Seven new species of (Pleosporales, Pleosporaceae) associated with Chinese fir, based on morphological and molecular evidence.

Chinese fir () is a special fast-growing commercial tree species in China and has significant ecological and economic value. However, it experienced damage from leaf blight caused by pathogenic fungi of the genus . To determine the diversity of species associated with leaf blight of Chinese fir in China, infected leaves were collected from five major cultivation provinces (Fujian, Henan, Hunan, Jiangsu and Shandong provinces). A total of 48 fungal strains of were obtained. Comparison of morphology and phylogenetic analyses, based on nine loci (ITS, SSU, LSU, GAPDH, RPB2, TEF1, Alt a1, endoPG and OPA10-2) of the representative isolates as well as the pairwise homoplasy index tests, revealed that the fungal strains belonged to seven undescribed taxa of , which are described here and named as , , , , , and In order to prove Koch's postulates, pathogenicity tests on detached Chinese fir leaves revealed significant pathogenicity amongst these species, of which is the most pathogenic to Chinese fir. This study represents the first report of , , , , , and causing leaf blight on Chinese fir. Knowledge obtained in this study enhanced our understanding of species causing leaf blight on Chinese fir and was crucial for the disease management and the further studies in the future.