Ophiostomatalean fungi associated with Cyrtogenius luteus infested Pinus massoniana, including characterization of Masuyamyces qingyuanensis sp. nov. in China

Abstract

Ophiostomatalean fungi refers to the species in the order Ophiostomatales of Ascomycota. This group of fungi comprises wood blue-stain agents and some species that are important pathogens of trees, nematodes, or humans. Most species in the Ophiostomatales have beneficial relationships with wood-boring insects such as bark beetles. Recent surveys were conducted to investigate the diversity of Ophiostomatoid fungi associated with Cyrtogenius luteus infesting Pinus massoniana in some areas of Guangdong, China. This study, 382 fungal strains were obtained, and 224 were identified as belonging to the Ophiostomatales order. Identification of these strains revealed that they spanned seven distinct genera. A new species, Masuyamyces qingyuanensis sp. nov., was discovered and identified through a combination of morphological and phylogenetic analyses across four gene regions: beta-tubulin (TUBB), internal transcribed spacer (ITS), large subunit ribosomal RNA (LSU), and translation elongation factor 1 alpha (EF1A).