Novel records of saprobic Dothideomycetes from Chukrasia tabularis (Meliaceae) with a compilation of associated fungi

Chukrasia tabularis (Meliaceae) is an economically significant plant species distributed across many tropical countries. It serves multiple purposes, particularly in ethnomedicine and timber production. Previous studies have primarily addressed its phytochemistry and pharmacology, with a focus on isolating and evaluating bioactive compounds. In this study, two fungal species, Helicoma oleifera (Tubeufiaceae) and Pleopunctum ellipsoideum (Phaeoseptaceae), were observed and isolated from dead branches and twigs of Chukrasia tabularis in Thailand. Identification of fungal strains was performed using morphological characteristics and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses based on maximum-likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) of ITS, LSU, SSU, tef1-α, and rpb2. Helicoma oleifera has previously been reported on the rotting petioles of Elaeis oleifera and on decaying wood in China. This study documents a new host and geographical record for H. oleifera from C. tabularis in Thailand. In contrast, Pleopunctum ellipsoideum has been reported from various hosts, including Bambusa sp., Dendrobium nobile, Sabal minor, Quercus fabri, and Ulmus alata in China, Thailand, and the USA. The present findings establish a new host record for P. ellipsoideum. Additionally, fungal records reported from Chukrasia tabularis (12 taxa) were compiled from the published literature. Overall, this study expands current understanding of fungal diversity associated with Chukrasia tabularis by documenting new fungal occurrences on this host.