Morpho-phylogenetic characterization of new Cladosporium species from Iran

چکیده مقاله

ABSTRACT

The genus Cladosporium (Cladosporiaceae, Dothideomycetes) is a globally widespread group of fungi, many of which are ecologically and agriculturally important. In Iran, however, the diversity of this genus has been largely overlooked. In this study, fungal samples collected between 2012 and 2024 from dried leaves and plant tissue were investigated. Multiple Cladosporium isolates from various Iranian regions were examined using an integrative morpho-phylogenetic approach, combining morphological analyses with molecular phylogenetic studies based on ITS, act, and tef-1α loci. Our results revealed three species of Cladosporium, namely Cladosporium limoniforme, Cladosporium ramotenellum, and Cladosporium guizhouense, which were identified based on morphology, culture characteristics and molecular phylogenetics. This study represents the first report of Cladosporium guizhouense in Iran. Comprehensive morphological descriptions, illustrations, and phylogenetic placements are provided for these species.