Morphological and phylogenetic characterization of novel pestalotioid species associated with mangroves in Thailand

Abstract

Pestalotioid fungi are associated with a wide variety of plants worldwide and are endophytes, pathogens and saprobes. The present study provides an updated phylogenetic placement of Neopestalotiopsis, Pestalotiopsis and Pseudopestalotiopsis using fresh collections from mangrove plants in Thailand. Twelve novel species are characterized based on combined sequence data analyses of internal transcribed spacer (ITS), beta tubulin (β-tubulin) and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1α) coupled with morphological characters. The taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships of pestalotioid-fungi are reappraised with suggestions for future work.