Projects
Posted on: August 20, 2019
Since 2004, extensive mortality of oak (Quercus mongolicae) has been occurring in South Korea. This oak mortality is associated with a fungus (Raffaelea quercus-mongolicae), which is vectored by a wood-boring ambrosia beetle (Platypus koryoensis). High-resolution genetic markers were used to assess the genetic diversity of 54 fungal isolates from five South Korean provinces, and results suggest that this fungal pathogen was introduced to South Korea. Genomic sequencing of the fungus provided evidence of genes associated with causing tree disease, and allowed comparisons with related fungi.