Four new endophytic species of Diaporthe (Diaporthaceae, Diaporthales) isolated from Cameroon

By

Lambert, Christopher
Schweizer, Lena
Matio Kemkuignou, Blondelle
Anoumedem, Elodie Gisèle
Kouam, Simeon F.
Marin-Felix, Yasmina

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2023

Original Publication

Zoosystematics and evolution

Volume

99

Pages

319--362

Subjects

4 new taxa , endophytes , Phomopsis , Sordariomycetes

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia Pensoft

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.99.110043

 

Abstract

The genus Diaporthe (Diaporthaceae, Diaporthales) is a large group of fungi frequently reported as phytopathogens, with ubiquitous distribution across the globe. Diaporthe have traditionally been characterized by the morphology of their ana- and teleomorphic state, revealing a high degree of heterogeneity as soon as DNA sequencing was utilized across the different members of the group. Their relevance for biotechnology and agriculture attracts the attention of taxonomists and natural product chemists alike in context of plant protection and exploitation for their potential to produce bioactive secondary metabolites. While more than 1000 species are described to date, Africa, as a natural habitat, has so far been under-sampled. Several endophytic fungi belonging to Diaporthe were isolated from different plant hosts in Cameroon over the course of this study. Phylogenetic analyses based on DNA sequence data of the internal transcribed spacer region and intervening 5.8S nrRNA gene, and partial fragments of the calmodulin, beta-tubulin, histone and the translation elongation factor 1-α genes, demonstrated that these isolates represent four new species, i.e. D. brideliae, D. cameroonensis, D. pseudoanacardii and D. rauvolfiae. Moreover, the description of D. isoberliniae is here emended, now incorporating the morphology of beta and gamma conidia produced by two of our endophytic isolates, which had never been documented in previous records. Moreover, the paraphyletic nature of the genus is discussed and suggestions are made for future revision of the genus.