Four new species of Diaporthe (Diaporthaceae, Diaporthales) from forest plants in China Author Cao, Lingxue https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1991-4593 Key Laboratory for Non-Wood Forest Cultivation and Conservation of the Ministry of Education, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China Author Luo, Dun Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration for Control of Diseases and Pests of South Plantation, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China Author Lin, Wu Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration for Control of Diseases and Pests of South Plantation, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China Author Yang, Qin Key Laboratory for Non-Wood Forest Cultivation and Conservation of the Ministry of Education, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China T20192466@csuft.edu.cn Author Deng, Xiaojun Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Control of Forest Diseases and Pests, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China text MycoKeys 2022 2022-07-06 91 25 47 http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.91.84970 journal article http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.91.84970 1314-4049-91-25 08CCAE0A6B3B598A99060B28310299AD Diaporthe meliae C.M. Tian & Q. Yang sp. nov. Fig. 3 Diagnosis. Distinguished from the phylogenetically closely-related species, D. podocarpi-macrophylli , in shorter alpha conidia. Figure 3. Diaporthe meliae (BJFC-S1668) a, b habit of conidiomata on twig c transverse section through conidiomata d longitudinal section through conidiomata e, f conidiogenous cells g alpha conidia. Scale bars: 1 mm( b ); 200 μm ( c, d ); 10 μm ( e-g ). Etymology. Named after the host genus on which it was collected, Melia . Description. Conidiomata pycnidial, immersed in the host bark, scattered, erumpent through the bark surface, discoid, with a single locule. Ectostromatic disc dark brown, one ostiole per disc, (325-)330-375(-385) μm (n = 30) diam. Locule undivided, 420-640 x 385-515 μm (n = 30). Conidiophores reduced to conidiogenous cells. Conidiogenous cells (13.5-)15-26.5(-28) x 1.3-2.1(-2.3) μm (n = 30), L/W = 8.5-15.5, cylindrical, hyaline, branched, straight or slightly curved, tapering towards the apex. Alpha conidia hyaline, aseptate, fusiform, multi-guttulate, (6.7-)8-9.5(-10) x (2-)2.1-2.3 μm (n = 30), L/W = 3.4-4.5. Beta conidia not observed. Culture characters. Colony originally flat with white felty aerial mycelium, becoming auburn furcate mycelium with age, with irregular margin, conidiomata absent. Specimens examined. China , Shandong Province : Rizhao City , on branches of Melia azedarach , 20 April 2018 , N. Jiang ( holotype BJFC-S1668; ex-type living culture: CFCC 53089; living culture: CFCC 53090) . Notes. Two strains representing Diaporthe meliae cluster in a well-supported clade (ML/BI = 100/1), and appear closely related to D. podocarpi-macrophylli . Diaporthe meliae can be distinguished based on ITS, his3 , tef-1α , and tub2 loci from D. podocarpi-macrophylli (4/459 in ITS, 15/455 in his3 , 25/349 in tef-1α , and 14/401 in tub2 ). Morphologically, D. meliae can be distinguished from D. podocarpi-macrophylli by its longer conidiogenous cells (15-26.5 vs. 6-18 μm ) and alpha conidia (8-9.5 vs. 3.5-8.5 μm ) ( Gao et al. 2017 ).