A Taxonomic and Phylogenetic Study of Anamorphic Strains of Daldinia (Hypoxylaceae, Xylariales) in Southern China

In an extensive fungal investigation conducted in southern China, a large number of fungal strains were isolated by collecting and treating diseased and decayed leaves. Using internal transcribed spacer regions (ITSs) sequence data for a BLAST search to screen for suspected strains of <i>Daldinia</i>, followed by phylogenetic analysis using internal transcribed spacer regions, partial sequences of the large subunit of the rDNA (LSU), RNA polymerase II (<i>rpb2</i>), and beta tubulin (<i>tub2</i>) sequence data, combined with morphological characteristics of anamorphic species, ninety-four strains of <i>Daldinia</i> were identified. Furthermore, their geographical distribution and host specificity of the genus were thoroughly analyzed and summarized. Additionally, seven new anamorphic species of the genus <i>Daldinia</i> were also detected, <i>Daldinia ehretiae</i> sp. nov., <i>D. jianfengensis</i> sp. nov., <i>D. ledongensis</i> sp. nov., <i>D. menghaiensis</i> sp. nov., <i>D. rhododendri</i> sp. nov., <i>D. spatholobi</i> sp. nov., and <i>D. thunbergiae</i> sp. nov.