Two new species of Ascomycota on bamboo leaves in Fujian, China.

INTRODUCTION

Bamboo is the largest member of the family , and these fast-growing plants have many beneficial ecological effects. Both mutualistic and pathogenic fungi associate with bamboo, however, only a limited number of such fungal species have been identified, and information concerning the diversity of fungi that parasitizes bamboo leaves is sparse.

METHODS

Fungi were isolated from diseased leaves of bamboo from Fujian Province, China. Nucleotide sequences of four genetic loci were used for taxonomic and phylogenetic reconstruction. In addition, the morphological characteristics of fungal structures as well as growth parameters were characterized.

RESULTS

We report two new fungal species, one each within the and , both diverse genera that include saprophytes, endophytes, and pathogens. Based on combined morphological and phylogenetic analyses, including the nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), the 28S large subunit of ribosomal RNA (LSU), the 18S small subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (SSU), the large subunit of RNA polymerase I (), and the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (α), the two new species described herein have been named as sp. nov., and sp. nov. Detailed descriptions and morphological features of the species are provided.

DISCUSSION

These data identify and describe new species within the and , expanding the diversity and distribution of fungi associating with bamboo.