Identification and pathogenicity of species (Cryphonectriaceae, Diaporthales) on species in Southern China.

The family of Cryphonectriaceae (Diaporthales) contains many important tree pathogens and the hosts are wide-ranging. Tree species of were widely planted as ornamental trees alongside city roads and villages in southern China. Recently, stem canker and cracked bark were observed on 2-6 year old and in several nurseries in Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province, China. Typical conidiomata of Cryphonectriaceae fungi were observed on the surface of the diseased tissue. In this study, we used DNA sequence data (ITS, , , ) and morphological characteristics to identify the strains from Terminalia trees. Our results showed that isolates obtained in this study represent two species of , one previously described species, , and an unknown species, which we described as sp. nov. Pathogenicity tests demonstrated that both and were able to infect and two tested clones, suggesting the potential for fungi to become new pathogens of .