New Endophytic Fungi Discovered Inside Thai Itea Plants

A team led by Jutamart Monkai and colleagues has described two novel fungal species living harmlessly within healthy tissues of the medically important Itea japonica and I. riparia trees in Northern Thailand. The findings were published in MycoKeys volume 138 (pages 209‑236) and are based on extensive morphological examination combined with multilocus phylogenetic analyses of DNA markers such as ITS, LSU, TEF1-α and RPB2 ¹.net].

The first new species is Diaporthe iteae, placed in the family Diaporthaceae (Sordariomycetes). It was isolated from leaf tissue of I. japonica and belongs to the Diaporthe siamensis species complex, section Sojae. Phylogenetically it clusters tightly with other Southeast Asian Diaporthe taxa but remains distinct enough for separate species status ¹.net].

The second discovery is Neptunomyces iteae, belonging to Didymosphaeriaceae (Dothideomycetes). It was isolated from healthy Itea tissues and represents the first record of Neptunomyces in Thailand ¹.net].

In addition to these two novel species, the authors reported that Diaporthe coracoralinae has been found on I. japonica for the first time outside its previously documented range; the specimen again fits into section Sojae, showing the expanding host breadth of this lineage ¹.net].

These endophytic fungi live inside plant tissues without causing visible disease symptoms, making them difficult to detect through routine field inspections alone. Cataloguing their presence and distinguishing them at the molecular level provides essential baseline data for future plant health monitoring programs ¹.net].

The study demonstrates that even well-known medicinal plants like Itea host hidden fungal diversity ¹.net].

Experts note that documenting new endophytic species is critical for sustainable agriculture: it expands the knowledge base needed to manage plant diseases and promotes healthier crop systems by recognizing beneficial microbial partners early on. The findings also illustrate the value of integrating morphology with multilocus phylogenetics—a standard approach now used worldwide to delineate cryptic fungal diversity accurately ¹.net].

The study adds two new names—Diaporthe iteae and Neptunomyces iteae—to the mycological record and reinforces the role of endophytes in healthy plants.