From Latent Endophyte to Global Threat: Climate Change, Pathogenicity Mechanisms, and Ecological Impacts of Biscogniauxia mediterranea

Biscogniauxia mediterranea, a thermophilic fungal pathogen responsible for charcoal canker, has emerged as a global threat to forest ecosystems, agricultural crops, and biodiversity.Once considered a latent endophyte, this xylariaceous fungus transitions to a devastating necrotroph under environmental stressors such as drought, heatwaves, and anthropogenic disturbances.This review synthesizes current knowledge on B. mediterranea's expanding host range, geographic distribution, pathogenic mechanisms, and ecological impacts.The fungus infects over 40 tree species across six continents, including ecologically vital oaks (Quercus spp.), economically significant cork oak (Q.suber), and non-native hosts like olive (Olea europaea) and maple (Acer spp.).Its virulence stems from a multifaceted strategy: production of phytotoxic metabolites, enzymatic degradation of plant cell walls, and synergistic interactions with insect vectors and secondary pathogens.Climate change exacerbates outbreaks by intensifying abiotic stressors, weakening host defenses, and expanding the pathogen's climatic niche.Documented in Mediterranean regions, temperate zones, and semi-arid environments, B. mediterranea now threatens ecosystems far beyond its historical range, with recent incursions into Brazil and South Africa.Genomic studies reveal high intraspecific variability, enabling adaptation to diverse hosts and environments, while technological advances in remote sensing and molecular diagnostics offer new tools for early detection.Integrated management frameworks -combining silvicultural resilience, biological control, and climate-adaptive policies -are critical to mitigating its escalating socioeconomic and ecological costs.This review underscores the urgent need for global collaboration to address the convergence of climate change, invasive species, and forest decline driven by B. mediterranea.