| Chestnut blight fungus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Cankers caused by the fungal infection cause the bark to split. | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Ascomycota |
| Class: | Sordariomycetes |
| Order: | Diaporthales |
| Family: | Cryphonectriaceae |
| Genus: | Cryphonectria |
| Species: | C. parasitica
|
| Binomial name | |
| Cryphonectria parasitica | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
The pathogenic fungus Cryphonectria parasitica (formerly Endothia parasitica) is a member of the Ascomycota (sac fungi). This necrotrophic fungus is native to East Asia and South East Asia and was introduced into Europe and North America in the early 1900s.[1] Strains of the fungus spread more or less rapidly and caused significant tree loss in both regions. Strains of the fungus can be more or less virulent.