Trees In South Africa Research Articles

Botryosphaeriaceae species associated with branch dieback and decline of macadamia trees in South Africa

Botryosphaeriaceae species are important latent pathogens causing diseases on trees utilized in forestry and agriculture. In recent years, there has been an increase in the incidence and severity of branch dieback and decline on macadamia trees in South Africa, and species of Botryosphaeriaceae have been considered as a possible cause. Although botryosphaeria dieback has been well-studied in Australia, there is little information regarding these fungi on Macadamia in South Africa. The aims of this study were consequently to (i) identify species of Botryosphaeriaceae from Macadamia branches from main production regions in South Africa, (ii) compare the diversity of species between symptomatic and asymptomatic branches, as well as between different growing regions, (iii) and to consider their relative importance in causing dieback. Eight species and three putative hybrids of the Botryosphaeriaceae were identified based on a phylogenetic comparison of sequence data from the ITS rDNA, tub2, tef-1α and rpb2 loci. These included an unidentified Diplodia sp., and Lasiodiplodia sp., as well as L. gilanensis, L. theobromae, L. pseudotheobromae, Neofusicoccum kwambonambiense, N. luteum, N. parvum and three hybrid species. The unidentified species of Diplodia., Lasiodiplodia sp., L. gilanensis, and N. kwambonambiense are reported for the first time on Macadamia in South Africa. All species showed a potential to cause branch dieback symptoms, with species of Neofusicoccum identified as the most aggressive species. This study revealed a high level of diversity of Botryosphaeriaceae species and illustrates their potential as causal agents of dieback on Macadamia in South Africa.

A living inventory of planted trees in South Africa derived from iNaturalist

Trees have a multifaceted influence on ecosystems globally. Treescapes have been manipulated by humans over millennia for ecological, economic, and cultural reasons that have changed over time and continue to change. In South Africa tree planting over three centuries has radically affected the composition of treescapes, contributing important ecosystem services, but also disservices. Rapid global change calls for diverse interventions to create more resilient ecosystems. Many nature-based solutions involve manipulating tree cover in rural and urban landscapes. There is a need for a spatially-explicit database of planted trees in South Africa to serve as the foundation for policy and management decisions.We used the community science platform iNaturalist to create a comprehensive database of planted trees in South Africa. Records were carefully checked to verify the accuracy of taxon identifications, locality data, and categorization as planted rather than wild-growing trees.The cleaned database contained 35,303 records of 805 planted tree taxa; over 90 % of records were identified to species level. Almost a third of taxa (32.2 %) belong to three families: Fabaceae (97 taxa), Myrtaceae (80 taxa) and Arecaceae (78 taxa). Rarefaction and extrapolation curves suggest fairly comprehensive sampling, but several regions are under-sampled. Non-native taxa dominate, with Melaleuca viminalis having the most records. The Western Cape has the highest number of records and taxa, particularly in urban areas. Both native and non-native trees provide key ecosystem services, but non-natives dominate.The database provides the first spatially-explicit open-access resource for guiding decisions on tree planting and the management of planted trees in South Africa. It offers a snapshot of tree planting trends, predominantly from recent years, leading to some underrepresentation of historically planted species. The database has numerous potential uses, including guiding management of trees pests and diseases, urban greening initiatives, monitoring for new invasions, and planning nature-based solutions.

Screening five local entomopathogenic nematode species for their virulence against pupae of the Eucalyptus snout beetle, Gonipterus sp. n. 2, under laboratory conditions

The Eucalyptus snout beetle, Gonipterus sp. n. 2, is an important pest of eucalypt trees in South Africa and other countries. The pest is partially controlled with a mymarid egg parasitoid, Anaphes nitens. Identifying additional biological control agents that target other developmental stages of Gonipterus sp. n. 2 is necessary to improve control. Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) are used as biological control agents for numerous soil pests and thus have the potential to be used against the pupal stage of Gonipterus sp. n. 2, which occurs in the soil. In this study, five South African EPN species were screened for their virulence on uncased pupae of Gonipterus sp. n. 2. At a concentration of 200 IJs/pupa in 50 μl of sterile water, Steinernema jeffreyense, S. fabii, Heterorhabditis noenieputensis and H. safricana caused pupal mortality of less than 40 %, while S. yirgalemense caused the highest pupal mortality of 100 % two days post-inoculation. Steinernema yirgalemense was selected and applied at different concentrations, namely 0, 12, 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 IJs/pupa to determine its lethal concentration. Probit analysis indicated that the LC50 and LC90 of S. yirgalemense were 48.29 and 260.63 IJs/pupa, respectively. The study also showed that the pupal cases do not affect the efficacy of S. yirgalemense as it caused more than 90 % mortality of cased pupae of Gonipterus sp. n. 2 in soil bioassays. In addition, pupal age did not affect the efficacy of S. yirgalemense. Based on our findings, S. yirgalemense is a potential candidate for the biological control of pupae of Gonipterus sp. n. 2.

