Morphological and molecular studies on Dendryphion penicillatum and Pleospora papaveracea, pathogens of Papaver somniferum

Abstract

Pleospora papaveracea and Dendryphion penicillatum are well-known pathogens of opium poppy (Papaver somniferum). The asexual state of Pl. papaveracea has generally been identified as D. penicillatum. However, morphological observations and AFLP analysis reveal that the anamorph of Pl. papaveracea is a Dendryphiella-like fungus and that D. penicillatum is not the asexual state of Pl. papaveracea. While Pl. papaveracea forms a sexual state in culture, D. penicillatum lacks a known sexual state. These two species can be readily differentiated using both morphology and colony characteristics.

Key Words:

• AFLP
• biological control
• Dendryphiella
• fungi
• Loculoascomycetes
• dematiaceous hyphomycetes
• opium poppy
• systematics