Verticillaceae

Verticillaceae is a family of fungi within the kingdom Fungi. In modern classifications it is placed in the class Sordariomycetes, order Hypocreales, although the circumscription of the group has shifted with advances in molecular phylogenetics. The type genus is Verticillium, and the family comprises a small number of genera, with Verticillium being the best known and most studied.

Members of Verticillaceae are primarily soil-dwelling, plant-associated fungi. They are noted for producing conidiophores in verticillate whorls around the stalk, a feature that has historically aided recognition. The group includes species that are saprotrophic as well as those that are plant pathogens, with the best-known members causing vascular wilt diseases.

Ecology and disease: Several Verticillium species are important plant pathogens, causing Verticillium wilt in a wide range of hosts, including crops such as cotton, potato, tomato, olive, and various fruits and ornamentals. The diseases typically involve infection of the roots and subsequent colonization of the xylem, leading to wilting, chlorosis, and reduced yield. The fungi can persist in soil as microsclerotia, enabling long-term survival and spread through contaminated soil or plant debris.

Management and significance: Verticillium wilt poses substantial agricultural and economic challenges. Management strategies emphasize preventative practices, such as crop rotation, use of resistant cultivars, sanitation, and soil health improvement. Chemical controls are often limited in effectiveness under field conditions, and research continues into resistant varieties and biocontrol approaches.

Taxonomic notes: The family’s composition has been influenced by molecular studies that revise relationships among genera within Sordariomycetes. As such, the precise membership of Verticillaceae has evolved over time and remains subject to revision.

See also: Verticillium wilt, plant pathology, Hypocreales, Sordariomycetes.