Application of solid-state fermentation using mushrooms for the production of animal feed.

The increasing growth of agroindustrial activity resulting in excessive amounts of agriwaste has led to the accumulation of a large quantity of lignocellulosic residues all over the world, in particular in deforestation initiatives for the removal of invasive trees in South Africa. These lignocellulosic residues are rich in energy resources and consist of a mixture of natural polymers based on lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose. The use of lignolytic fungi such as mushrooms in solid-state fermentation could sufficiently degrade the indigestible lignocellulosic components and add medicinal and nutritional value to otherwise unusable, high-energy waste material, which in turn could yield a new method of producing energy-rich fodder for ruminant animals. The digestive type of animal for which the potential feed is developed must be identified and considered before deciding on the bioconversion method and process, as the outcomes for obtaining potentially high-quality feeds for nonruminant and ruminant animals are different. The current study presents data on the bioconversion of lignocellulosic substrate using solid-state fermentation with edible and medicinal mushrooms, Ganoderma lucidumand Pleurotus ostreatus, and a possible new species, to increase digestibility and nutritional value to be applied as ruminant animal feed. The solid-state fermentation process was optimized and the resulting product was analyzed for the degradation of the lignocellulosic components. Results indicated that the solid-state fermentation duration and mushroom species were key components in achieving significant degradation. Data obtained after 18 weeks of degradation indicated a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the acid detergent fiber, acid detergent lignin, and neutral detergent fiber fractions of the biomass, with up to a 20% reduction in indigestible components. This increase in digestibility could contribute to increased energy availability for ruminant animals.

Rethinking the role of value-added industries for invasive trees in South Africa

Invasive alien trees are a threat to sustainable development in South Africa due to their rapid propagation and negative impacts on water availability, fire risks, land productivity, and biodiversity conservation. Despite the ambitious three decades-long governmental Working for Water programme to clear and restore land, the problem remains. This paper questions the proposition that value-added industries can contribute to its resolution by providing value to the biomass and supporting upscaled control efforts with private investments. Their financial feasibility remains largely theoretical as most studies resort to ex ante assessments untested on the ground and are misleading due to the mix of tangible financial flows and hypothetical environmental benefits. Assumed perverse effects with further propagation remain theoretical or rest on anecdotical evidence. It is suggested that value-added industries and particularly bioenergy hold potential but require a more conducive policy environment. Three priorities are identified: an incentives framework that recognises environmental (dis)services and clarifies potential net carbon gains depending on the accounting system; the provision of updated information to the private sector on resource availability with improved coordination between investors and public programs in charge of land clearing; and innovative supply chain models with improved logistics. Thinking outside the box would help and novel land management options could be considered with natural regrowth and rotations in non-strategic sites, or crop substitution to sustain value chains – which would necessitate strict management rules in exchange for greater flexibility in resource accessibility. Overall, value-added industries for invasive trees encompass climate change adaptation and mitigation and their feasibility depends on their articulation.

Pathogenicity of Fusarium euwallaceae, symbiont of the polyphagous shot hole borer beetle, to selected stone fruit trees in South Africa

Pathogenicity of Fusarium euwallaceae, symbiont of the polyphagous shot hole borer beetle, to selected stone fruit trees in South Africa

Population dynamics of Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) in single aphid-transmitted sub-isolates of the South African GFMS12 isolate.

