گزارش جدیدی از گونه‌های Colletotrichum از روی گیاهان زینتی در برخی از استان‌های ایران

The aim of this study was to isolate and identify Colletotrichum species from a number of ornamental plants in some northern provinces of Iran. During the spring, summer and autumn seasons of 2018-2019, samplings were conducted from a large number of ornamental and decorative plants that showed symptoms of anthracnose, decay and leaf spot in Golestan, Mazandaran, East Azarbaijan and West Azarbaijan provinces of Iran. A total of 247 plant samples supposed of being infected with Colletotrichum were collected and cultured. A total of 177 pure fungal isolates of Colletotrichum were obtained. Of these, 125 fungal isolates with straight conidia from 32 different plant species and 52 fungal isolates with falcate/curved conidia from 11 different plant species were obtained. Fungal isolates showed high diversity in terms of morphological criteria and colony characteristics. Grouping of isolates was based on morphology and comparison of DNA fingerprinting pattern using BOX molecular marker. Identification of isolates was performed by combining morphological criteria and phylogenetic analyses based on the nucleotide sequence of the TUB2 gene. The results showed that the isolates belong to two known species, C. truncatum and C. trichellum, and two unknown species; including Colletotrichum sp. 1 obtained from wild parsley (Anthryscus sylvestris) and Colletotrichum sp. 2 obtained from Dumb canes (Diffenbachia amoena). This study is the first report of C. truncatum from Chinese evergreens (Aglaonema silver queen(, Adenium (Adenium obesum(, Weeping fig (Ficus benjamina(, Arrowhead plant (Syngonium podophyllum) and C. trichellum from paper flower (Bougainvillea glabra) in the world. To our knowledge, wild parsley is a new host for genus Colletotrichum. The Colletotrichum sp. 2 obtained from Dumb canes (Diffenbachia amoena) is considered as a new species candidate for the world's mycobiota. Comprehensive morphological studies and multigene phylogenetic analysis are underway to describe the species.