Multigene phylogeny and morphology reveal three new species of Cytospora isolated from diseased plant branches in Fengtai District, Beijing, China

Abstract

 Members of Cytospora include saprobes, endophytes and important plant pathogens, which are widely distributed on various wood hosts and have a wide global distribution. In this study, the species definitions were conducted, based on multigene phylogeny (ITS, act, rpb2, tef1-α and tub2 genes) and comparisons of morphological characters. A total of 22 representative isolates obtained from 21 specimens in Fengtai District of Beijing City were identified as seven species of Cytospora, including four known species (C. albodisca, C. ailanthicola, C. euonymina, C. haidianensis) and three novel species (C. fengtaiensis, C. pinea, C. sorbariae). The results provide an understanding of the taxonomy of Cytospora species associated with canker and dieback diseases in Fengtai District, Beijing, China.