Grapefruit trees in South Africa have been cross protected against severe stem pitting genotypes of Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) since the 1920s using a mild strain initially called 'Nartia' but later referred to as grapefruit mild strain 12 (GFMS12).In the current study, the GFMS12 isolate was used as the source for single aphid transmissions (SAT) using Toxoptera citricida, commonly called the brown citrus aphid (BrCA). The BrCA-transmitted CTV sub-isolates were analyzed by the heteroduplex mobility assay (HMA), serological assays, genetic marker analysis (GMA), and selected sub-isolates were biologically indexed. Reverse transcription PCR of genomic regions was conducted using universal primers followed by cloning the PCR products, HMA and sequence analysis; nine genotypes of CTV were identified in the complex of GFMS12, including both severe and mild genotypes. A singleBrCAtransmitted up to six CTV genotypes simultaneously in one sub-isolate. The HMA was found to be a rapid, reliable tool for the identification of genotypes and can be useful in the development of CTV management strategies and budwood certification programs.

Impact of Training Set Configurations for Differentiating Plantation Forest Genera with Sentinel-2 Imagery and Machine Learning

Forest plantations in South Africa impose genus-specific demands on limited soil moisture. Hence, plantation composition and distribution mapping is critical for water conservation planning. Genus maps are used to quantify the impact of post-harvest genus-exchange activities in the forestry sector. Collecting genus data using in situ methods is costly and time-consuming, especially when performed at regional or national scales. Although remotely sensed data and machine learning show potential for mapping genera at regional scales, the efficacy of such methods is highly dependent on the size and quality of the training data used to build the models. However, it is not known what sampling scheme (e.g., sample size, proportion per genus, and spatial distribution) is most effective to map forest genera over large and complex areas. Using Sentinel-2 imagery as inputs, this study evaluated the effects of different sampling strategies (e.g., even, uneven, and area-proportionate) for training the random forests machine learning classifier to differentiate between Acacia, Eucalyptus, and Pinus trees in South Africa. Sample size (s) was related to the number of input features (n) to better understand the potential impact of sample sparseness. The results show that an even sample with maximum size (100%, s~91n) produced the highest overall accuracy (76.3%). Although larger training set sizes (s &gt; n) resulted in higher OAs, a saturation point was reached at s~64n.

Predicting interactions of the frass-associated yeast Hyphopichia heimii with Oleaeuropaea subsp. cuspidata and twig-boring bark beetles.

Bark beetles are destructive insect pests known to form symbioses with different fungal taxa, including yeasts. The aim of this study was to (1) determine the prevalence of the rare yeast Hyphopichia heimii in bark beetle frass from wild olive trees in South Africa and to (2) predict the potential interaction of this yeast with trees and bark beetles. Twenty-eight culturable yeast species were isolated from frass in 35 bark beetle galleries, including representatives of H. heimii from nine samples. Physiological characterization of H. heimii isolates revealed that none was able to degrade complex polymers present in hemicellulose; however, all were able to assimilate sucrose and cellobiose, sugars associated with an arboreal habitat. All isolates were able to produce the auxin indole acetic acid, indicative of a potential symbiosis with the tree. Sterol analysis revealed that the isolates possessed ergosterol quantities ranging from 3.644 ± 0.119 to 13.920 ± 1.230mg/g dry cell weight, which suggested that H. heimii could serve as a source of sterols in bark beetle diets, as is known for other bark beetle-associated fungi. In addition, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry demonstrated that at least one of the isolates, Hyphopichia heimii CAB 1614, was able to convert the insect pheromone cis-verbenol to the anti-aggregation pheromone verbenone. This indicated that H. heimii could potentially influence beetle behaviour. These results support the contention of a tripartite symbiosis between H.heimii, olive trees, and bark beetles.

A reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay for the detection of plum viroid I (PlVd-I)

Plum viroid I (PlVd-I) is found in marbling and corky flesh diseased plum trees in South Africa. In this study a reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay for the high-throughput detection of PlVd-I was developed. This assay can be performed on crude extracts and detection can either be a pH dependent colorimetric reaction or a real-time fluorescent signal reaction. The false discovery rate was shown to be low and no decrease in sensitivity was detected compared to RT-PCR. The RT-LAMP assay allows for the fast and cost-effective detection of PlVd-I that will curtail the distribution of infected plant material.

