Novel Botrytis and Cladosporium Species Associated with Flower Diseases of Macadamia in Australia

Abstract

Macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia) is endemic to eastern Australia and produces an edible nut that is widely cultivated in commercial orchards globally. A survey of fungi associated with the grey and green mold symptoms of macadamia flowers found mostly species of Botrytis (Sclerotiniaceae, Leotiomycetes) and Cladosporium (Cladosporiaceae, Dothideomycetes). These isolates included B. cinerea, C. cladosporioides, and unidentified isolates. Amongst the unidentified isolates, one novel species of Botrytis and three novel species of Cladosporium were delimited and characterized by molecular phylogenetic analyses. The new species are Botrytis macadamiae, Cladosporium devikae, C. macadamiae, and C. proteacearum.