Conidia of Phyllosticta capitalensis CBS 117118.
Image Credit: Pedro Crous

Phyllosticta capitalensis CBS 117118 growing in the lab.
Image Credit: Valerie Buijs

Phyllosticta is an Ascomycete fungus in the Dothideomycetes clade. Phyllosticta capitalensis was described as a non-pathogenic endophyte with a wide host range and geographic distribution. Phyllosticta spp. have globally been recorded as endophytes, plant pathogens and saprobes from several plant hosts. Different Phyllosticta species have been associated with Citrus spp. worldwide. Some of these cause important diseases such as Citrus Black Spot and Tan spot, subjected to phytosanitary legislation in the European Union and the U.S.A. Other species such as P. capitalensis are present only as endophytes on Citrus spp. Pathogenic species are often confused with a morphologically identical but non-pathogenic Phyllosticta species. Considering their economic importance, whole genome sequences for all the species involved with Citrus plants, including P. capitalensis, are needed to improve our understanding of the underlying differences in pathogenicity and their evolutionary separation. These data will also allow for the development of robust DNA barcodes for quick detection and will facilitate further research on this important Citrus pathogenic and non-pathogenic species.

Phyllosticta capitalensis can be found on a broad range of plant hosts on any continent. This particular strain was isolated from Musa acuminata in Indonesia.