The genus Neofusicoccum, an emerging phytosanitary complex in global agriculture and forestry: Taxonomy, epidemiology and the impact of climate change

Abstract

The genus Neofusicoccum (Botryosphaeriaceae) represents an emerging phytosanitary complex threatening global agriculture and forestry. This systematic review evaluates research published between 1990 and 2026 to analyze its taxonomy, epidemiology, and the impact of climate change. Traditionally, morphological identification has been insufficient to discriminate the high diversity of highly virulent cryptic species, such as N. parvum and N. mediterraneum. Literature confirms that current taxonomic delimitation requires multilocus phylogenetic approaches (ITS, tef1-α, tub2, rpb2) and genomic information. Epidemiologically, the success of Neofusicoccum lies in its ecological plasticity: it persists as a latent endophyte and transitions to aggressive necrotrophic pathogenesis when the host undergoes physiological stress. Climate change scenarios, characterized by thermal stress and water deficits, significantly exacerbate vascular colonization, inducing cankers and dieback in over 90 botanical families. Furthermore, the movement of asymptomatic plant material constitutes the main pathway for silent long-distance dispersal, compromising biosecurity protocols. Given the ineffectiveness of curative measures against latent infections, we conclude that control must be based on integrated and preventive management, prioritizing the development of rapid in situ molecular diagnostics and the validation of biocontrol agents under stress conditions.