Juglanconis juglandina a new record for the mycobiota of Iran

During the study of fungal species associated with canker and dieback diseases of walnut trees (Juglans regia L.) in East Azerbaijan province, Iran, eight fungal isolates with similar characteristics resembling asexual stage of the genus Juglanconis were isolated from trees showing canker, dieback, and dead skin symptoms in Osko and Horand regions. Conidiomata on the host tissue were acervular and stromatic, 1 – 2.5 mm diam, blackish, scattered or confluent, covered with black conidial masses when mature. Conidiophores were unbranched or rarely branched at the base. Conidiogenous cells were cylindrical and annellidic. Conidia elliptic to ovate, truncate with distinct scar at the base, thick-walled and with distinct ornamentation on the inner side of the wall consisting of irregular confluent verrucae, hyaline when immature, brown to blackish when mature, covered with gelatinous sheath, (11)14–16 (–18) × (15–) 22–25 (–28) µm. Fungal isolates were identified as J. juglandina based on morphological characteristics and host association. Identification of the species was further confirmed by sequence analysis of the elongation factor (tef1-α) gene. Present study is the first report of J. juglandina for the mycobiota of Iran.