Systematics of fungi associated to wild rubber (Hevea spp.) trees in the Amazon basin: Searching for specialized biocontrol agents against economically important plant pathogens

该项目利用系统发育系统学的力量来识别和分类与野生橡胶树（橡胶树）相关的特殊真菌物种。该项目的一个目标是记录可用于生物控制破坏性橡胶树疾病的真菌物种，包括南美叶枯病（SALB）。该项目将：通过使用现代系统发育工具收集和鉴定真菌，表征与野生橡胶树物种相关的真菌物种；通过分析和比较所选真菌及其相应植物宿主的系统发育，阐明真菌与宿主的共同进化模式和宿主偏好；并通过在生物防治试验中评价选定的真菌来鉴定抗橡胶树疾病的生物防治剂。最大和产量最高的商业橡胶种植园在亚洲和非洲。这是由于在存在SALB的地区建立种植园很困难。非洲和亚洲尚未出现SALB，其向这些大陆传播的可能性引起了重大的生物和经济问题。尽管SALB的潜在影响很大，但很少有控制方法被发表。真菌生物防治橡胶树疾病可能是这一解决方案的一部分。

This project utilizes the power of phylogenetic systematics to identify and classify specialized species of fungi associated with wild rubber trees (Hevea). A goal of the project is to document fungal species that can be used in biological control of devastating Hevea diseases, including the South American Leaf Blight (SALB). The project will: characterize fungal species associated with wild Hevea species by collecting and identifying the fungi using modern phylogenetic tools; elucidate coevolutionary patterns between fungi and their hosts, and host preferences, by analyzing and comparing phylogenies of selected fungi and their corresponding plant hosts; and identify biocontrol agents against Hevea diseases by evaluating selected fungi in biocontrol assays.The largest and most productive commercial rubber plantations are in Asia and Africa. This is due to the difficulty of establishing plantations in regions where SALB exists. SALB is not yet present in Africa or Asia, and its potential spread to these continents represents significant biological and economic concerns. Even though potential impacts of SALB are large, few control methods have been published. Fungal biocontrol against Hevea diseases could be part of this solution.