SHORT NOTES: FIRST REPORT OF THE LIGNIVOROUS FUNGUS PLEUROSTOMA RICHARDSIAE IN CEDRUS ATLANTICA M. IN MOROCCO

Our study is interested in isolating fungi from the wood parts of cedar trunks withered and identifying these lignivorous fungi. A sample was isolated from the cedar grove of Tazekka National Park located south of the city of Taza in Morocco. The culture and purification of theisolated fungus were done on a water agar medium and then on a PDA medium. Afterthepurification of the fungus, a morphological study by electron microscope allowed us to identify the pathogen Pleurostoma richardsiae. A molecular characterization confirmed these results with a coverage percentage of 97% and an identity of 99%. To our knowledge, this is thefirst report of P. richardsiaein decayed cedar wood.