Endophytic fungi associated with medicinal ferns in Guizhou Province, China Ⅰ: Morpho-molecular characterization of culturable endophytic fungi associated with Dicranopteris spp.

Endophytic fungi, a subject of increasing interest among researchers, possess the unique ability to produce a diverse array of compounds with significant biological activities, including anti-tumor, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-oxidant effects. What sets these fungi apart is their capacity to synthesize compounds that are identical or similar to those found in their host plants. This intriguing characteristic has made endophytic fungi in medicinal plants a key area of scientific exploration. Our current study, a pioneering systematic investigation of endophytic fungi associated with medicinal ferns in Guizhou Province, China, is the first in a series focusing on the morpho-molecular taxonomy of culturable endophytic fungi associated with Dicranopteris species. We isolated 84 endophytic fungal strains from various tissues and identified them as 59 distinct species based on both morphological characteristics and multi-locus phylogenetic analysis. A new family, Massicellisporaceae, three new genera viz. Massicellispora, Miniglobosispora, and Pseudopopulomyces, and 24 new species viz. Amorocoelophoma dicranopterisis, Arxiella ellipsoidea, Castanediella dicranopteridis, Cladophialophora globosa, Colletotrichum dicranopterisis, C. guttulatisporum, Dactylonectria dicranopteridis, Diaporthe dicranopteridis, Geniculoseta dicranopteridis, Hypoxylon dicranopteridis, Ilyonectria dicranopteridis, Massicellispora dicranopteris, M. globosa, Miniglobosispora guizhounises, Neopestalotiopsis dicranopteridis, Nigrospora dicranopteridis, Periconia dicranopterisis, Pezicula dicranopteridis, Pseudodactylaria dicranopteridis, Omnidemptus dicranopteridis, Pseudopopulomyces dicranopteridis, Sphaerostilbella dicranopteridis, Trichocladium dicranopteridis, and Verruconis hyalina are introduced. Additionally, 35 new host or geographical records are reported. Several species are also re-evaluated: Diaporthe hainanensis and D. harriottiae are synonymized under D. arecae, Colletotrichum juglandis is synonymized as C. simulanticitri, while, C. gracile, C. oblongisporum, and C. nullisetosum are consolidated into a single species, as C. jiangxiense, and Cashiella sticheri was transferred to Pezicula as P. sticheri based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence. Descriptions, illustrations, and phylogenetic analysis results are provided for all species introduced in this study. A checklist of fungi associated with Dicranopteris is also included. This study enhances our understanding of the diversity of endophytic fungi associated with medicinal Dicranopteris and lays a foundation for future research into their ecological roles and pharmacological potential.