Ectophoma iranica sp. nov. and new hosts and records of Allophoma spp. in Iran

Abstract

A survey was conducted to identify fungi associated with leaf diseases of ornamental herbs, including Christ plant, dracaena, rose geranium, rose periwinkle and treasure flower, in Ahvaz, southwestern Iran. Twenty‐five symptomatic herbs were collected and studied, which led to the isolation of seven Phoma‐like strains belonging to four taxa. These fungi were characterised based on DNA sequence data for the partial large subunit 28S nrDNA (LSU‐D1/D2), the internal transcribed spacer 1 and 2 and 5.8S nrDNA (ITS) and part of the β‐tubulin (tub2) gene regions. A multi‐locus‐based phylogeny, in combination with morphology, allowed for the identification of Allophoma hayatii, A. labilis, A. tropica and a novel species of the genus Ectophoma. Ectophoma iranica sp. nov. is morphologically and genetically distinctive from previously described species. In pathogenicity tests, the two strains of E. iranica (CBS 144681 and IRAN 3354C) caused leaf spot symptoms on leaves of Catharanthus roseus. New host plant species and records for A. hayatii, A. labilis and A. tropica are reported, plus further emended characterization of A. hayatii.

Beyond Sea Turtles: Fusarium keratoplasticum in Eggshells of Podocnemis unifilis, a Threatened Amazonian Freshwater Turtle

“…Members of the family Didymellaceae (possibly Allophoma , Didymella , and Phoma and allied genera) also formed part of the microflora of P. unifilis eggs. These taxa comprise plant pathogenic, saprobic and endophytic species associated with a wide range of hosts, including crops [ 97 , 98 , 99 , 100 ]. More interestingly, the species Phoma multirostrata has been isolated from eggs of C. mydas [ 64 ], and several congenerics synthetize antifungal compounds with broad-spectrum activity [ 101 , 102 ].…”

Plant-Associated Novel Didymellaceous Taxa in the South China Botanical Garden (Guangzhou, China)

“…iranica has pale brown to greyish brown colonies, conidiomata with 1–2(3)-narrowed necks, and hyaline to pale brown, oblong to ellipsoidal, straight or sometimes very slightly curved conidia [ 29 ]. Ectophoma iranica is a phytopathogen that forms leaf spots on Dracaena compacta and Catharanthus roseus [ 29 ] while our collections are saprobes. Furthermore, our collections differ from E .…”

“…All the ex-type strains of species were included if available, and other authentic strains were selected when sequences from ex-type strains were unavailable. [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 ] were followed to obtain sequences from GenBank ( Table 2 ). The concatenated ITS, LSU, RPB2, and β - tubulin sequence dataset for the family Didymellaceae comprised 123 strains with the outgroup taxon as Leptosphaeria conoidea (De Not.)…”

Remotididymella ageratinae sp. nov. and Remotididymella anemophila sp. nov., two novel species isolated from the invasive weed Ageratina adenophora in PR China

“…However, because the phylogenetic relatives of this genus, such as Allophoma [44], Boeremia [45]. Stagonosporopsis [46,47], Ectophoma [44], Epicoccum [48] and Similiphoma Valenz.-Lopez et al [18] are common plant pathogens, it is necessary to determine the host range of these strains before their application for biocontrol. For example, the virulence of these two strains on common native plants, as well as on economic crops in the invaded range of Ag.…”

“…adenophora . However, because the phylogenetic relatives of this genus, such as Allophoma [44], Boeremia [45]. Stagonosporopsis [46, 47], Ectophoma [44], Epicoccum [48] and Similiphoma Valenz.-Lopez et al .…”