Additional new species of Preussia from forest trees in Iran

Forest trees were known to be hosts for a large number of pathogenic and non-pathogenic fungi. Species of Preussia have a cosmopolitan distribution and are geographically widespread, occurring in diverse ecosystems. In this study, 12 Preussia isolates were obtained from disease symptoms in three Zagrosian forest trees in Iran, including Cerasus microcarpa, Crataegus sp., and Pistacia atlantica. These isolates were identified based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses subjected to DNA sequencing of four DNA loci including the internal transcribed spacer regions 1 and 2 including the intervening 5.8S nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS), partial nuclear 28S ribosomal DNA (LSU), partial translation elongation factor 1a (tef1), and part of the beta-tubulin (tub2). Accordingly, four new Preussia species within the family Sporormiaceae were proposed as follow: P. crataegi, P. iranica, P. pianica, and P. pistaciae spp. nov. Asexual morph of P. crataegi, P. pianica, and P. pistaciae were described and illustrated, as well as, sexual morph of P. iranica. Up to now, no other species of Preussia and its allied genera in the family Sporormiaceae have been reported from these hosts. This study expanded our knowledge of species diversity of Preussia in the world.