The main purpose of this research project is to evaluate the potential impact that climate changes such as drought and increased temperature will have on the development of fungal diseases by Eucalyptus spp. in Portugal. For this project we have decided to study diseases caused by fungi of the family Botryosphaeriaceae, due to three main reasons: 1) these fungi are important pathogens of eucalypts; 2) virtually nothing is known regarding the occurrence of Botryosphaeriaceae species associated with eucalypts in forests and commercial plantations in Portugal as well as the diseases they are causing; 3) diseases caused by Botryosphaeriaceae are expected to be favored by climatic changes given that they are usually incited by stress factors such as drought and increased temperature.

Specific goals:

- evaluate the diversity of Botryosphaeriaceae species associated with eucalypts

- evaluate the pathogenicity of the different Botryosphaeriaceae species

- study the infection mechanism

- evaluate the interactive effects of stress factors (abiotic and biotic)

CESAM members on this project

Ana Cristina Esteves
Researcher

Artur Jorge da Costa Peixoto Alves
Principal Investigator

PhD student

Glória Catarina Cintra da Costa Pinto
Researcher