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''Ceratocystis platani'' is a
, FERA, retrieved 27 February 2014 It was elevated to the level of species in 2005.
''issg Database'': Ecology of ''Ceratocystis platani'', retrieved 27 February 2014 The fungus is a wound parasite which rapidly infects plane trees, causing disruption of water movement, cankers and eventually death. Cankers on the tree trunk are characterised by necrosis of inner bark and bluish-black to reddish-brown discolouration of sapwood. The disease can cause sudden death of a portion of the crown, and trees of 30–40 cm diameter may die within 2–3 years of infection.
The disease was first found in Europe in Marseille, France, in 1945, and is believed to have been transported there by US troops during Operation Dragoon towards the end of World War II. The pathogen is now present in most of Italy. It has also been reported in Spain, Switzerland, Greece, Iran, and Armenia. In Italy and the south-east of France the disease has caused serious losses. In Marseille, where the first phase of infection started in 1945, 1850 Plane trees were killed between 1960 and 1972 (about 13% of the initial population). At Forte dei Marmi, one of the oldest infection centres in Italy, 90% of all plane trees died of the disease in the twenty-year period from 1972-1991.
''Ceratocystis platani'' was first detected in Greece in 2003. Since then, hundreds of dead and dying trees have been found along streams and rivers in southwestern Greece, and many ornamental trees have died in residential and recreational areas.
In 2006 ''C. platani'' was identified as the cause of plane tree death along the Canal du Midi, a UNESCO world heritage site in France. The canal is lined with around 42,000 plane trees and up to 2011, around 2,500 trees had been felled, destroyed and replaced with disease-resistant planes.
fungus
A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from t ...
that causes a disease on plane tree
''Platanus'' is a genus consisting of a small number of tree species native to the Northern Hemisphere. They are the sole living members of the family Platanaceae.
All mature members of ''Platanus'' are tall, reaching in height. All except f ...
s in the genus ''Platanus
''Platanus'' is a genus consisting of a small number of tree species native to the Northern Hemisphere. They are the sole living members of the family Platanaceae.
All mature members of ''Platanus'' are tall, reaching in height. All except ...
''.
Description
''Ceratocystis platani'' is believed to be native to southeastern USA. The fungus was previously considered to be part of the ''Ceratocystis fimbriata
''Ceratocystis fimbriata'' is a fungus and a plant pathogen, attacking such diverse plants as the sweet potato (''black rot'') and the tapping panels of the Para rubber tree (''moldy rot''). It is a diverse species that attacks a wide variety of ...
'' species
complex as ''Ceratocystis fimbriata'' f. ''platani''.Rapid Pest Risk Analysis for Ceratocystis platani, FERA, retrieved 27 February 2014 It was elevated to the level of species in 2005.
Canker stain
''Ceratocystis platani'' causes a disease inplane trees
''Platanus'' is a genus consisting of a small number of tree species native to the Northern Hemisphere. They are the sole living members of the family Platanaceae.
All mature members of ''Platanus'' are tall, reaching in height. All except f ...
known as "Canker stain of plane" (UK English) or "Canker of sycamore" (US English).
The disease is caused by the phytotoxin cerato-platanin
In molecular biology, the cerato-platanin family of proteins includes the phytotoxin cerato-platanin (CP) produced by the Ascomycete ''Ceratocystis platani''. CP homologs are also found in both the Ascomycota and the Basidiomycota branches of Di ...
, which occurs in the cell wall of ''C. platani'', as well as other Dikarya, and is involved in molecular fungus-host interactions.
Oriental plane (''Platanus orientalis
''Platanus orientalis'', the Old World sycamore or Oriental plane, is a large, deciduous tree of the Platanaceae family, growing to or more, and known for its longevity and spreading crown. In autumn its deep green leaves may change to blood red ...
'') is considered highly susceptible to the fungus; American sycamore (''Platanus occidentalis
''Platanus occidentalis'', also known as American sycamore, American planetree, western plane, occidental plane, buttonwood, and water beech, is a species of ''Platanus'' native to the eastern and central United States, the mountains of northeas ...
'') probably coevolved with the fungus and is relatively resistant, while the hybrid London plane (''Platanus × acerifolia
''Platanus'' × ''acerifolia'', ''Platanus'' × ''hispanica'', or hybrid plane, is a tree in the genus ''Platanus''. It is often known by the synonym London plane, or London planetree. It is usually thought to be a hybrid of ''Platanus orient ...
'') is generally intermediate in resistance between its parents.Ceratocystis platani (fungus)''issg Database'': Ecology of ''Ceratocystis platani'', retrieved 27 February 2014 The fungus is a wound parasite which rapidly infects plane trees, causing disruption of water movement, cankers and eventually death. Cankers on the tree trunk are characterised by necrosis of inner bark and bluish-black to reddish-brown discolouration of sapwood. The disease can cause sudden death of a portion of the crown, and trees of 30–40 cm diameter may die within 2–3 years of infection.
North America
The disease was first reported in the USA in 1935 affecting ''Platanus × acerifolia
''Platanus'' × ''acerifolia'', ''Platanus'' × ''hispanica'', or hybrid plane, is a tree in the genus ''Platanus''. It is often known by the synonym London plane, or London planetree. It is usually thought to be a hybrid of ''Platanus orient ...
''. In subsequent years the disease was reported in most Atlantic seaboard states. It was subsequently observed in plantations and in natural forests of ''Platanus occidentalis
''Platanus occidentalis'', also known as American sycamore, American planetree, western plane, occidental plane, buttonwood, and water beech, is a species of ''Platanus'' native to the eastern and central United States, the mountains of northeas ...
''. The disease has also been reported in California. In Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
the disease had killed 10,000 out of a total 150,000 trees by 1945. In Gloucester City, New Jersey, Gloucester, New Jersey, 87% of London plane trees had died by 1949.
Europe and the Near East
The disease was first found in Europe in Marseille, France, in 1945, and is believed to have been transported there by US troops during Operation Dragoon towards the end of World War II. The pathogen is now present in most of Italy. It has also been reported in Spain, Switzerland, Greece, Iran, and Armenia. In Italy and the south-east of France the disease has caused serious losses. In Marseille, where the first phase of infection started in 1945, 1850 Plane trees were killed between 1960 and 1972 (about 13% of the initial population). At Forte dei Marmi, one of the oldest infection centres in Italy, 90% of all plane trees died of the disease in the twenty-year period from 1972-1991.
''Ceratocystis platani'' was first detected in Greece in 2003. Since then, hundreds of dead and dying trees have been found along streams and rivers in southwestern Greece, and many ornamental trees have died in residential and recreational areas.
In 2006 ''C. platani'' was identified as the cause of plane tree death along the Canal du Midi, a UNESCO world heritage site in France. The canal is lined with around 42,000 plane trees and up to 2011, around 2,500 trees had been felled, destroyed and replaced with disease-resistant planes.
References
External links
{{Taxonbar, from=Q10445905 Fungal tree pathogens and diseases Microascales Fungi described in 1951 Fungi of Europe Fungi of North America