Geosmithia morbida

Geosmithia morbida is a species of anamorphic fungus in the Bionectriaceae family that, together with the activity of the walnut twig beetle, causes thousand cankers disease in species of walnut trees (Juglans spp.).^[1] It was described as new to science in 2010 from specimens collected in the southern United States. The fungus, transmitted by the walnut twig beetle, Pityophthorus juglandis, is known from the western USA from California to Colorado. The cankers resulting from infection restrict nutrient flow and typically kill the host tree within three to four years. Based on closeness of internal transcribed spacer DNA, the closest relative of G. morbida is G. fassatiae. The specific epithet morbida refers to the deadly pathogenic effect it has on its host.^[1]

Geosmithia morbida
Signs of Geosmithia morbida and possibly a walnut twig beetle (Pityophthorus juglandis) on Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Ascomycota
Class:	Sordariomycetes
Order:	Hypocreales
Family:	Bionectriaceae
Genus:	Geosmithia
Species:	G. morbida
Binomial name
Geosmithia morbida M.Kolařík, E.Freeland, C.Utley, & Tisserat 2010