Molecular and Morphological Evidence Reveals Four New Neocosmospora Species from Dragon Trees in Yunnan Province, China

Neocosmospora (Nectriaceae) is a globally distributed fungal genus, traditionally recognized as a group of plant pathogens, with most members known to cause severe plant diseases. However, recent studies have demonstrated that many of these fungi can also colonize plants endophytically, with certain strains capable of promoting plant growth and stimulating the production of secondary metabolites. In this study, 13 strains of Neocosmospora were isolated from the stems and leaves of Dracaena cambodiana and D. lourei in Yunnan Province, China. To clarify the taxonomic placement of these strains, morphological examination and multi-gene (ITS, nrLSU, tef1, rpb1, and rpb2) phylogenetic analyses were performed. Based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence, four new species are introduced and described here: N. hypertrophia, N. kunmingense, N. rugosa, and N. simplicillium. This study expands our understanding of the fungal diversity associated with Dracaena, provides essential data for the taxonomy of Neocosmospora, and serves as a resource for the future development and utilization of Neocosmospora endophytes.