Pestalotiopsis camelliae, a new species associated with grey blight of Camellia japonica in China

Zhang Y. M., Maharachchikumbura S. S. N., Wei J. G., McKenzie E. H. C. & Hyde K. D. (2012) Pestalotiopsis camelliae, a new species associated with grey blight of Camellia japonica in China.

Sydowia 64 (2): 335–344

We have been surveying diseases of ornamental plants in Yunnan Province, China and discovered a previously undescribed species of Pestalotiopsis causing grey blight disease on leaves of Camellia japonica. The associated causal agent of the disease is introduced as a new species, Pestalotiopsis camelliae, in this paper. The taxon can clearly be distinguished from all known species of Pestalotiopsis by its morphology and DNA (combined ITS, b–tubulin and tef1 gene regions) phylogeny. Its most similar relative, P. furcata has conidia with more apical appendages (5–9) than in P. camelliae (3–6) and the appendages of P. furcata consistently divide into branches, that is rare in P. camelliae.

Keywords: asexual taxon, leaf spot, Pestalotiopsis furcata phylogeny, sp. nov.