Two new species of Leptographium associated with Tomicus spp. infesting Pinus spp. in Southwestern China

Leptographium panxianense and L. puerense are proposed as new taxa based on sequence data and morphological characters. The phylogenetic analyses based on ITS2-partial LSU rDNA region, beta-tubulin and elongation factor 1-alpha genes showed that L. panxianense and L. puerense formed well-supported clades and were closely related to L. yunnanense, L. wushanense and L. conjunctum, and then nested within the L. lundbergii complex. The two species differ in their conidial size and shape. The conidia of L. panxianense are larger than those of L. puerense while the conidial shape of L. puerense is more ovovoid. The optimal growth temperature of both L. panxianense and L. puerense is at 20 degrees C. which is different from those of L. yunnanense, L. wushanense and L. conjuncturn. Comparison of sequence data and morphological characters confirmed the placement of the two undescribed taxa in the genus of Leptographium.