# Research Our lab group does research in the area of fungal biology in which we study taxonomy, life histories, and systematics – particularly of fungi in the Pezizomycetes, the Orbiliomycetes and recently in the Laboulbeniomycetes. We are interested in the relationships among the members of these groups, their geographic distribution, and the associations of these fungi with other organisms. Prof. Pfister has conducted research on topics related to documentation of collections and collectors of natural history specimens; particularly in relationship to the rich and varied collections at Harvard. Our fieldwork ranges from collecting locally to southern South America. ## Donald H. Pfister ![pic_pfister_umbrella.jpg](/sites/g/files/omnuum6556/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/dpfister/files/oppfister_pic_pfister_umbrella.jpg?itok=8-FtzZLT) [### Curriculum Vitae (CV) ](https://pfistergroup.oeb.harvard.edu/sites/g/files/omnuum6556/files/2026-05/DHPfister_CV_05.19.26_0.pdf) ## Recent Publications Download 5 citations download- [BibTeX](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=5&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters=&&&format=bibtex) - [EndNote X3 XML](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=5&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters=&&&format=endnote8) - [EndNote 7 XML](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=5&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters=&&&format=endnote7) - [Endnote tagged](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=5&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters=&&&format=tagged) - [Marc](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=5&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters=&&&format=marc) - [PubMedId](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=5&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters=&&&format=pubmed_id) - [RIS](/bibcite/export?pager_style=no_pager&number_of_items=5&sort_field=bibcite_year--desc&taxonomy_filters=&&&format=ris) ### 2026 K. Hansen and D.H. Pfister. 2026. “[Systematics of the Pezizomycetes—the Operculate Discomycetes](https://doi.org/10.1080/15572536.2006.11832631)” K. Hansen and D.H. Pfister. 2026. “[Systematics of the Pezizomycetes—the Operculate Discomycetes](https://doi.org/10.1080/15572536.2006.11832631)” - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract The Pezizomycetes (order Pezizales) is an early diverging lineage within the Pezizomycotina. A shared derived character, the operculate ascus, supports the Pezizales as monophyletic, although functional opercula have been lost in certain taxa... M. Bradshaw, U. Braun, M.Z. Németh, A. Paul, J.K. Mitchell, U. Crouch, J. Thomas, B. Pelt, S. Takamatsu, J. Kruse, V. Kummer, D. Seress, and D.H. Pfister. 2026. “[Reassessment of the Erysiphe Aquilegiae Complex (Erysiphaceae)—resolution of a Widespread and Economically Significant Group of Plant Pathogens](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2026.101717)”. Fungal Biology, 130, 2. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2026.101717 M. Bradshaw, U. Braun, M.Z. Németh, A. Paul, J.K. Mitchell, U. Crouch, J. Thomas, B. Pelt, S. Takamatsu, J. Kruse, V. Kummer, D. Seress, and D.H. Pfister. 2026. “[Reassessment of the Erysiphe Aquilegiae Complex (Erysiphaceae)—resolution of a Widespread and Economically Significant Group of Plant Pathogens](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2026.101717)”. Fungal Biology, 130, 2. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.funbio.2026.101717 - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract Species of powdery mildew in the *Erysiphe aquilegiae* complex infect a broad array of economically valuable plants. The increasing number of reports of infections from diverse hosts prompted the present comprehensive phylogenetic and taxonomic reassessment... A. Hernández-Alba, N.M. Rancel-Rodríguez, G. Furci, D. Torres, D.H. Pfister, H. Madrid, and L. Quijada. 2026. “[First Southern Hemisphere Record of Pezoloma Marchantiae (Helotiales)](/publication/first-southern-hemisphere-record-pezoloma-marchantiae-helotiales)”. Ascomyete, 18 A. Hernández-Alba, N.M. Rancel-Rodríguez, G. Furci, D. Torres, D.H. Pfister, H. Madrid, and L. Quijada. 2026. “[First Southern Hemisphere Record of Pezoloma Marchantiae (Helotiales)](/publication/first-southern-hemisphere-record-pezoloma-marchantiae-helotiales)”. Ascomyete, 18 - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract The characterization of a fungal species belonging to the class *Leotiomycetes* (*Ascomycota*, Fungi) is presented. The fungus develops on a thalloid liverwort of the genus *Marchantia*, collected in Nothofagus forests in Tierra del Fuego (Chilean Patagonia)... A. Corrales, L. Quijada, Ovrebo, J. M. Karakehian, M. E. Smith, and D.H. Pfister. 2026. “[A New Ectomycorrhizal Leotia Species From neotropical Montane Forest](/publication/new-ectomycorrhizal-leotia-species-neotropical-montane-forest)”. Mycological Progress . doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11557-026-02143-1 A. Corrales, L. Quijada, Ovrebo, J. M. Karakehian, M. E. Smith, and D.H. Pfister. 2026. “[A New Ectomycorrhizal Leotia Species From neotropical Montane Forest](/publication/new-ectomycorrhizal-leotia-species-neotropical-montane-forest)”. Mycological Progress . doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s11557-026-02143-1 - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract - [Link to article](https://doi.org/10.1007/s11557-026-02143-1) The genus *Leotia* (Leotiaceae) is globally distributed with approximately 45 named species and several subspecies, varieties and forms. Persoon first proposed *Leotia* in 1794. Most of the taxonomic work has been done in the last 100 years with the most... - [Link to article](https://doi.org/10.1007/s11557-026-02143-1) ### 2025 M. Bradshaw and Et al. 2025. “[An Emerging Fungal Disease Is Spreading across the Globe and Affecting the Blueberry Industry](https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nph.20351)”. New Phytologist, 246, 1 M. Bradshaw and Et al. 2025. “[An Emerging Fungal Disease Is Spreading across the Globe and Affecting the Blueberry Industry](https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/nph.20351)”. New Phytologist, 246, 1 - add\_circle\_outline do\_not\_disturb\_on Abstract #### Summary - Powdery mildew is an economically important disease caused by *c*. 1000 different fungal species. *Erysiphe vaccinii* is an emerging powdery mildew species that is impacting the blueberry industry. Once confined to North America, *E. vaccinii* is now... [ More arrow\_circle\_right ](/publications)