Ophiostoma denticiliatum sp. nov. and other Ophiostoma species associated with the birch bark beetle in southern Norway

Ophiostomatoid fungi were isolated from Scolytus ratzeburgi infesting Betula pendula in Norway. Fungi were identified based on DNA sequence comparison of ITS and β-tubulin gene regions and phylogenetic analysis. The most abundant fungus was Ophiostoma karelicum, suggesting a specific relationship between the vector insect and the host tree. Other occasionally isolated specimens were identified as O. canum, O. multiannulatum and O. quercus.