<em>Kalmusia variispora</em> Associated with the Grapevine Trunk Disease Complex in Cyprus

• DOI: 10.20944/preprints202503.1990.v1
• Publication Date: 2025-03-28T00:52:39Z
• Authors: Georgios Makris; Marcelo Sandoval-...; Pedro W. Crous; Loukas I. Kanetis

Grapevine trunk diseases (GTDs) are widespread worldwide, causing serious economic losses to the vitiviniculture industry. The etiology of complex pathogenic mycobiome associated with this group is critical implementing appropriate management strategies. Diseased grapevines exhibiting typical GTD symptoms were collected from vineyards in different provinces Cyprus, resulting 19 pycnidial isolates. Subsequent multilocus sequence analysis 6 genetic loci (ITS, LSU, SSU, b-tub, tef1-a, and rpb2) identified them as Kalmusia variispora, 12 representative isolates included phylogenetic analyses. According pathogenicity trials on two-year-old potted vines (cv. Mavro), all tested pathogenic, light dark brown discoloration lesions varying levels, ranging 4 12.3 cm long. capacity K. variispora produce cell wall degrading exoenzymes was qualitatively estimated solid media. Cellulase, pectinase, laccase production evident for isolates, except isolate CBS 151329 where latter enzyme undetected. severity consistent laccase-producing capacity. present study confirmed association grapevine represents first description ascomycete a causal agent Cyprus. This highly virulent species may play significant role complex, its biological cycle epidemiology should be further investigated.