Abstract
Based on molecular phylogenetic analyses of a multigene matrix of partial nuSSU-ITS-LSU rDNA, cal, his, ms204, rpb1, rpb2, tef1 and tub2 sequences, recent European and Iranian collections of Melanconium pterocaryae from the type host, Pterocarya fraxinifolia, are shown to be distinct from the Japanese Melanconis pterocaryae from Pterocarya rhoifolia, and both are confirmed as closely related members of the recently described genus Juglanconis. Therefore, the new name Juglanconis japonica is proposed for Melanconis pterocaryae. As no type collection could be traced, Melanconium pterocaryae (syn. J. pterocaryae) is neotypified, described and illustrated, and it is recorded for Europe for the first time. During field surveys in natural stands of P. fraxinifolia in Guilan province (Iran), Juglanconis pterocaryae was consistently isolated from tissues affected by branch and trunk cankers, twig dieback and wood necrosis, indicating that it is the causal agent of these diseases. The external and internal symptoms associated with these trunk diseases are described and illustrated.