Morphological and molecular analyses reveal three new species and one new record of endophytic fungi from Rhododendron decorum in northwestern Yunnan, China

huang ziyang; Hong-Wei Shen; Yong-Zhong Lu; Zong-Long Luo

Authors

Zi-Yang Huang College of Agriculture and Biological Science, Dali University, Dali 671003, China https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1284-3995
Hong-Wei Shen College of Agriculture and Biological Science, Dali University, Dali 671003, China https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2508-1970
Yong-Zhong Lu School of Food and Pharmaceutical Engineering,Guizhou Institute of Technology, Guiyang 550003, China https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1033-5782
Zong-Long Luo College of Agriculture and Biological Science, Dali University, Dali 671003, Yunnan, China https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7307-4885

Keywords:

Endophytic fungi, Morphology, Multigene, New species, Phylogeny, Rhododendron, Taxonomy

Abstract

Northwestern Yunnan is one of the most biodiversity-rich regions in the world. Rhododendron decorum is a dominant evergreen shrub or small tree in the subalpine coniferous forests and rhododendron shrublands of this region, playing an important role in maintaining ecosystem functions and serving as a traditional medicinal and edible resource for local communities. During an investigation of the endophytic fungal diversity associated with R. decorum in northwestern Yunnan, sixteen fungal strains were isolated and identified using the tissue isolation method, of which fourteen isolates belonged to Sordariomycetes and two to Leotiomycetes. Based on morphological characteristics and multigene phylogenetic analyses, three new species are introduced in this study, viz., Pestalotiopsis decori, P. jianchuanensis, and Pezicula gaoligongensis. In addition, Colletotrichum godetiae is reported for the first time as an endophyte of R. decorum. Although Trichothecium roseum has been previously recorded from this host, it is redescribed and illustrated in detail in the present study. These findings contribute to the knowledge of the taxonomic diversity and host associations of endophytic fungi associated with Rhododendron decorum in northwestern Yunnan.

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Morphological and molecular analyses reveal three new species and one new record of endophytic fungi from Rhododendron decorum in northwestern Yunnan, China

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