Scientists uncover a brand new fungal plant pathogen species in Kerala

Scientists have found a brand new species of phytopathogenic fungus, Paramyrothecium strychni (Ascomycota, Stachybotryaceae), related to an rising leaf spots and blights illness of Strychnos dalzellii (Family-Loganiaceae) from Kerala. Strychnos dalzellii is domestically generally known as Kanjiram or Modirakanjiram.

Shambhu Kumar (Principal Scientist and Head), Forest Pathology Department of Kerala Forest Research Institute together with Raghvendra Singh (Senior Assistant Professor), Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, India, are behind the invention.

This new species has been found and established on the premise of morpho-cultural and multigene molecular phylogenetic evidences. According to IndexFungorum, a complete of 25 species of Paramyrothecium are recognied worldwide, and most of them are reported as plant pathogens. This analysis work has been printed in Fungal Diversity on September 29, 2025.

Strychnos dalzellii is an endemic medicinal plant of the Western Ghats, categorised beneath Vulnerable (VU) of the IUCN Red List valued for its alkaloids with analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Traditionally, it’s utilized in treating fever, digestive issues, rheumatism, and nervous illnesses. Its pharmacological potential highlights its significance in ethno-medicine, stated Dr. Shambhu Kumar.

However, on account of restricted distribution, habitat degradation, and overexploitation, it faces conservation considerations. It is said that the species is already beneath extreme risk from overexploitation and habitat loss, and the emergence of this new biotic threats spotlight the pressing want for conservation efforts to safeguard and restore its declining inhabitants.

This examine paperwork a brand new species of fungal pathogen as P. strychni, inflicting leaf spots and leaf blights on Strychnos dalzellii in Kerala, recognized by polyphasic method, marking the primary international file of this fungal species, he famous.

Kerala’s fungal biodiversity

“This analysis emphasises Kerala’s fungal biodiversity, including to the taxonomic information of foliar fungal pathogens on this biodiversity-rich area. The discovery of P. strychni as a pathogen on S. dalzellii highlights the necessity for ongoing surveillance in Kerala’s biodiverse areas to detect new fungal threats. This exact identification aids in monitoring illness unfold and in formulating focused administration methods to scale back the influence on well being of C. Strychni crops, supporting conservation and sustainability,“ Dr. Shambhu Kumar identified.

Species of Paramyrothecium largely causes leaf spots and blights illness in all type of crops. The illness might be overcome by pruning and eradicating of contaminated leaves in early an infection stage to scale back the supply of an infection. Some organic preventive options can be found out there which can be utilized for management of this illness.

In extreme instances, fungicides could also be very efficient for the management of Paramyrothecium leaf spots and blights. Additionally, it has been beforehand reported the some species of Paramyrothecium produces secondary metabolites with bio-herbicidal potentials. Hence, additional analysis is must be taken on host ranges, epidemiology, host-pathogen interactions, built-in administration and bio-potential of this pathogen, Dr. Shambhukumar stated.