The impact of whitegrub (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) damage on growth of Eucalyptus grandis and Acacia mearnsii plantation trees in South Africa

ABSTRACT Eucalyptus grandis and Acacia mearnsii are among the South African forest industry’s most planted commercial species. Whitegrubs are high-status pests affecting plantation forestry; they are root-feeding insects and cause poor seedling growth and elevated mortality. The aim of this study was to elucidate the impact of whitegrub damage on the growth of E. grandis and A. mearnsii trees during the first year of the establishment stage in sites previously planted with A. mearnsii in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands of South Africa. The hypothesis was that the prophylactic application of insecticides against whitegrubs would increase tree height at six or 12 months after planting. Seven insecticides were assessed in 12 treatments over three trials in Bloemendal, KwaZulu-Natal. Statistical analyses were performed using PRIMER and SAS. Whitegrubs were the predominant mortality factor (17.1%), followed by pathogens (3.3%) and 12 other factors that cumulatively caused the remaining (7.0%) mortality. Pegylis sommeri, Schizonycha affinis and two unknown Maladera species were the most important, typical and prevalent whitegrub species, but their ranking differed between A. mearnsii and E. grandis, suggesting a host preference. The prophylactic application of insecticides against whitegrubs significantly increased tree height for E. grandis. Acacia mearnsii tree height, however, did not consistently show a significant effect with insecticide control, presumably because of additional mortality by pathogens. The crop-rotation scenario may have potentially benefited E. grandis over A. mearnsii and warrants further investigation. Whitegrubs can kill seedlings and reduce tree height when left uncontrolled.

Two new endophytic species enrich the Coniochaeta endophytica / C. prunicola clade: Coniochaeta lutea sp. nov. and C. palaoa sp. nov.

Coniochaeta (Coniochaetaceae, Ascomycota) is a diverse genus that includes a striking richness of undescribed species with endophytic lifestyles, especially in temperate and boreal plants and lichens. These endophytes frequently represent undescribed species that can clarify evolutionary relationships and trait evolution within clades of previously classified fungi. Here we extend the geographic, taxonomic, and host sampling presented in a previous analysis of the clade containing Coniochaeta endophytica, a recently described species occurring as an endophyte from North America; and C. prunicola, associated with necroses of stonefruit trees in South Africa. Our multi-locus analysis and examination of metadata for endophyte strains housed in the Robert L. Gilbertson Mycological Herbarium at the University of Arizona (ARIZ) (1) expands the geographic range of C. endophytica across a wider range of the USA than recognized previously; (2) shows that the ex-type of C. prunicola (CBS 120875) forms a well-supported clade with endophytes of native hosts in North Carolina and Michigan, USA; (3) reveals that the ex-paratype for C. prunicola (CBS 121445) forms a distinct clade with endophytes from North Carolina and Russia, is distinct morphologically from the other taxa considered here, and is described herein as Coniochaeta lutea; and (4) describes a new species, Coniochaeta palaoa, here identified as an endophyte of multiple plant lineages in the highlands and piedmont of North Carolina. Separation of CBS 120875 and CBS 121445 into C. prunicola sensu stricto and C. lutea is consistent with previously described genomic differences between these isolates, and morphological and functional differences among the four species (C. endophytica, C. prunicola, C. palaoa, and C. lutea) underscore the phylogenetic relationships described here. The resolving power of particular loci and the emerging perspective on the host- and geographic range of Coniochaeta and the C. endophytica / C. prunicola clade are discussed.

A new species in the Mycosphaerellaceae from Cecidomyiidae leaf galls on Avicennia marina in South Africa.

During studies to investigate the health of mangrove trees in South Africa, high numbers of Avicennia marina were found with leaf galls caused by unidentified adults and larvae of midges (Cecidomyiidae). Fungal fruiting structures were commonly observed on the abaxial areas of the galls. To determine the identity of the fungi associated with the gall midges, phylogenetic analyses using multigene sequence data were used. The nuclear large subunit (LSU), internal transcribed spacer (ITS), and a portion of the actin gene region (ACT), were amplified and analyzed. The results revealed that the fungal fruiting structures represent a new taxon in the Mycosphaerellaceae described here as Zasmidium mangrovei sp. nov. This is the first report of a species in the Mycosphaerellaceae associated with cecidomyiid leaf galls on A. marina.

