Elsinoë

Elsinoë is a genus of ascomycete fungi in the family Elsinoaceae. These fungi are plant pathogens that cause scab diseases on a wide variety of plants, including fruits, vegetables, and ornamentals.

Characteristics:

• Elsinoë species are characterized by their production of small, raised lesions or scabs on infected plant tissues.
• These lesions are often circular or irregular in shape and may be surrounded by a halo of discoloration.
• The fungi produce ascomata (fruiting bodies) within the lesions, which release ascospores to spread the infection.
• The genus exhibits a broad host range, with different Elsinoë species affecting specific plant hosts.

Disease Symptoms:

Infections by Elsinoë manifest as scab-like symptoms, often including:

• Raised, corky lesions on fruits, leaves, stems, or tubers.
• Cracking or distortion of infected tissues.
• Premature defoliation in severe cases.
• Reduced fruit quality and marketability.

Impact and Management:

Elsinoë infections can cause significant economic losses in agriculture by reducing crop yields and quality. Management strategies for Elsinoë diseases typically include:

• Use of disease-free planting material.
• Application of protective fungicides.
• Pruning of infected plant tissues.
• Crop rotation to reduce inoculum levels in the soil.
• Maintaining good air circulation within plant canopies to reduce humidity.

Examples of Diseases Caused by Elsinoë:

• Citrus scab (caused by Elsinoë fawcettii)
• Grape anthracnose (caused by Elsinoë ampelina)
• Sweet potato scab (caused by Elsinoë batatas)

Taxonomy:

The genus Elsinoë belongs to the class Dothideomycetes, order Myriangiales, and family Elsinoaceae. The taxonomy of Elsinoë species is based on morphological characteristics, host range, and molecular data.