Frank Dugan

Washington State University | WSU · Department of Plant Pathology

Two species of Cladosporium (C. oxysporum and C. sphaerosper- mum) were isolated from surface coastal seawater based on their ability to use the polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) naphthalene (C10H8) and phenanthrene (C14H10) as a sole carbon and energy source. Although both Cladosporium spp. Are cosmopolitan spec- ies, both species are new records t...

Frank's CV at retirement

Accuracy in assigning specific epithets to Penicillium isolates documented as agents of blue mold of edible and ornamental bulb, root, and tuber crops is highly variable - with methods ranging from appropriate (recent morpho-cultural criteria, metabolite production, DNA sequences), to plausible (older morpho-cultural criteria from monographs), to s...

Infection of bulbs of garlic (Allium sativum) by Fusarium proliferatum is increasingly documented worldwide and management of the pathogen is problematic. Garlic bulbs were harvested at the USDA-ARS Plant Introduction farm near Pullman, WA in fall 2015. From a sample of 18 bulbil-producing accessions whose bulbs were documented as infected by F. pr...

Plant pathologists can take pride in the foundational contributions of their discipline to the emergence of modern biological science. Plant pathologists were among the first to document the microbial world and the role of microbes as agents of disease. But plant pathologists and other plant scientists are sometimes ill equipped for addressing anti...

Penicillium vulpinum along with a number of other fungi can lead to rot of stored sugar beet roots. However, Penicillium isolates associated with necrotic lesions on roots from a recent sugar beet storage study were determined to be different from P. vulpinum and other recognized Penicillium species. Phylogenies based on sequencing of the internal...

First reported from the Pacific Northwest of U.S.A. as causal agents of blue mold on edible and/or ornamental bulbs are Penicillium albocoremium (from Tulipa sp.; pathogenic on Allium sativum, A. cepa, A. stipitatum, Iris hollandica and Tulipa sp.), P. crustosum (from Narcissus; pathogenic on A. cepa and I. hollandica), P. paraherquei (from A. cepa...

Fungi are noted producers of a diverse array of secondary metabolites, many of which are of pharmacological importance. However, the biological roles of the vast majority of these molecules during the fungal life cycle in nature remain elusive. Solanapyrones are polyketide-derived secondary metabolites produced by diverse fungal species including t...

"Emerging crops" is a term typically applied to ethnic food plants or to plants used in traditional or ethnic medicine, some of which are becoming viable niche markets in North America. Information on crop protection of these plants is often scarce to lacking. Literature on diagnosis and management of fungal diseases of these crops in North America...

Alfalfa was integral to the agricultural revolution in Europe because of the plant’s soil nitrifying properties and was widely introduced throughout North America. American folkways eventually addressed planting, harvesting, plant protection, and uses of alfalfa as animal forage and human medicine. Tall tales and folk heroes featured the plant, and...

Accurate understanding of crop biogeography facilitates comprehension of agronomic potential, genetic diversity, and crop–pathogen evolution. Classic perspectives are exemplified by Vavilov (1987), a posthumous compilation, and Harlan (1971). Origin and geographic spread of a given crop provide clues as to environmental interactions, including rela...

A synopsis is provided for the roles of garlic in European and Mediterranean folklore, including folktales and medicine. Lore from southern Europe and the Mediterranean is contrasted with lore from northern Europe, including Anglo-Saxon traditions.

A new crown and root rot disease of landscape plantings of the malvaceous ornamental common rose mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos) was first detected in Washington State in 2012. The main objectives of this study were to complete Koch's postulates, document the disease symptoms photographically, and identify the causal agent using multilocus molecular p...

Two fungi were recently described as pathogens of pome fruit in the U.S. Pacific Northwest: Lambertella corni-maris on apple, and Phacidium lacerum Fr. (syn. Ceuthospora pinastri (Fr.) Höhn.) on apple and d'Anjou pear. Here we document pathogenicity of L. corni-maris to d'Anjou pear, Malus ‘Profusion’ crabapple, and sweetbriar rose, and pathogenici...

Multiple traditional species names for plant pathogenic fungi have been supplemented with new names that delimit formerly cryptic species. In separate instances, isolates within a species are clearly differentiated by both phylogeny and distinctive pathogenic traits and are assigned sub-specific designations. These new species names and the sub-spe...