Unity in diversity? When advocacy coalitions and policy beliefs grow trees in South Africa

Competing coalitions can stabilise policymaking and hinder policy changes that are required to address the mounting pressures on land use systems across the globe. Thus, understanding the driving forces of coalition formation is important. This paper builds on the Advocacy Coalition Framework to determine the relative contributions of two sets of beliefs (more general policy core beliefs and more specific beliefs concerning policy instruments) to coalition formation in South African tree plantation politics and to identify coalitions therein. Discourse Network Analysis was used to code 656 statements regarding 40 beliefs to create network data from 55 interviews with organisational elites. Results from a network analysis of the twelve most salient beliefs indicate that dissimilar policy core beliefs about the validity of environmental regulation, social costs of tree plantations, and the conditionality of land reform in South Africa divide actors into two coalitions: the hegemonic “business-as-usual” coalition and the minority “justice and change” coalition. These boundaries were confirmed by comparing the network based on shared policy core beliefs with a co-ordination network. Dissimilar beliefs concerning policy instruments, including eco-certification and an indicative zoning, also divide actors, yet actors’ reasoning for or against these instruments differ to the degree that united fronts are unlikely to form. Hegemonic coalitions that combine selected state and business interests with labour arguments and prioritise short-term economic efficiency threaten to delay the necessary changes away from business-as-usual across land use systems in South Africa and beyond.

Using sap flow sensors to study the influence of rootstock and mid-summer water deficit on transpiration of apple trees in South Africa

Using sap flow sensors to study the influence of rootstock and mid-summer water deficit on transpiration of apple trees in South Africa

Dieback and decline pathogens of olive trees in South Africa.

Trunk disease fungal pathogens reduce olive production globally by causing cankers, dieback, and other decline-related symptoms on olive trees. Very few fungi have been reported in association with olive dieback and decline in South Africa. Many of the fungal species reported from symptomatic olive trees in other countries have broad host ranges and are known to occur on other woody host plants in the Western Cape province, the main olive production region of South Africa. This survey investigated the diversity of fungi and symptoms associated with olive dieback and decline in South Africa. Isolations were made from internal wood symptoms of 145 European and 42 wild olive trees sampled in 10 and 9 districts, respectively. A total of 99 taxa were identified among 440 fungal isolates using combinations of morphological and molecular techniques. A new species of Pseudophaeomoniella, P. globosa, had the highest incidence, being recovered from 42.8 % of European and 54.8 % of wild olive samples. This species was recovered from 9 of the 10 districts where European olive trees were sampled and from all districts where wild olive trees were sampled. Members of the Phaeomoniellales (mainly P. globosa) were the most prevalent fungi in five of the seven symptom types considered, the only exceptions being twig dieback, where members of the Botryosphaeriaceae were more common, and soft/white rot where only Basidiomycota were recovered. Several of the species identified are known as pathogens of olives or other woody crops either in South Africa or elsewhere in the world, including species of Neofusicoccum, Phaeoacremonium, and Pleurostoma richardsiae. However, 81 of the 99 taxa identified have not previously been recorded on olive trees and have unknown interactions with this host. These taxa include one new genus and several putative new species, of which four are formally described as Celerioriella umnquma sp. nov., Pseudophaeomoniella globosa sp. nov., Vredendaliella oleae gen. & sp. nov., and Xenocylindrosporium margaritarum sp. nov.

First report of the lace bug Neoplerochila paliatseasi (Rodrigues, 1981) (Hemiptera: Tingidae) infesting cultivated olive trees in South Africa, and its complete mitochondrial sequence.

Olive lace bugs are small phytophagous Hemipteran insects known to cause agricultural losses in olive production in South Africa. Plerochila australis (Distant, 1904) has been reported as the species responsible for damage to olive trees; however, the diversity of olive lace bug species in the region has lacked attention. Adult olive lace bugs were collected incidentally from wild and cultivated olive trees in the Western Cape Province, and identified as P. australis and Neoplerochila paliatseasi (Rodrigues, 1981). The complete mitochondrial genome of a representative specimen of N. paliatseasi was sequenced, and used for comparative mitogenomics and phylogenetic reconstruction within the family. Furthermore, the value of DNA barcodes for species identification in Tingidae was assessed using genetic clustering and estimates of genetic divergence. The patterns of genetic clustering and genetic divergence of COI sequences supported the morphological identification of N. paliatseasi, and the utility of DNA barcoding methods in Tingidae. The complete mitogenome sequence had the typical Metazoan gene content and order, including 13 PCGs, 22 tRNAs, two rRNAs, and an AT-rich non-coding region. A+T content was high, as commonly found in Tingidae. The phylogenetic reconstruction recovered Agramma hupehanum (Drake Maa 1954) as basal to Tingini, and as a sister species to N. paliatseasi. Stephanitis Stål 1873 and Corythucha Stål 1873 were monophyletic, but Metasalis populi (Takeya 1932) was not recovered as sister to Tingis cardui (Linnaeus 1746), as expected. The mitochondrial phylogeny of the family Tingidae has been recovered inconsistently across different studies, possibly due to sequence heterogeneity and high mutation rates. Species diversity of olive lace bugs in South Africa was previously underestimated. The presence of P. australis was confirmed in both wild and cultivated olives, and N. paliatseasi is reported in cultivated olives for the first time. These results warrant further investigation on the diversity and distribution of olive lace bugs in the Western Cape to inform pest control strategies.

