Occurrence and pathogenicity of Jattaea algeriensis (Calosphaeriales, Calosphaeriaceae) and Biscogniauxia mediterranea on forest trees in Guilan Province (Iran)

In order to study fungal trunk pathogens on some forest trees, a survey was conducted from various forest areas in Guilan Province (in the north of Iran) between October 2012 and May 2015. Samples were collected from branches of diseased trees, and fungal isolations were made from necrotic wood tissues on malt extract agar (MEA) supplemented with 100 mg/L streptomycin sulphate. Fungal isolations from infected branches of forest trees yielded 53 hyphomycetous fungal isolates. All 31 strains isolated from Common medlar ( Mespilus germanica ) and Persian iron wood ( Parrotia persica ) exhibited a Phialophora ‐like anamorph and were identified as Jattea algeriensis based on morphological characters and phylogenetic analysis. All 22 strains isolated from necrotic tissues of Small‐flowered black hawthorn ( Crataegus pentagyna ) formed a Nodulisporium ‐like anamorph and are identified as Biscogniauxia mediterranea on the basis of morphological characters and DNA sequence data. Pathogenicity tests showed that both species are pathogenic on M. germanica , P. persica wood and Small‐flowered black hawthorn shoots and B. mediterranea proved to be the most aggressive than J. algeriensis . This study is the first report of J. algeriensis on M. germanica and P. persica and also B. mediterranea on C. pentagyna in the world. In addition, J. algeriensis has not previously been reported from Iran and our work also provides the first record of this species in this country.