A non-Ophiostoma fungus expresses the gene encoding the hydrophobin cerato-ulmin

Strain IVV7 isolated from an elm tree showing typical symptoms of Dutch elm disease was identified as Geosmithia sp. by colony morphology and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) and 5.8S region of the nuclear rDNA. UPGMA analysis revealed that IVV7 was taxonomically related to the species G. pallida, G. putterillii and G. lavendula. IVV7 was shown to express the gene of the hydrophobin cerato- ulmin by accumulating the protein in the cell walls and in the culture medium. This is the first report of the cerato-ulmin presence in a non-Ophiostoma fungus.