Tectona

Abstract: Teak (Tectona grandis) is one of the world's premier hardwood timbers, rightly famous for its mellow colour, fine grain and durability. It occurs naturally only in India, Myanmar, the Lao People's Democratic Republic and Thailand, and it is naturalized in Java, Indonesia, where it was probably introduced some 400 to 600 years ago. In addition, it has been established throughout tropical Asia, as well as in tropical Africa (including Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, the United Republic of Tanzania and Togo) and Latin America and the Caribbean (Costa Rica, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela). Teak has also been introduced in some islands in the Pacific region (Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the Solomon Islands) and in northern Australia at trial levels.

Abstract: To date there is virtually no information available concerning the fungi associated with Tectona grandis (teak) (Lamiaceae) in Thailand. In this study, samples of microfungi were collected from both asymptomatic stems and dead wood, and symptomatic branches, stem and leaves of T. grandis from 27 sites in six provinces (Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phayao, Phitsanulok, Phrae and Uttaradit Provinces). Morphology and combined multi-gene phylogeny (CAL, GAPDH, ITS, LSU, RPB2, SSU, TEF1 and TUB) were used to identify taxa. A total of 270 collections, representing 28 fungal species residing in 12 families, 7 orders and 21 genera, with three species of uncertain taxonomic placement were identified. Of these, one family, three genera and 14 species are new to science. The new family, Pseudocoleodictyosporaceae is introduced based on its distinct lineage in the Dothideomycetes and its unique morphology as compared to Roussoellaceae and Torulaceae. The new genera are Neooccultibambusa, Pseudocoleodictyospora and Subglobosporium. The newly described species are Diaporthe neoraonikayaporum, D. tectonendophytica, D. tectonae, D. tectonigena, Hermatomyces tectonae, H. thailandica, Manoharachariella tectonae, Neooccultibambusa chiangraiensis, Pseudocoleodictyospora sukhothaiensis, Ps. tectonae, Ps. thailandica, Rhytidhysteron tectonae, Subglobosporium tectonae and Tubeufia tectonae. Fourteen species are known published taxa including Alternaria tillandsiae, Berkleasmium talaumae, Boerlagiomyces macrospora, Ceratocladium purpureogriseum, Fusarium solani, Helicoma siamense, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, Macrovalsaria megalospora, Paradictyoarthrinium diffractum, Phaeoacremonium italicum, Sphaeropsis eucalypticola, Stachybotrys levispora, St. renispora and Thaxteriellopsis lignicola. Epitypifications or reference specimens are designated for Boerlagiomyces macrospora and Macrovalsaria megalospora. Macrovalsaria megalospora is transferred from Botryosphaeriaceae to Dothideomycetes genus, incertae sedis based on taxonomy and phylogenetic analysis, which indicate it is distinct from Botryosphaeriaceae. All fungal species represent first reports on T. grandis in Thailand. New taxa and taxa incertae sedis, as well as known taxa which are established as reference specimens or epitypes, are presented with phylogenetic tree analyses, habitat, known distribution, material examined, full descriptions, notes and figures. Information is also provided for known taxa to add to the body of knowledge and to assist those wishing to study fungi occurring on T. grandis in future.