Exploration of the alternative host range of the pitch canker pathogen by examining the diversity of Fusarium associated with grasses in commercial forestry environments, particularly in nurseries and plantations

<p dir="ltr">The single gene trees (TEF, RPB2.1) for the Fusarium fujikuroi, Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti, Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium sambucinum species complexes isolated from grasses in South Africa. This study examined the pathogen’s association with grasses as potential reservoirs of inoculum, the variation in its aggressiveness on pine, and the broader diversity of Fusarium species in commercial forestry systems. This research documents remarkable Fusarium diversity, identifying 28 unique Fusarium species, including 15 novel species across different Fusarium species complexes associated with grasses.</p>