Two new records of anamorphic Mycosphaerella s. l. species on Eucalyptus from Guilan province, Iran

Fungi belonging to the Mycosphaerella s. l. are widely distributed all over the world. Most taxa cause leaf spot diseases, and have considerable impact on cultivation of many economically important crops. On Eucalyptus species, for example, Mycosphaerella leaf spots are one of the major diseases responsible for severe damage in most parts of the word especially outside of their native cultivation range. Mycosphaerella leaf blotches on Eucalyptus have little been studied in Iran. During a study on fungi associated with leaf spots on Eucalyptus spp. several specimens of mitosporic fungi which have been collected from Guilan province were examined and two species viz. Kirramyces epicoccoides and Pseudocercospora eucalyptorum were found to be new records for Iran mycobiota. Moreover, another species of Pseudocercospora is described on Eucalyptus. This species is clearly distinguished from related taxa by its conidium morphology, and appears to represent a new species; however, due to complicated taxonomy of the genus Pseudocercospora (especially on Eucalyptus spp.) further information is required to confirm its taxonomical position.

Keywords:

Pseudocercospora , Kirramyces , leaf spot , anamorphic fungi , mycobiota