Diversity, pathogenicity and two new species of pestalotioid fungi (Amphisphaeriales) associated with Chinese Yew in Guangxi, China

Chinese yew, Taxus chinensis var. mairei is an endangered shrub native to southeastern China and is widely known for its medicinal value. The increased cultivation of Chinese yew has increased the incidence of various fungal diseases. In this study, Pestalotioid fungi associated with needle spot of Chinese yew were isolated from Guangxi Province. Based on morphological examinations and multi-locus (ITS, tub2, tef-1 alpha) phylogenies, these isolates were identified to five species, including two new species, Pestalotiopsis taxicola and P. multicolor, two potential novel Neopestalotiopsis species, Neopestalotiopsis sp. 3 and Neopestalotiopsis sp. 4, with a known Pestalotiopsis species (Pestalotiopsis trachycarpicola), firstly recorded from Chinese yew. These two new Pestalotiopsis species were morphologically and phylogenetically distinct from the extant Pestalotioid species in Chinese yew. Pathogenicity and culture characteristic tests of these five Pestalotioid species were also performed in this study. The pathogenicity test results revealed that Neopestalotiopsis sp. 3 can cause diseases in Chinese yew needles. These results have indicated that the diversity of Pestalotioid species associated with Chinese yew was greater than previously determined and provided helpful information for Chinese yew disease diagnosis and management.