<i>Calonectria vigiensis</i> sp. nov. (Hypocreales, Nectriaceae) associated with dieback and sudden-death symptoms of <i>Theobroma cacao</i> from Mérida state, Venezuela

Abstract

Calonectria vigiensis sp. nov. (Hypocreales, Nectriaceae) is a newly described species associated with cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) in Mérida state, Venezuela. This new species was identified using morphological methods as well as DNA sequencing and multigene phylogenetic analyses. Based on phylogenetic analyses of a combined dataset including translation elongation factor 1-α (tef1), calmodulin (cmdA), and β-tubulin (btub) genes across closely related species within Calonectria, a new species was identified as Ca. vigiensis within the Calonectria naviculata species complex, but it was determined to be well-separated from genetically close species such as Calonectria multilateralis L. Lombard &amp; Crous, Calonectria multinaviculata R.F. Alfenas, L. Lombard &amp; Crous, and Calonectria naviculata Crous &amp; M.J. Wingf. This work reports 1 previously undescribed fungal species (Ca. vigiensis) that is associated with dieback and sudden-death symptoms in T. cacao plantations in Mérida state, Venezuela.

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