Neopestalotiopsis alpapicalis sp. Nov. a new endophyte from tropical mangrove trees in Krabi province (Thailand)

Abstract

© 2019 Magnolia Press. Mangrove forests are dynamic systems primarily confined to tropical and subtropical coastal regions. Mangroves are highly complex habitats sustaining a diverse array of terrestrial and aquatic fungal species. Endophytic fungi are widely distributed in mangrove ecosystems and are integral contributors to global biodiversity. Neopestalotiopsis species occur as endophytes, saprobes and opportunistic pathogens of many plant hosts. Herein, a new species of Neopestalotiopsis, N. alpapicalis, was collected from the mangrove trees Rhizophora apiculata and Rhizophora mucronata, in Krabi, Thailand. Morphological features conform to those of Neopestalotiopsis. Number of apical appendages and size of apical cells of the newly described species differ from those of phylogenetically related species. A combined dataset of ITS, β-tub and TEF1 genes was used to infer the phylogenetic placement of the new species. The two strains of novel species, N. alpapicalis clustered together and have a close affinity to N. rosicola.