Morphological and Molecular Characterization of a New Section and Two New Species of <i>Alternaria</i> from Iran
<i>Alternaria</i> is a large genus of fungi comprising approximately 400 species, currently classified into 29 sections. These fungi exhibit a cosmopolitan distribution, thriving in both natural and human-impacted environments with saprophytic, endophytic, and parasitic lifestyles. As pa...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Life |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/6/870 |
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| Summary: | <i>Alternaria</i> is a large genus of fungi comprising approximately 400 species, currently classified into 29 sections. These fungi exhibit a cosmopolitan distribution, thriving in both natural and human-impacted environments with saprophytic, endophytic, and parasitic lifestyles. As part of our ongoing studies on fungi associated with wetland plants in the families <i>Cyperaceae</i> and <i>Juncaceae</i> across various regions of Iran, we isolated 21 fungal strains displaying morphological traits of <i>Alternaria</i>. Multigene phylogenetic analysis and morphological examination of eight selected strains confirmed their placement within <i>Alternaria</i> with strong support. These isolates formed a basal clade distinct from the 29 previously recognized sections and six monotypic lineages, leading to the establishment of a new section, <i>Alternaria</i> section <i>Iraniana</i>, to accommodate them. Furthermore, two monophyletic lineages within this section were identified, representing two new species, <i>A. avrinica</i> and <i>A. iraniana</i>, which are described and illustrated in this study. The new section is distinguished by long, semi-macronematous to macronematous conidiophores with multiple geniculate and sympodial proliferations, as well as solitary, non-beaked conidia that have only transverse eu-septa to pseudo-septa. The newly described species are differentiated based on conidiophore and conidial characteristics and nucleotide sequence comparisons of genomic regions. These results contribute to a better understanding of the distribution and host range of <i>Alternaria</i> species, while highlighting the importance of ongoing research into fungal taxonomy and biodiversity in Iran, a region rich in potential for the discovery of new fungal species. |
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| ISSN: | 2075-1729 |