Cytospora

/ˌsaɪtəˈspɔːrə/ noun

Definition

A genus of fungi that causes diseases in plants by infecting the wood and bark of trees.

Etymology

From cyto- (Greek kytos, 'cell') + -spora (Greek spora, 'seed' or 'spore'). This genus name refers to the spores produced within or by the cytoplasm of fungal cells.

Kelly Says

Cytospora fungi are so effective at killing trees that foresters have to manage them carefully, and climate change is actually helping these fungi thrive in regions where they couldn't survive before!

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