اولین گزارش از گونه‌های Phaeoacremonium italicum و Pleurostoma richardsiae همراه با زوال درختان انارشیطان (Tecomella undulata) در ایران

 Abstract: Desert teak tree (Tecomella undulata, Bignoniaceae) is a medicinally and economically important tree in South Asia. Dalfard region (Jiroft, Kerman province) is known as one of the most important growing areas of this species in Iran. During a field survey conducted in 2019, a sever branch canker and dieback was observed in desert teak trees in Delfard. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine fungi associated with these kinds of disease symptoms. Samples were collected from branches of affected trees and fungal isolations were made from internal wood discoloration. Necrotic wood tissues were cut, surface sterilised in 1.5% sodium hypochlorite solution for 1 min, washed three times with sterile distilled water, air-dried under sterile conditions and plated onto potato-dextrose-agar (PDA). All cultures were incubated in the dark at 25°C. During this study, 29 hyphomycetous isolates were obtained from infected branches showing internal wood necrosis. Based on morphological and cultural assessments and sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) nrDNA region and partial nucleotide sequence of beta tubulin (β-tubulin) gene, these isolates were identified as Phaeoacremonium italicum (four isolates) and Pleurostoma richardsiae (25 isolates). Pathogenicity test of these species on branches of desert teak tree is in ongoing. According to literature reviews, this is the first report of P. italicum and Pl. richon ardsiae associated with necrotic wood of desert teak tree in the world.