Identification of Pseudomonas Isolates Associated With Bacterial Canker of Stone Fruit Trees in the Western Cape, South Africa.

Bacterial canker is a common bacterial disease of stone fruit trees. The causal agents responsible for the disease include several pathovars in Pseudomonas syringae sensu lato and newly described Pseudomonas species. Pseudomonad strains were isolated from symptomatic stone fruit trees, namely apricot, peach, and plum trees cultivated in spatially separated orchards in the Western Cape. A polyphasic approach was used to identify and characterize these strains. Using a multilocus sequence typing approach of four housekeeping loci, namely cts, gapA, gyrB, and rpoD, the pseudomonad strains were delineated into two phylogenetic groups within P. syringae sensu lato: P. syringae sensu stricto and Pseudomonas viridiflava. These results were further supported by LOPAT diagnostic assays and analysis of clades in the rep-PCR dendrogram. The pseudomonad strains were pathogenic on both apricot and plum seedlings, indicative of a lack of host specificity between Pseudomonas strains infecting Prunus spp. This is a first report of P. viridiflava isolated from plum trees showing symptoms of bacterial canker. P. viridiflava is considered to be an opportunistic pathogen that causes foliar diseases of vegetable crops, fruit trees, and aromatic herbs, and thus the isolation of pathogenic P. viridiflava from twigs of plum trees showing symptoms of bacterial canker suggests that this bacterial species is a potentially emerging stem canker pathogen of stone fruit trees in South Africa.

Field application of entomopathogenic nematodes against Thaumatotibia leucotreta in South African avocado, litchi and macadamia orchards

False codling moth, Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is an important pest of fruit trees in South Africa. The subtropical fruit tree crop industries use a combination of techniques for T. leucotreta suppression. Semi-field trials were conducted in avocado, litchi and macadamia orchards, using four entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) species. The effect on T. leucotreta mortality, directly after application (two days), as well as on persistence for 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 days post-application, was determined. Results from the field trials, using 30 IJs cm2 of Steinernema yirgalemense, showed the highest mortality of 86% directly after application, with Steinernema litchii being the least effective of the four EPN species, with 63% mortality. High persistence was found until day 14, with a steep decline thereafter until day 28. Local South African EPN species showed great potential for the future control of the late instar T. leucotreta, with the added advantage of persistence.

Coniochaeta endophytica sp. nov., a foliar endophyte associated with healthy photosynthetic tissue of Platycladus orientalis (Cupressaceae)

AbstractThe ecologically diverse genusConiochaeta(Coniochaetaceae,Ascomycota) contains numerous endophytic strains that occur in healthy leaves and lichen thalli in temperate and boreal North America. These endophytes frequently represent undescribed species. Here we examine two endophytic isolates ofConiochaetafrom healthy photosynthetic tissue ofPlatycladus orientalis(Cupressaceae), a conifer cultivated for horticultural use in Arizona, USA. On the basis of morphology,in vitroassays, phylogenetic analyses of two loci, and analyses of whole genome data, we designate these endophytes as a novel species,Coniochaeta endophyticasp. nov. Strains ofC. endophyticaare closely related to an isolate from a native lichen in North Carolina, which we also characterize here. We compareC. endophyticawith two known species that appear to be close relatives:C. prunicola, associated with wood necrosis in stonefruit trees in South Africa, andC. cephalothecoides, isolated from soil in Asia. The new species is distinct in phylogenetic,in vitro, and whole-genome analyses fromC. prunicola, and differs slightly in conidiophore morphology from that species. Although available sequence data forC. cephalothecoidesare of uncertain relation to the type specimen for that species, our results support the distinctiveness ofC. endophyticaon the basis of morphology, perithecial formation, and phylogenetic analyses. We discuss the challenge of identifying new species in the context of fungal ecology surveys, such as those for endophytes, which often rely only on a single locus and can misidentify taxa based on their closest matches in public databases or simple comparisons of barcode sequences alone.