During surveys for postharvest diseases of apple and pear, an unknown postharvest fruit rot was observed inWashington State. The disease appeared to originate from infection of the stem and calyx tissue of the fruit or wounds on the fruit. An unknown pycnidial fungus was consistently isolated from the decayed fruit. Isolates from apple and pear wer...

Understanding the influence of fruit surface morphology on ultraviolet-C (UV-C 254 nm) inactivation of microorganisms is required for designing effective treatment systems. In this study, we analyzed UV-C inactivation of Penicillium expansum that was inoculated onto the surface of organic fruits. Results show that maximum reductions of 1.8 (apple),...

The cosmopolitan warm-climate plant pathogen Lasiodiplodia theobromae was isolated from two sources: Seeds of Tetrapleura tetraptera from Nigeria and fruits of Cocos nucifera from Mexico; the former instance is novel for host, the latter a novel geographic record for infection of coconut fruits. Per cent germination of T. tetraptera seeds was negat...

During surveys for postharvest diseases of apples conducted in Washington State, an unknown fruit rot was observed on stored apples collected from commercial fruit packinghouses. This disease was present in 66 of the 179 grower lots sampled, accounting for an average 1 to 3% of the total decayed fruit sampled. The disease appeared to originate from...

The infectoria species-group within the genus Alternaria was originally conceived by Simmons in 1993 and was based upon common morphological characteristics that included the development of conidial chains with primary, secondary, and tertiary branching resulting in substantial three-dimensional complexity. These characters can overlap to varying d...

UV-C inactivation kinetic data of Penicillium expansum on intact and wounded pear disks were determined. P. expansum conidia (0.5 mL, 1.6 × 107 CFU/mL) were spot inoculated onto intact and wounded pear tissue with skin (excised disks), treated with UV-C doses ranging 0.101–3.06 kJ/m2 at 23 °C and surviving conidia were enumerated. Changes in select...

Differential resistance to stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis) in a planting of 111 wild collections of Basin wild rye (Leymus cinereus) was noted 2011-2013. In 2011, rust severity was rated on a scale of 1-9. Much lighter infection in 2012 and 2013 was rated as the number of symptomatic leaves per plant divided by plant circumference (to adjust for...

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is an important rotational and an emerging specialty crop in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, in California, and in the Northern Great Plains of the United States and Canada. Dodders (Cuscuta spp.) are widespread parasitic weeds on many crops worldwide. Several Cuscuta species (primarily C. campestris Yuncke...

Bioassay-guided fractionation of a fungus Neocosmospora sp. (UM-031509) resulted in the isolation of three new resorcylic acid lactones, neocosmosin A (2), neocosmosin B (3), and neocosmosin C (4). Three known resorcylic acid lactones, monocillin IV (1), monocillin II (5), and radicicol (6), were also isolated and identified. The structures of thes...

Seedborne mycobiota of Lupinus albus was assessed using blotter paper and agar media with Rose Bengal or semi-selective media for Pythium or Fusarium. Samples of 200 seeds were taken from each of 16 inventories, comprising 14 accessions originating from Germany, France, Ukraine, Syria, Hungary or Spain, and increased 1-2 times through propagation b...

There is evidence from literature, state department of agriculture documents, and recent diagnoses that Sclerotium cepivorum, causal agent of white rot of garlic and onion, is spreading and/or becoming more established in the Pacific Northwest. Previously documented distributions are summarized and the fungus is reported for the first time from Lat...

In this study, we examined in vitro antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial, and antileishmanial activities of secondary metabolites (1-8) isolated from the fungus Eurotium repens. All compounds showed mild to moderate antibacterial or antifungal or both activities except 7. The activity of compound 6 was the best of the group tested. The in vitro...

In 2003, 2008 and 2009 isolates of Clonostachys sp.were recovered from post-harvest chickpea debris. Representative isolates were identified as C. rhizophaga on the basis of 99% similarity of β-tubulin DNA sequences to those of the type strain and 100% similarity to representative strains, including isolates reported as highly aggressive on chickpe...

Erysiphe knautiae (Erysiphales) is reported for the first time in North America on Lomelosia caucasica (Caucasian Pincushion Flower, Dipsacaceae). Accepted for publication 7 January 2012. Published 27 February 2012.

