A taxonomic study on <i>Stemphylium</i> species associated with black (sooty) head mold of wheat and barley in Iran

Abstract

<em>Stemphylium</em> as a monophyletic genus of filamentous ascomycetes, comprises both of saprophytic and plant pathogenic species with worldwide distribution. In an investigation of fungi associated with the black (sooty) head mold of wheat and barley in different regions of Golestan, Alborz and Qazvin provinces, thirty–two isolates with typical characteristics of the genus <em>Stemphylium</em> were recovered. All isolates were subjected to morphological assessments and DNA sequence analyses (ITS–rDNA and a part of <em>GPDH </em>gene). As a result, four species <em>viz</em>. <em>Stemphylium alfalfae</em>, <em>S. eturmiunum</em>, <em>S. lycii</em> and <em>S. vesicarium </em>were identified. The association of all identified species with the black head mold symptoms of wheat and barley is reported for the first time and <em>S. eturmiunum</em> and <em>S. lycii</em> are new records to the mycobiota of Iran.