The Genus «Phaeoacremonium» from a Molecular Point of View

Abstract

A molecular approach combined with phenotypic and morphological observations was used to delimit Phaeoacremonium species involved in esca disease and grapevine declines. P. aleophilum and P. angustius were synonymised, a new species P. viticola was reported and preliminary results concerning the delimitation of P. inflatipes and P. parasiticum were presented. The incubation of isolates at 35°C appeared to be a discriminant character to identify these two species, P. inflatipes having very low growth in comparison with P. parasiticum. Specific restriction profiles were determined using the type strain of each species, and the method was applied to screen unidentified isolates.