Puccinia sherardiana is first reported on Sidalcea malviflora in Washington State. The rust occurs on many other taxa in the Malvaceae in numerous geographic locales, and seeds of S. malviflora are widely available for gardeners, but reports of the rust on S. malviflora are rare.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the fungus Eurotium repens resulted in the isolation of two new benzyl derivatives, (E)-2-(hept-1-enyl)-3-(hydroxymethyl)-5-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)benzene-1,4-diol (1) and (E)-4-(hept-1-enyl)-7-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-2,5-diol (2), along with seven known compounds (3-9) including five benzaldehyde co...

Multiple Allium accessions (garlic, and wild and ornamental Allium species) were screened for resistance using Penicillium allii and A. sativum (positive control). Single accessions of A. aflatunense, A. atroviolaceum, A. stipitatum, and Allium sp. remained asymptomatic. Single accessions of A. roseum and A. senescens, two accessions each of A. acu...

The fungus Botrytis cinerea Persoon (ex Fries) is an important pathogen of container-grown conifer seedlings. The examination of whole mounts and serial sections of diseased needles of western larch (Larix occidentalis Nuttall) seedlings with a light microscope confirmed that the development of fungal infection structures conforms to that observed...

Field pea is an annual, cool-season legume native to northwest to southwest Asia. It was among the first crops cultivated by man. The crop is grown primarily in North Dakota, Washington, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and southern Canada. Ascochyta blight is a serious disease affecting above ground portions at all growth stages. Stem, crown, pod, and foli...

The powdery mildews Golovinomyces echinopis on Echinops exaltatus (tall globethistle), and G. biocellatus on Salvia officinalis (common sage), are documented for the first time in Washington State. Golovinomyces cynoglossi on Cynoglossum officinale (houndstongue) is documented for the first time in the state of Montana.

The genus Cladosporium is one of the largest genera of dematiaceous hyphomycetes, and is characterised by a coronate scar structure, conidia in acropetal chains and Davidiella teleomorphs. Based on morphology and DNA phylogeny, the species complexes of C. herbarum and C. sphaerospermum have been resolved, resulting in the elucidation of numerous ne...

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.

Diversity of powdery mildew pathogens infecting pea (Pisum sativum) in the US Pacific Northwest was investigated using both molecular and morphological techniques. Phylogenetic analyses based on rDNA ITS sequences, in combination with assessment of morphological characters, defined two groups of powdery mildews infecting pea. Group I (five field sa...

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.

As the pace of biotic homogenization has accelerated over time, the threat of novel phytopathogens has become a question of growing importance for mycologists and plant pathologists.Meanwhile, this question is but one of a whole set of related questions that invasion biologists are attempting to answer. Pathogen release is of interest to both sets...

Although chickpeas are reported to be susceptible to more than 50 pathogens, few diseases are currently recognized as significant economic constraints to production. Ascochyta blight, caused by the fungal pathogen Ascochyta rabiei, is the most serious chickpea disease worldwide. This paper describes the pathogen, symptoms of infection, biological a...

The taxonomy of the powdery mildew fungus infecting lentil in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) of the United States was investigated on the basis of morphology and rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences. Anamorphic characters were in close agreement with descriptions of Erysiphe trifolii. However, teleomorphs formed chasmothecial appendages wi...

In 2004–2005, application of non-amended suspensions of Aureobasidium pullulans conidia to post-harvest chickpea debris resulted in 37.9% fewer Ascochyta blight lesions on chickpea test plants relative to controls. Analogous tests in 2006–2007 resulted in 38.4% fewer lesions. Ascospores released from debris were predominantly Davidiella sp. (anamor...

The anamorphic pycnidial fungus Ascochyta pisi is one member of a species complex that causes Ascochyta blight of pea, a potentially devastating disease. The teleomorphic state of this fungus was induced under laboratory conditions. Using morphological and molecular characters, we placed the teleomorph within the genus Didymella as D. pisi and desc...

Accurate and timely reports of new host-fungus records are essential for diagnostics and identification, management, and prevention of plant diseases. Important also are venues to publish these reports in a timely manner and the ability to rapidly search for the information contained in these reports. Presented herein are examples of first reports...

Fifty species of guanophilic (bat guano-loving) fungi were isolated from field-collected samples within three caves in southwesternPuerto Rico; most were mitosporic fungi (23 species). The caves studied were Cueva La Tuna (Cabo Rojo), Cueva de Malano(Sistema de Los Chorros, San Germán), and Cueva Viento (El Convento Cave-Spring System, Guayanilla-P...

