Ophiostomatoid fungi associated with bark beetles infesting Pinus armandii, with characterizations of seven new species from western China

Abstract

Ophiostomatoid fungi mainly refer to the order Ophiostomatales (Ascomycota), which are known to be symbiotic with bark beetles infesting pine trees. These fungi are primarily associated with Dendroctonus armandi and other bark beetles, significantly impacting the local pines Pinus armandii in western China. However, this fungal diversity must be further explored. This study aims to identify Ophiostomatoid fungi associated with P. armandii in Ningshaan, Shaanxi Province. A total of 225 Ophiostomatalean isolates were obtained from 46 gallery samples, accounting for 77.6 % of the total number of isolated strains. Twenty species were identified based on the phylogenetic analyses of ITS, LSU, {beta}-tubulin, and EF-1, as well as morphological characteristics. These include seven new taxa, Ceratocystiopsis rugosa, Graphilbum prolificum, G. ramosus, Masuyamyces huoditangensis, Ophiostoma flavescens, O. lenta, O. mediotumida, and thirteen known species. This study laid a theoretical foundation for understanding the relationship between the beetles and the ophiostomatalean fungi in the Ningshan region, China.