Plant-Associated Novel Didymellaceous Taxa in the South China Botanical Garden (Guangzhou, China)

The South China Botanical Garden (SCBG), one of the largest and oldest botanical gardens in China, conserves important plant germplasms of endangered species. Therefore, ensuring tree health and studying the associated mycobiome of the phyllosphere is essential to maintaining its visual aesthetics. During a survey of plant-associated microfungal species in SCBG, we collected several coelomycetous taxa. Phylogenetic relationships were evaluated based on the analyses of ITS, LSU, RPB2, and beta-tubulin loci. The morphological features of the new collections were compared with those of existing species, emphasizing close phylogenetic affinities. Based on the morphological comparisons and multi-locus phylogeny, we introduce three new species. These are Ectophoma phoenicis sp. nov., Remotididymella fici-microcarpae sp. nov., and Stagonosporopsis pedicularis-striatae sp. nov. In addition, we describe a new host record for Allophoma tropica in the Didymellaceae. Detailed descriptions and illustrations are provided along with notes comparing allied species.

Automated summary

The South China Botanical Garden (SCBG) conserves important plant germplasms of endangered species and studying the associated mycobiome is essential to maintaining its visual aesthetics. Coelomycetous taxa were collected during a survey of plant-associated microfungal species in SCBG. Phylogenetic relationships were evaluated and three new species, Ectophoma phoenicis, Remotididymella fici-microcarpae, and Stagonosporopsis pedicularis-striatae, were introduced. Additionally, a new host record for Allophoma tropica in the Didymellaceae was described.