A morphologically distinct isolate of Cladosporium sphaerospermum from a North American patent collection, referenced as Cladosporium lignicola in the patent, was examined. Generic affinity was confirmed by scanning electron microscopic examination of conidiogenous loci and conidial hila. Species identity as C. sphaerospermum was indicated by DNA s...

Treatment of sweet cherry (Prunus avium cv. Bing) trees with either two mildewcide cover sprays or multiple (18) applications of topical and systemic fungicides produced cherry fruit that were either highly colonized or relatively uncolonized by fungi, respectively. Fruit from the multiple application treatment had a storage life of up to 8 weeks (...

Two species of Cladosporium (C oxysporum and C sphaerospermum) were isolated from surface coastal seawater based on their ability to use the polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) naphthalene (C10H8) and phenanthrene (C14H10) as a sole carbon and energy source. Although both Cladosporium spp. are cosmopolitan species, both species are new records to mang...

Ascochyta rabiei, causal agent of Ascochyta blight on chickpea (Cicer arietinum), can cause severe yield loss in the United States. Growers rely on applications of fungicides with site-specific modes of action such as the quinone outside inhibiting (QoI) fungicides azoxystrobin and pyraclostrobin, and the carboximide fungicide boscalid, to manage d...

Dugan, F. M. 2008. Fungi, folkways and fairy tales: mushrooms & mildews in stories, remedies & rituals, from Oberon to the Internet. North American Fungi 3(7): 23-72. Abstract: Fungi are manifest in a multiplicity of folktales and fairy tales, and in folk remedies and rituals. They appear as foods, poisons, diseases, decorations, dyes or tinder, an...

Garlic (Allium sativum L. and A. longicuspis Regel.) germplasm maintained by the USDA-ARS Western Regional Plant Introduction Station (WRPIS) was screened for four viruses commonly infecting garlic [Garlic common latent carlavirus (GCLV), Leek yellow stripe potyvirus (LYSV), Onion yellow dwarf potyvirus (OYDV), and Shallot latent carlavirus (SLV)]...

In Oct. 2007, powdery mildew was found in chickpea fields in an experimental farm near Pullman, Whitman County, Washington. Although disease signs were observed on all chickpea cultivars in the fields, high incidence was seen only on cvs. Dwelley and Spanish White. To our knowledge this is the first record of powdery mildew caused by Leveillula tau...

Commercially distributed garlic (Allium sativum) seed cloves from six states of the United States and mainland China were surveyed for the presence of fungi recorded as pathogenic to garlic in the literature. Aspergillus niger, A. ochraceus, Botrytis porri, Embellisia allii, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae, F. proliferatum and Penicillium hirsutum,...

Neotyphodium endophytes are asexual, filamentous fungi, mutualistically associated with diverse cool season grasses. Infected seeds and vegetative organs of infected host plants are the only known modes of propagation of the asexual endophytes. In the last decade certain Epichloë and Neotyphodium-infected grass species have been shown to have epiph...

Erysiphe polygoni on Rumex crispus, documented previously in California, is reported for the first time in the Pacific Northwest. Podosphaera (Sphaerotheca) fusca is reported in the Pacific Northwest for the first time on Taraxacum laevigatum, a host record documented previously in Europe. New host records for Idaho are Golovinomyces sordidus on Pl...

Seeds of standing common teasel ( Dipsacus fullonum ) were harvested in January 2007 in Pullman, Washington, and divided into two categories, symptomatic versus asymptomatic, on the basis of signs of fungal colonization at 10-50X magnification. The most common signs were pseudothecia of Davidiella tassiana. Fungi were recovered from all seeds of bo...

Podosphaera (Sphaerotheca) euphorbiae on Euphorbia epithymoides (= E. polychroma, cushion spurge) is reported for the first time in North America. Neoerysiphe ( Erysiphe ) galeopsidis on Lamium amplexicaule (henbit), Blumeria (Erysiphe) graminis on Festuca idahoenis (Idaho fescue), Taphrina johansonii on Populus tremuloides (trembling aspen), and T...

The incidence of Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV) of genus Tospovirus, family Bunyaviridae in a commercial onion crop was first confirmed in Washington state during 2003 (1). First found in Adams County, IYSV has rapidly spread to all onion-producing counties in the state, affecting seed and bulb crops. The USDA-ARS Western Regional Plant Introduction...

A mechanism is proposed for the unusual antioxidant activity in citrinin based on computed O–H bond dissociation enthalpies (BDE). These data suggest that citrinin itself is not the active species, but rather a pair of hydrated Michael addition products consisting of substituted 2,6-dihydroxy benzoic acids. These diastereomers act as radical scaven...

