Amesia khuzestanica and Curvularia iranica spp. nov. from Iran

Results from inventories of fungi from ornamental plants in Iran are reported. Amesia khuzestanica (Chaetomiaceae) is newly described from leaves of Albizia lebbeck and Curvularia iranica (Pleosporaceae) from leaves of Bougainvillea spectabilis. Phylogenetic analyses for A. khuzestanica and other obtained Amesia species were based on the internal transcribed spacer regions 1 and 2 including the intervening 5.8S nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS), partial β-tubulin (TUB2) and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2) and ITS, partial glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) and translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1) for Curvularia isolates. The isolates of both new species formed strongly supported clades, distinct from other previously known species in the phylogenetic trees. In addition, formerly described A. atrobrunnea was isolated for the first time from leaves of B. spectabilis and A. cymbiformis from leaves of A. lebbeck and Ziziphus spina-christi. All fungal taxa were isolated from internal tissues associating leaf spots or leaf necroses. However, representative isolates of obtained species did not induce disease symptoms in pathogenicity tests. Accordingly, it is assumed that the inventoried fungi are endophytes.