Abstract:
Previous studies have shown that our understanding of species diversity within Diaporthe (syn. Phomopsis)
is limited. In this study, 49 strains obtained from different countries were subjected to DNA sequence analysis. Based
on these results, eight new species names are introduced for lineages represented by multiple strains and distinct
morphology. Twelve Phomopsis species previously described from China were subjected to DNA sequence analysis, and
confirmed to belong to Diaporthe. The genus Diaporthe is shown to be paraphyletic based on multi-locus (LSU, ITS and
TEF1) phylogenetic analysis. Several morphologically distinct genera, namely Mazzantia, Ophiodiaporthe, Pustulomyces,
Phaeocytostroma, and Stenocarpella, are embedded within Diaporthe s. lat., indicating divergent morphological evolution.
However, splitting Diaporthe into many smaller genera to achieve monophyly is still premature, and further collections and
phylogenetic datasets need to be obtained to address this situation.