Common teasel (Dipsacus sylvestris) is a European species introduced into North America, and is now widely established and regarded as a noxious weed. In October 2005, a powdery mildew was observed on D. sylvestris in two locations in Pullman, Whitman Co., WA. Examination of diseased material confirmed that the causal agent was S. dipsacearum. This...

The powdery mildew fungus Phyllactinia guttata, parasitic on European hazelnut (Corylus avellana), is a host for the fungicolous hyphomycete Cladosporium uredinicola in Washington State. Mucilaginous penicillate cells at the apices of the Phyllactinia ascocarps are the primary site for colonization and sporulation by C. uredinicola. Range of morpho...

Modern host-fungus indices and databases contain deceptively few entries for Alternaria malorum or its synonym, Cladosporium malorum. Close inspection of literature from the 1930s through the1960s indicates more hosts and wider prevalence than more modern indices and databases indicate. Reports from 2002 to the present document diverse additional h...

Erysiphe flexuosa, a powdery mildew parasite of Aesculus species, is believed to have originated in North America where distribution records were confined to regions east of the Rocky Mountains. The fungus recently was found in eastern Washington State and northern Idaho. The fungus can be distinguished readily from other powdery mildews attacking...

Fungi colonizing senescent chickpea (Cicer arietinum) stems and postharvest debris from Pullman, WA, were enumerated and identified with the objective of finding species potentially useful for biological control of Didymella rabiei (conidial state = Ascochyta rabiei), causal agent of Ascochyta blight. In addition to D. rabiei, primary colonizers we...

This announcement covers the goals, activities, and future projects outlined for the consortion founded in 2002 to develop a new model for documenting fungal biodiversity in Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Washington State ranks fourth in the country in garlic (Allium sativum) production (2). The impact of viruses on garlic production may be significant in Washington State, but little is known about the occurrence or identity of specific viruses (2). The USDA-ARS Western Regional Plant Introduction Station (WRPIS) collects, maintains, and distributes...

The powdery mildew fungus Leveillula taurica (Erysiphales) is reported for the first time from the monocot Triglochin maritima (Juncaginaceae), a widespread salt marsh plant that causes economic losses because of its high toxicity to young livestock. This is the first report of an erysiphaceous fungus on a member of the Juncaginaceae. Morphological...

Contorted hazelnut is an ornamental tree introduced to North America from Europe. In the fall of 2004 and 2005, powdery mildew caused by Phyllactinia guttata (Wallr.:Fr.) Lév. was observed on contorted hazelnut (‘contorta’) located on the campus of Washington State University, Pullman, and on several C. avellana trees (unknown cultivar) on the camp...

DUGAN, F.M., SCHUBERT, K. & BRAUN, U. (2004): Check-list of Cladosporium names. Schlechtendalia 11: 1–103. Names of species and subspecific taxa referred to the hyphomycetous genus Cladosporium are listed. Citations for original descriptions, types, synonyms, teleomorphs (if known), references of important redescriptions in literature, illustration...

In late June and early July 2002, stunted, chlorotic, and partially defoliated lentils (Lens culinaris Medik.) were observed throughout the lentil-growing areas of eastern Washington. These symptoms were investigated in two fields near Garfield, WA and one field near Genesee, ID. Cv. Mason was more affected than cv. Brewer. Roots were dry and britt...

In June 2003, uredinial and telial pustules were seen on leaves of accession W6-12755 Allium pskemense B. Fedtsch. originating from Uzbekistan and grown for germplasm increase in Pullman, WA. W6-18947 A. altaicum Pall., originating from Mongolia, displayed similar symptoms in the same garden in June 2000. A. altaicum is a wild onion exploited for f...

Green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) woodlands are declining throughout the Northern Great Plains of North America. The heart rot disease of ash caused by Perenniporia fraxinophila is common in these woodlands, but its importance in woodland decline is not known. We sampled the visible incidence of P. fraxinophila stem decay on green ash in 17 native...

cv.Italian Red) rotted in a drying shed at the Plant Introductionfarm in Pullman, Washington. Softened cloves displayedwater-soaked, tan lesions, often with white myceliumnear the bulb axis. Similar symptoms were noted in thesame cultivar commercially grown in Idaho, 10 km fromPullman, and purchased at a retail outlet in July 2002.In each case, sur...