Xylariaceae diversity in Thailand and Philippines, based on rDNA sequencing

Twenty three different Xylariaceae Tul. & C. Tul were isolated from samples collected from forest zones of Thailand and Philippines. The fungal samples were characterized based on morphological characteristics and nuclear ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2 region sequences. Ten species of  Xylaria , two species of  Hypoxylon, Biscogniauxia, Rosellinia  and one species of  Annulohypoxylon  and  Entonaema  were found.  Entonaema  the distinctive genus of Xylariaceae, isolated in the study from Thailand samples showed a close relationship with Xylaria  in phylogenetic tree. Xylariaceous species identified at molecular level showed significant similarity of the morphological characters, such as stromal structure, ascal apex and the germ slit of ascospores. In addition, three species of  Arthrinium , two species of  Pestalotiopsis  were also isolated and characterized in the study. A phylogenetic affinity of  Pestalotiopsis  with Xylariaceae was found.