Two Unrecorded Endophytic Fungal Species of the Order Xylariales in Korea

Leaves of Zanthoxylum piperitum (L.) DC. and Juniperus rigida Siebold & Zucc. were collected from Mungyeong-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea, to isolate the endophytic fungi. The leaves were surface-sterilized and the morphological characteristics of the isolated strains were analyzed. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS), large subunit rDNA (LSU), and β-tubulin (TUB) regions were amplified for conducting molecular phylogenetic analysis. Allocryptovalsa sichuanensis and Beltrania pseudorhombica, both belonging to the order Xylariales, were identified. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first report of these species in Korea. The morphological and molecular characteristics of the isolated strains are detailed in this study. These findings enhance our understanding of the endophyte diversity and ecology in Korea.