TY - JOUR JF - Acarologia T1 - Fungi associated with selected Cenopalpus and Brevipalpus (Acari Tenuipalpidae) phytophagous mites VL - 66 IS - Suppl SP - 236 EP - 236 PY - 2026 SN - 0044-586X SN - 2107-7207 PB - Les Amis d'Acarologia AU - Pedro, Naves AU - Ana, Silva AU - Renata, Santos AU - Helena, Bragança UR - https://doi.org/10.24349/9au3-6sc0 DO - 10.24349/9au3-6sc0 DA - 2026-07-20 ET - 2026-07-20 KW - Pathogen vectors KW - Fungi KW - Pines KW - Vectors KW - Wilting symptoms AB - The family Tenuipalpidae includes 41 genera of plant-feeding mites, including agricultural pests which can cause direct crop damage and transmit plant pathogens. Among these, the genus Brevipalpusis particularly important because several species vector viruses, such as citrus leprosis, which affects Citrus and other plants, while the genus Cenopalpus has received less attention because no species are known vectors of plant pathogens. Some mite species have been suggested to disseminate phytopathogenic fungi in crops, facilitating the entry by microlesions in the epidermis of plants due to the feeding wounds. In Portugal, both Cenopalpus wainsteini and Cenopalpus lineola are extremely frequent and abundant on pines, including trees affected by phytopathogenic fungi such as Diplodia sapinea, Sydowia polyspora and Pestalotiopsis species. In this study, we made a preliminary assessment of the community of fungi associated with these two Cenopalpus species and with Brevipalpus ferraguti, to assess if they are transporting fungi externally and internally in their bodies. Both C. wainsteini and C. lineola adult mites were collected from living stone pines (Pinus pinea) in two locations in Southern Portugal. Specimens were collected both from asymptomatic and wilt-affected pine trees, exhibiting needle dieback and drying branches compatible with fungal disease symptoms. Additionally, B. ferraguti was collected in Oeiras from asymptomatic Myoporum laetum. For each species and plant health status, 10 specimens were individually sampled. Each mite was plated on 2% malt extract agar media amended with streptomycin. Half of the individuals were directly plated, while the other half was superficially disinfected and sectioned before plated. Fungal colonies were isolated and identified based on morphological characteristics, and mycelia was retrieved for further molecular analysis. Fungi belonging to genera Alternaria, Aureobasidium, Cladosporium, Coniothyrium s.l., Penicillium, Phoma s.l and Stemphylium were isolated from non-disinfected mites. Cladosporium was the most commonly isolated genus, followed by Aureobasidium and Alternaria, with similar fungal communities between both genera. Despite being generally considered endophytes or saprobes on pines, some fungi within identified genera have been associated with wilting symptoms on pines and other plants, particularly Alternaria and Stemphylium. However, none of the most concerning pine-wilt fungal pathogens were detected. Fungi were absent from disinfected mites, pointing to limited internal fungal spore transportation. Our results suggest that mites can act as external carriers of a vast array of fungi, although without an important role as primary vectors of major pine pathogens. Funding by FCT-project 2024.12928.PEX-BreVirCitrus. ER -