Endophytic Colletotrichum species from Bletilla ochracea (Orchidaceae), with descriptions of seven new speices

Abstract

Thirty-six strains of endophytic Colletotrichum species were isolated from leaves of Bletilla ochracea Schltr. (Orchidaceae) collected from 5 sites in Guizhou, China. Seventeen different species, including 7 new species (namely C. bletillum, C. caudasporum, C. duyunensis, C. endophytum, C. excelsum-altitudum and C. guizhouensis and C. ochracea), 8 previously described species (C. boninense, C. cereale, C. destructivum, C. karstii, C. liriopes, C. miscanthi, C. parsonsiae and C. tofieldiae) and 2 sterile mycelia were identified. All of the taxa were identified based on morphology and phylogeny inferred from multi-locus sequences, including the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, partial genes of β-tubulin (TUB2), actin (ACT) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Comprehensive morphological descriptions and illustrations are provided for new species. Our investigation indicates a high diversity of Colletotrichum species in B. ochracea.