The complex of Diplodia species associated with Fraxinus and some other woody hosts in Italy and Portugal

Studies on the taxonomy and phylogeny of Diplodia have been hampered by the lack of an ex-type culture linked to the holotype of D. mutila, which is the type of the genus. In this study a large collection of Diplodia strains, obtained from ash and other woody hosts showing V-shaped cankers and branch dieback, were identified based on morphological characters and DNA sequence data from ITS and EF1-alpha loci. Results of combined morphological and phylogenetic analyses showed that the Fraxinus isolates from Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain belong to three distinct species namely Diplodia fraxini, Diplodia mutila and Diplodia subglobosa sp. nov. An epitype was designated for Diplodia mutila, with associated ex-epitype cultures. The name D. fraxini is re-instated and a neotype designated. Two species, Diplodia seriata and Diplodia pseudoseriata were reported for the first time on Fraxinus spp.