Morpho-phylogenetic evidence reveals two new species and two new host records of Diaporthe (Diaporthales, Diaporthaceae) from Phellodendron chinense in Sichuan, China

Diaporthe species are globally distributed with a wide variety of plant hosts inhabiting diverse ecological niches and functioning as endophytes, saprobes and pathogens. Numerous species in this genus are significant pathogens responsible for a wide range of diseases in both agricultural and forest plants. In this study, eight Diaporthe strains were isolated from branches of Phellodendron chinense collected in Sichuan Province, China.

Using multi-locus phylogenetic analysis of five gene regions (ITS, tef 1 - α, tub 2, cal and his 3), along with morphological characterisation, two novel species — D. phellodendri and D. leshanensis — are introduced in the present study and two new host associations were recorded for D. eucommiigena and D. litseae. This study contributes to the growing understanding of Diaporthe diversity and host associations in China.