Schizophyllum commune as a Ubiquitous Plant Parasite

Abstract

Schizophyllum commune is a sap-rot basidiomycete and cosmopolitan species. The fungus is also recognized as a plant pathogen that causes wood rot on living trees, and many plant species including fruit and ornamental trees have been recorded as hosts. In this paper, previous studies on the plant parasitism of S. commune and related information to date were reviewed, in addition to the unique characters of the fungus. Though the fungus is only a poor wood decomposer in vitro, it preferably invades living tissues of plants including bark and sapwood, being exceptional as a wood-rot basidiomycete. Basidiospores are abundantly ejected in the air, and pruning wounds, freeze injuries and sunscald lesions are major infection courts for them. Wood-rot disease by the fungus is promoted by drought, freezing temperatures and other weather conditions unfavorable for plants; the fungus is adapted to such adverse environmental conditions. It is expected that, depending on plant species and localities, ongoing global warming enhances plant damage, which may predispose plants to fungal infection. Schizophyllum rot possibly helps other wood-rot pathogens to infect and establish. More attention should be paid to the wood-rot disease complex in which S. commune is involved. In conclusion, various aspects on the biology of S. commune still remain to be studied in relation to the mechanism of its pathogenesis.