xavier Nadal and Toni Martorell. We would like to thank Walter Gams for kindly assisting with the nomenclature for the new species.Gramaje Pérez, D.; Agusti Brisach, C.; Pérez Sierra, AM.; Moralejo, E.; Olmo, D.; Mostert, L.; Damm, U.... (2012). Fungal trunk pathogens associated with wood decay of almond trees on Mallorca (Spain). Persoonia: a mycological journal. 28:1-13. doi:10.3767/003158512X626155S1132