OPHIOSTOMATOID FUNGI: EXPANDING FRONTIERS
Species of Ceratocystis and Ophiostoma (Ascomycetes) are some of the world's most intriguing and important fungi. They include destructive plant pathogens such as the causal agents of Dutch
elm disease (Ophiostoma ulmi and Ophiostoma novo-ulmi), oak wilt (Ceratocystis fagacearum), the sweet potato root rot pathogen Ceratocystis fimbriata as well as many other canker stain
pathogens previously treated as C. fimbriata but now recognized as discrete taxa. Ceratocystis and Ophiostoma are amongst the most common and important agents of sapstain in timber
and at least one species of Ophiostoma is an important human pathogen.
Ceratocystis and Ophiostoma are best known as fungi associated with insects and particularly bark beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytinae). Their morphological characteristics are elegantly adapted to dispersal by arthropods. Their sexual fruiting structures typically have long necks terminating in bearing sticky masses of spores, which easily attach to the bodies of passing insects and are transferred to new substrates. Many of their asexual states also have long stalks also bearing sticky conidia to facilitate dispersal.
Although Ophiostoma and Ceratocystis had then been known for about a hundred years, just two decades ago, their taxonomy was seriously in disarray. Species of these important genera were mistaken for each other, treated collectively as a single entity and they were commonly misidentified. Scientists working on these fungi were either pathologists, ecologists, entomologist or fungal taxonomists and there was relatively poor communication between them. In an attempt to improve this situation, we organized a meeting in 1990, to draw together a group of friends and colleagues with an interest in Ceratocystis and Ophiostoma. This meeting, held in the small village of Bad Windsheim in Germany and it was planned specifically to occur immediately before the International Mycological Congress held in Regensburg.
The Bad Windsheim meeting on what we chose to call the Ophiostomatoid fungi, was an exciting event meeting that represented a milestone in the history of our understanding of these fascinating fungi. The meeting gave rise to a collection of papers, edited by ourselves and Dr. Joan Webber and published in the book "Ceratocystis and Ophiostoma: Taxonomy, ecology and pathology" (American Phytopathological Society Press, 1993). This book served to concentrate most of the current knowledge regarding the Ophiostomatoid fungi at the time and it has been useful to many of us. More importantly, we believe that it stimulated a new wave of interest in the topic and this is clearly seen in the published literature of the past 15 years.
During the period subsequent to the Bad Windsheim meeting, there have been great advances in our knowledge of the taxonomy and biology of Ceratocystis and Ophiostoma. The understanding of their biology has also advanced markedly. Many of these fungi are now of great importance in terms of biodiversity conservation, industrial applications and trade barriers. Given this growth in our knowledge and importance of the Ophiostomatoid fungi, a second meeting has been planned that will enable us to focus our attention on these fungi. This meeting will be held on the charming North Stradbroke Island, just off the coast of Brisbane in Australia on the 16th, 17th and 18th August, 2006. It has again specifically been arranged to occur immediately before the International Mycological Congress (IMC), to be held in Cairns from the 20th to the 26th August 2006.
The international research workshop "The Ophiostomatoid fungi: Expanding frontiers" is certain to be an exciting and stimulating scientific experience. The venue is peaceful, biologically interesting, and very conducive to the exchange of knowledge and to the development of new collaborations and friendships. Our deliberations will mainly occur at the Morton Bay Research Station of the University of Queensland, but will certainly include ocean shore discussions and walks through the fascinating Australian "bush". The meeting was organized by invitation but specifically with an attempt to include everyone interested in the Ophiostomatoid fungi. We are delighted with the response and expect some 40 scientists from around the world to join us.
As we write this short summary of our plans, delegates are preparing abstracts that will be made widely available. Full papers from the meeting will be published in a book and we hope that this will stimulate a new wave of interest and research activity. Our attempt will be to share as many of the outcomes of the meeting as possible, with our friends and colleagues who are not able to join us. Our intention is to post these on this web-site and we hope that you will find them interesting and useful
Sincere good wishes
| Mike Wingfield Mondi Professor of Forest Pathology Director Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) & DST/NRF Center of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology (CTHB) University of Pretoria. South Africa Mike.Wingfield@fabi.up.ac.za |
Keith Seifert |
