Diaporthe species associated with peach tree dieback in Hubei, China

Peach tree diseases have a variety of symptoms and causes. Only Botryosphaeriaceae taxa have been reported in association with peach trees in Chinese peach orchards. This study aims to identify and characterize Diaporthe species associated with peach trees in Jinshui Experimental Orchard in Hubei Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Hubei Province, China. The fungi were isolated from diseased peach trunks and shoots showing exudates. Fungal identification was accomplished using a combination of morphological and pathogenic characteristics together with phylogenetic analyses based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS), partial translation elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1-alpha), beta-tubulin (BT) and calmodulin (CAL) sequences. A total of 48 Diaporthe isolates were obtained from 62 diseased samples and most isolates were identified as Diaporthe eres (69 %), followed by D. momicola sp. nov (12.5 %), D. pescicola sp. nov. (10 %) and D. taoicola sp. nov. (8.5 %). All identified species were able to cause necrotic lesions at different levels of severity when inoculated into detached peach shoots