New records of <i>Neopestalotiopsis</i> species associated with leaves of <i>Annona muricata</i> (Soursop) and <i>Garcinia mangostana</i> (Mangosteen) in the Western Province, Sri Lanka, and <i>in vitro</i

Most pestalotioid species are phytopathogens characterized by conidia with appendages and can also function as endophytes and saprobes. During a morpho-molecular study of plant-inhabiting micro-fungi in Sri Lanka, two pestalotioid species were isolated from the lesions of living leaves of Garcinia mangostana and Annona muricata. Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference analyses of combined internal transcribed spacers (ITS), β-tubulin (tub2), and translation elongation factor 1-α (tef1-α) sequence data were used to determine the phylogenetic affinities of the collected species. Detailed morphological and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses further validated that the collected pestalotioid species belonged to Neopestalotiopsis. Neopestalotiopsis cubana (GMBUCC 24–001) and N. scalabiensis (GMBUCC 24–002 and GMBUCC 24–003) were identified as associated with the fresh leaves of G. mangostana and A. muricata, respectively. This is the first record of the Neopestalotiopsis species associated with these hosts worldwide. This study evaluated the in vitro biocontrol potential of Trichoderma atroviride (GMBUCC 24–014) and Daldinia eschscholtzii (UKBC 036) against Neopestalotiopsis cubana and N. scalabiensis, resulting in significant biocontrol potential of T. atroviride (GMBUCC 24–014) against both species than D. eschscholtzii (UKBC 036). Accurate identification of pestalotioid species is crucial for developing effective biocontrol methods to manage diseases and enhance economic development.