Long-term preserved mycelium establishes the presence of Cryphonectria carpinicola in the Balkans and of Cryphonectria radicalis in Bulgaria

Around the world, isolate collections in mycological institutes have long preserved valuable specimens and information for science. In the present study, we determine Cryphonectria -like taxonomic rarities in our 10–24 years old isolate collection from the Balkans to link preserved dry mycelium with DNA data. Using ITS sequences, we confirm for the first time the occurrence of Cryphonectria carpinicola on a Carpinus tree in the Balkans and extend the range of Cryphonectria radicalis found on Castanea sativa to Bulgaria. The oldest specimen examined dates from 1998 and molecularly confirms the first reported finding of Cryphonectria radicalis for North Macedonia.