Neodeightonia phoenicum, a new species for the funga of Iran

Coconut fruits showing rot symptoms were collected throughout Kerman Province (Iran) markets. The aim of this study was to identify the causal agent of the observed symptom. To isolate the pathogen, tissue pieces were taken from the interface of the symptomatic and healthy areas of the inner parts of the fruits and placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium. A filamentous fungus was consistently isolated from the symptomatic tissues. Colonies on PDA were white with fluffy aerial mycelium gradually turning olivaceous in the center. Conidiomata formed on pine needles, pycnidial and dark brown to black Conidiogenous cells were hyaline, cylindrical, smooth and swollen at base. Immature conidia were single-celled, ovoid to ellipsoid and hyaline and mature conidia were septate, dark brown, measuring 21.1 ± 1.2 × 10.5 ± 0.8 μm. Based on morphological characterization coupled with molecular data of ITS and tef1, the fungus was identified as Neodeightonia phoenicum. This is the first report of N. phoenicum on Cocos nucifera worldwide and the first report of its occurrence in Iran.