New species of endophytic fungi from grapevine (Vitis vinifera) in Iran

During the study on endophytic fungi of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.), 655 fungal isolates were obtained and studied taxonomically. Based on morphological and ITS sequences data, 15 species belonging to 10 genera including Alternaria brassicicola, A. chlamydospora, A. malorum, A. atra, Arthrinium phaeospermum, A. sacchari, Aspergillus nidulans, A. wentii, Beauveria bassiana, Cheatomium elatum, Epicoccum nigrum, Geosmithia pallida, Paecillomyces variotii, Cytospora punicae, and Verrucobotrys geranii are introduced as endophytic fungi of grapevine. Grapevineis as matrix nova for all mentioned species in Iran. Also, all identified species except A. phaeospermum, B. bassiana, and E. nigrum are reported for the first time as endophytic fungi of grapevine worldwide. Four species viz. A. sacchari, C. punicae, G. pallid, and V. geranii are introduced and described for the first time from Iran.