Species of <i> Botryosphaeriaceae</i> associated with citrus branch diseases in China

Citrus is an important and widely cultivated fruit crop in South China. Although the species of fungal diseases leaves fruits have been extensively studied, causal organisms branch remain poorly known Species Botryosphaeriaceae are as pathogens causing on citrus USA Europe. To determine diversity associated with China, surveys were conducted major citrus-producing areas from 2017 to 2020. Diseased tissues collected twigs, branches trunks a range symptoms including cankers, cracking, dieback gummosis. Based morphological characteristics phylogenetic comparison DNA sequences internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), translation elongation factor 1-alpha gene (tef1), ?-tubulin (tub2) DNA-directed RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (rpb2), 111 isolates nine provinces identified 18 , Botryosphaeria dothidea, B. fabicerciana, Diplodia seriata, Dothiorella alpina, Do. plurivora, Lasiodiplodia citricola, L. iraniensis, microconidia, pseudotheobromae, theobromae, Neodeightonia subglobosa, Neofusicoccum parvum six previously undescribed species, namely citrimurcotticola, guilinensis, huangyanensis, linhaiensis, ponkanicola Sphaeropsis linhaiensis spp. nov. dothidea (28.8%) was most abundant followed by pseudotheobromae (23.4%), which distributed citrus, occurring sampled. Pathogenicity tests indicated that all obtained diseased this study pathogenic tested reticulata shoots vitro while not Cocktail grapefruit ( C. paradisi × ) vivo . In addition, aggressive genus both This first identify related China results provide theoretical basis for implementation prevention control measures.