Re-evaluation of the Fungal Diversity and Pathogenicity of Species from in China.

Poplar is widely cultivated in China because of its strong ecological adaptability, fast growth, easy reproduction, and short rotation period. However, it suffers from severe threat from canker disease caused by species. The present study revealed the presence of species from in China. A total of six species of were isolated from in six provinces in China, including five known species (, , , , and ) and one novel species () based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses of ITS, , , , and gene sequences. , , , and are confirmed as pathogens by pathogenicity tests of which showed the strongest virulence, followed by , , and . The mycelial growth rates of isolates from the six species had 22.5 to 27°C as the optimum temperatures, and the optimum pH values were 5.9 to 7.1. The effectiveness of six carbon sources on the mycelial growth showed that colonies grew the fastest in the presence of fructose and grew the slowest using xylose. This study represents a significant evaluation of causing poplar canker disease in China.