Species of Pestalotiopsis occur commonly as plant pathogens, and represent a fungal group known to produce a wide range of chemically novel, diverse metabolites. In the present study, we investigated 91 Pestalotiopsis isolates from the CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre (CBS) culture collection. The phylogeny of the Amphisphaeriaceae was constructed based on analysis of 28S nrRNA gene (LSU) sequence data, and taxonomic changes are proposed to reflect more natural groupings. We combined morphological and DNA data, and segregated two novel genera from Pestalotiopsis, namely Neopestalotiopsis and Pseudopestalotiopsis. The three genera are easily distinguishable on the basis of their conidiogenous cells and colour of their median conidial cells. We coupled morphological and combined sequence data of internal transcribed spacer (ITS), partial β-tubulin (TUB) and partial translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF) gene regions, which revealed 30 clades in Neopestalotiopsis and 43 clades in Pestalotiopsis. Based on these data, 11 new species are introduced in Neopestalotiopsis, 24 in Pestalotiopsis, and two in Pseudopestalotiopsis. Several new combinations are proposed to emend monophyly of Neopestalotiopsis, Pestalotiopsis and Pseudopestalotiopsis.

The mangrove flora is a diverse group of salt-tolerant plants growing in tropical and subtropical intertidal estuarine zones. This review summarizes the source, chemistry and bioactivities of natural products from true mangrove species worldwide. It includes 349 metabolites and 150 references. The molecular phylogeny and chemotaxonomy of true mangrove plants is discussed.

Fungal endophytes are receiving increasing attention by natural product chemists due to their diverse and structurally unprecedented compounds which make them interesting candidates for drug discovery. One fungal genus which is especially productive with regard to the accumulation of a diverse array of mostly bioactive compounds is Pestalotiopsis. This review demonstrates the unique chemical diversity of taxa from this genus and describes their reported bioactivities. To date, alkaloids, terpenoids, isocoumarin derivatives, coumarins, chromones, quinones, semiquinones, peptides, xanthones, xanthone derivatives, phenols, phenolic acids, and lactones, have been reported from Pestalotiopsis species, making this genus a particularly rich source for bioprospecting when compared with other fungal genera. More than 130 different compounds that have been isolated from various species of Pestalotiopsis are covered in this review and their structures are reported within a biogenetic context. Bioassays disclosed that antifungal, antimicrobial, and antitumor activities are the most notable bioactivities of secondary metabolites isolated from this genus. Possible biogenetic pathways for monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, quinones, and lactones that are covered in this review article are also illustrated.

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