Search

Leptographiumspecies have predominantly been described from North America, Canada and Europe. These fungi generally occur on conifers and many cause blue-stain of lumber. Most Leptographiumspecies are also associated with insects and in particular, bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae). Recently, an unknown species of Leptographiumwas isolated from pine infested with an Ipssp. in Indonesia. In addition, two unknown species have been collected from red spruce (Picea rubra)and balsam fir b4bies balsamea)roots from high elevation sites in Eastern North America. The latter isolates are unusual in that they are associated with the feeding wounds made by the conifer swift moth Korscheltellus gracilus(Lepidoptera: Hepialidae), which is a habitat unique for species of Leptographium.Comparison with known Leptographiumspecies has revealed that the isolates from Indonesia and those from Eastern North America represent three previously undescribed taxa. They are, therefore, described in this study as L pinetisp. nov, L abieticolenssp. nov. and L. peucophilumsp. nov.

Tomicusspecies (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) are serious pests of pines with a wide distribution in Europe, Asia and America. In Yunnan, south-western China, T. piniperdahas destroyed more than 0.5 million ha of Pinus yunnanensisin the past 15 years. A blue stain fungus belonging to the genus Leptographiumis associated with both the shoot-feeding and trunk-attacking stages of the beetle's life cycle. The fungus is morphologically similar to the anamorph of Ophiostoma crassivaginatumand to L. pyrinum, which are both characterised by short robust conidiophores and hyphae covered by a granular layer. Both these species have been isolated from conifers and are associated with insects. After comparing the fungus from T. piniperdawith similar Leptographiumspecies, using light and scanning electron microscopy, we concluded that it represents a new taxon, which is described here as L. yunnanensesp. nov

A Leptographiumspecies was isolated from dead Pinus densifloraat six sites in Japan. The fungus is morphologically most similar to L, lundbergiibut could be distinguished from that species by its short stipes, primary branches of conidiophores, and conidia with a rounded to sub-truncate base. In addition, the colony morphology, growth rate and tolerance to the antibiotic cycloheximide of the Leptographiumspecies and L. lundbergiidiffered markedly. Here we describe the fungus as a new species, Leptographium pini-densiflorae.

Six ophiostomatoid fungi, i.e., Ceratocystiopsis minuta, Ceratocystis laricicola, Ophiostoma brunneo-ciliatum, O. laricis, O. piceae and Ophiostomasp., were isolated from the galleries of Ips cembraeon Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi)logs in central Honshu, Japan. Japanese larch trees approximately 30 yr old were inoculated with all six fungi. Ceratocystis laricicolaproduced the largest lesions on the inner bark around the inoculation point and the largest dry zone in the sapwood. Furthermore, C. laricicolawas the only fungus associated with I. cembraethat had the ability to kill Japanese larch, death occurring in 30-yr-old trees within 3.5mo after inoculation.