First report of Neosetophoma poaceicola on apple leaf from Iran

Some saprophytic fungi were isolated during fungi isolation causing black spot or scab-like symptoms (genus Venturia) from Iran. One saprophytic isolate from apple leaf was identified as a member of the family Phaeosphaericeae based on morphological characteristics of pseudothecia, asci, and ascospores on oatmeal agar (OA). Mature pseudothecia were produced on OA after one-month incubation at 24 °C and continuous dark conditions; however, the pseudothecia produced on PDA were immature. Pseudothecia were dark brown and globose in shape. Numerous bitunicate asci formed in a broad hymenium. Asci were clavate, apically rounded, short pedicellate, with eight overlapping biseriate fusiform ascospores. Ascospores with the smooth wall, straight or slightly curved and slightly constricted at the second septum. Phylogenetic analysis based on sequence data of ITS and LSU regions of ribosomal DNA confirmed the morphological identification and specified the isolate as Neosetophoma poaceicola. The N. poaceicola is the first report from Iran and apple leaf in the world.