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The polyphasic approach reveals two new species and two new records of Nigrospora (Apiosporaceae, Amphisphaeriales) associated with Aquilaria sinensis from China

Summary

Researchers discovered two previously unknown species of Nigrospora fungi (N. guangxiensis and N. pubeiensis) living inside agarwood tree leaves in southern China. These fungi, along with two other known species, were identified using a combination of microscopic examination and DNA analysis. The findings expand our understanding of fungal diversity in agarwood trees, which are valuable medicinal plants, and may have practical applications for the agarwood production industry.

Background

Nigrospora species are pathogens, endophytes, or saprobes on various plant hosts. Previous studies have identified Nigrospora species based on morphological characteristics and multigene phylogenies. Aquilaria sinensis is an economically important medicinal plant whose agarwood formation is stimulated by fungal infection.

Objective

To identify and characterize endophytic fungi of the genus Nigrospora isolated from Aquilaria sinensis leaves collected in Guangxi, China through morphological comparison and molecular phylogenetic analysis using concatenated ITS, TEF1-α, and TUB2 sequence data.

Results

Five strains of Nigrospora were isolated and characterized. Two new species (N. guangxiensis and N. pubeiensis) and two new host records (N. oryzae and N. camelliae-sinensis on A. sinensis) were identified. Molecular phylogeny showed N. pubeiensis is most closely related to N. chinensis, while N. guangxiensis forms a distinct basal clade.

Conclusion

The study enriches the taxonomic framework of Nigrospora by providing novel data from China, emphasizing the importance of integrating morphological and molecular approaches in fungal systematics. The findings have significant implications for understanding fungal diversity and ecological roles in agarwood-producing trees, with potential applications in the agarwood industry.
  • Published in:MycoKeys,
  • Study Type:Taxonomic Study,
  • Source: 10.3897/mycokeys.121.154055
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