Esteya floridanum sp. nov.: An Ophiostomatalean Nematophagous Fungus and its Potential to Control the Pine Wood Nematode.

The nematophagous fungal genus Esteya is reported as natural enemy of the pine wood nematode Bursapelenchus xylophilus, which causes pine wilt in Asia and Europe. During a survey of fungi associated with ambrosia beetles in Florida, USA, an undescribed Esteya species was found. A phylogenetic analysis based on LSU and β-tubulin DNA sequences supported this isolate as a new species, Esteya floridanum Y. Li, Araújo & Hulcr. Morphological and phylogenetic characteristics and a species description are provided here. The fungus was observed to kill the pine wood nematode in vitro. To evaluate its ability to protect trees against the pine wood nematode in vivo, the effect of prophylactic inoculation was tested on Pinus koraiensis and Larix olgensis in Liaoning, China. The results suggest that the fungus is not a plant pathogen and that it delays the wilt and postpones death of two conifer trees. This presents a potential new avenue for research on biocontrol of the pine wilt disease, and stresses the value of research on pest organisms in their native regions.