Pestalotiopsis yunnanensis sp. nov., an endophyte from Podocarpus macrophyllus (Podocarpaceae) based on morphology and ITS sequence data

Pestalotiopsis is a common and important plant-associated pathogen and endophyte with wide geographical and host distribution. In an investigation of endophytic Pestalotiopsis species associated with Podocarpaceae in China, a new species Pestalotiopsis yunnanensis was isolated from Podocarpus macrophyllus in Kunming, southwestern China. This new species produced pycnidium-like conidiamata in culture, distinct from its morphologically similar species, P. funereoides, P. funerea and P. thujae, which produce acervuli in manual media and hosts. P. yunnanensis also possesses a greater conidium length/width ratio, and longer apical and basal appendages as its distinguishing morphology characters. Phylogenetic analysis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences showed that P. yunnanensis is a member of Pestalotiopsis, and is distinct from morphologically similar P. funereoides, P. funerea, and P. thujae, as well as other Pestalotiopsis species. A dichotomous key to 26 Pestalotiopsis species occurring on Podocarpus plants is also presented.