Studies of Diaporthe (Diaporthaceae, Diaporthales) species associated with plant cankers in Beijing, China, with three new species described.

The genus Diaporthe (Diaporthaceae, Diaporthales) comprises endophytes, pathogens and saprophytes, inhabiting a wide range of woody hosts and resulting in serious canker disease. To determine the diversity of Diaporthe species associated with canker disease of host plants in Beijing, China, a total of 35 representative strains were isolated from 18 host genera. Three novel species ( D.changpingensis , D.diospyrina and D.ulmina ) and four known species ( D.corylicola , D.donglingensis , D.eres and D.rostrata ) were identified, based on morphological comparison and phylogenetic analyses using partial ITS, cal , his3 , tef1-α and tub2 loci. These results provide an understanding of the taxonomy of Diaporthe species associated with canker diseases in Beijing, China.