''Rhizomorpha subcorticalis'' is a species name that has been used to characterize certain fungal
plant pathogen
Plant pathology (also phytopathology) is the scientific study of diseases in plants caused by pathogens (infectious organisms) and environmental conditions (physiological factors). Organisms that cause infectious disease include fungi, oomyc ...
observations where the pathogen is evident only through
mycelial cords ("rhizomorphs"). The species in question very likely also produces reproductive structures which would allow it to be situated in the normal taxonomic tree, especially if
DNA analysis
Genetic testing, also known as DNA testing, is used to identify changes in DNA sequence or chromosome structure. Genetic testing can also include measuring the results of genetic changes, such as RNA analysis as an output of gene expression, or ...
is available. A name like ''R. subcorticalis'' should only be used where such identification is impossible.
History
The species name was first validly published by
Persoon
Christiaan Hendrik Persoon (1 February 1761 – 16 November 1836) was a German mycologist who made additions to Linnaeus' mushroom taxonomy.
Early life
Persoon was born in South Africa at the Cape of Good Hope, the third child of an immig ...
in 1801 with acknowledgement of an earlier description by
P. Micheli, describing the fungus as consisting of brownish-black branches and being found between bark and heartwood (which is the meaning of ''"subcorticalis''"). ''Rhizomorpha'' ''fragilis'' is listed as a synonym, indicating that the "real" species may have been ''
Armillaria mellea'' ("Honey Fungus"). Another given synonym is ''Clavaria phosphorea'' which was described in 1797 by
James Sowerby - the epithet ''phosphorea'' indicates that it glows in the dark, which is also true of ''Armillaria'' rhizomorphs. Someone has annotated
Sowerby's plate illustrating the species with the word ''Rhizomorpha''.
The name has been used for a crown and root rot disease of
strawberry
The garden strawberry (or simply strawberry; ''Fragaria × ananassa'') is a widely grown hybrid species of the genus '' Fragaria'', collectively known as the strawberries, which are cultivated worldwide for their fruit. The fruit is widely ap ...
and
avocado, where according to the
American Phytopathological Society the fungus in question is indeed actually ''Armillaria mellea''.
[
In 1871 in his book on diseases of forest trees, ]Robert Hartig
Robert Hartig (born: Heinrich Julius Adolph Robert Hartig, 30 May 1839, in Braunschweig – died 9 October 1901, in Munich) was a German forestry scientist and mycologist.
Biography
He was educated at the Collegium Carolinum of Braunschweig, a ...
mentioned ''R. subcorticalis'' as well as ''R. fragilis'' contrasting them as different species, the former being thinner and softer and having little tissue in the interior of the strands. So here ''R. subcorticalis'' must represent something other than ''Armillaria mellea''.[
]
References
External links
USDA ARS Fungal Database
Fungal strawberry diseases
Avocado tree diseases
Fungi described in 1801
Enigmatic fungus taxa
{{fungus-fruit-disease-stub
