我国玉米穗腐病致病镰孢种群及禾谷镰孢复合种的鉴定

为阐明中国玉米镰孢穗腐病的主要致病镰孢菌种类及其分布特征,采用形态学、培养特征及特异性分子鉴定方法,对采集自我国18省100个县的玉米籽粒样品进行分离鉴定,并通过TEF-1α基因序列测定解析禾谷镰孢复合种的构成.结果表明,在我国引起玉米穗腐病的主要致病菌为镰孢菌,分离频率为56.0%,其次还有青霉菌、曲霉菌、木霉菌等.138个镰孢菌分离物中鉴别出7个种及复合种,其中拟轮枝镰孢菌Fusarium verticillioides(56.5%)和禾谷镰孢复合种F.graminearum species complex(37.7%)为广泛分布的优势致病种类,其余为黄色镰孢菌F.culmorum(2.2%)、层出镰孢菌F.proliferatum(1.5%)、尖镰孢复合种F.oxysporum species complex(0.7%)、茄镰孢复合种F.solani species complex(0.7%)和亚粘团镰孢菌F.subglutinans(0.7%).在禾谷镰孢复合种中鉴定出3个独立种:广泛分布的禾谷镰孢菌F.graminearum sensu stricto(59.6%)、分布在云南、贵州及陕西商洛等南方生态区的南方镰孢菌F.meridionale(25.0%)和分布在内蒙古、吉林、山西、河北及北京等北方生态区的布氏镰孢菌F.boothii(11.5%).     

重庆及周边地区玉米穗腐病致病镰孢菌的分离与鉴定

为明确重庆及周边地区玉米穗腐病致病镰孢菌的种群组成及其分布,于2014—2015年在32个区县98个乡镇采集玉米穗腐病样品,采用种子健康检测法分离病原物,通过形态学特性、培养特征和分子生物学等方法鉴定镰孢菌种。结果表明,在获得的111个镰孢菌分离物中鉴定出10种致病镰孢菌,分别为拟轮枝镰孢、层出镰孢、禾谷镰孢复合种、尖镰孢复合种、藤仓镰孢、木贼镰孢、黄色镰孢、变红镰孢、九州镰孢和茄镰孢,其总分离频率依次为38.70%、17.10%、17.10%、11.70%、7.20%、3.60%、1.80%、0.90%、0.90%和0.90%;除渝东南区域外,在其它区域拟轮枝镰孢的分离频率最高,其次为层出镰孢和禾谷镰孢复合种;对禾谷镰孢复合种分离物的翻译延伸因子TEF-1α基因测序比对发现,该复合种由南方镰孢和亚洲镰孢组成。研究表明,重庆地区玉米穗腐病优势致病镰孢菌为拟轮枝镰孢、禾谷镰孢复合种和层出镰孢。     

两种白莲叶斑病病原菌室内药剂筛选

【目的】白莲是江西省广昌县重要的经济作物,种植广泛,在农业发展中占据重要地位。白莲病害危害严重,对莲子的产量和质量造成潜在影响。研究拟通过室内毒力测定筛选到对白莲叶斑病有效的防治药剂,为白莲病害的综合防治提供理论基础。【方法】采用生长速率法测定了3种杀菌剂对白莲叶斑病2种病原菌梨形黑孢菌和链格孢菌的室内毒力。【结果】所选的3种杀菌剂均对梨形黑孢菌和链格孢菌有一定的抑菌作用。对于链格孢菌,抑制效果最好的是56%啶酰肟菌酯和45%咪鲜胺,其EC₅₀值分别为8.294μg/mL和8.371μg/mL。对于梨形黑孢菌,45%咪鲜胺抑制效果最好,EC₅₀为11.488μg/mL;其次为56%啶酰肟菌酯和40%苯醚甲环唑,EC₅₀分别为20.592μg/mL和59.476μg/mL。【结论】56%啶酰肟菌酯对链格孢菌的杀菌效果较好,45%咪鲜胺对梨形黑孢菌的杀菌效果较好。     

京津冀设施大棚根际土壤中筛选出的防治根腐病的生防镰孢菌

 由致病性尖孢镰孢菌(Fusarium oxysporum)引起的根腐病严重危害果蔬生产,但非致病性镰孢菌可作为潜在的生防菌。为筛选防治根腐病的非致病生防镰孢菌,从京津冀设施大棚采集茄科、葫芦科果蔬78份根际土样中分离2 402株真菌,筛选出对致病性尖孢镰孢菌(F. oxysporum)具有拮抗效果的真菌173株。利用镰孢菌通用引物进行PCR扩增,从中筛选出28株候选镰孢菌;通过镰孢菌发酵液泡根进行安全性测试,筛选出对寄主黄瓜幼苗安全无害的镰孢菌菌株4株(1418、1441、1436和1473)。进一步通过镰孢菌测序通用引物TEF1αF/TEF1αR结合菌落和分生孢子的形态学特征,1418菌株和1441菌株被鉴定为尖孢镰孢菌(F. oxysporum)、1436菌株被鉴定为茄病镰孢菌(F. solani)。盆栽测试发现,除1441菌株外,1418菌株、1436菌株和1473菌株对黄瓜根腐病的防效均在50%以上,其中1418菌株的防效为70%,与杀菌剂咪酰胺的防效相当,具有很好的应用潜力。本研究筛选获得的具有生防潜力的镰孢菌不仅为镰孢菌致病力分化的研究提供了实验材料,也为新型生防产品的研制奠定了基础。     

辽宁省玉米镰孢穗腐病病原菌的鉴定与分布

为明确辽宁省玉米镰孢穗腐病的病原菌种类及其分布特征,采用形态学与分子生物学鉴定方法,对2015年9月采自辽宁省13个地区的84份玉米穗腐病样品进行分离鉴定,同时依据镰孢菌分离频率确定其在辽宁省玉米生态区的分布特征。结果表明,从辽宁省84个玉米穗腐病样分离物中鉴定出3个种,即拟轮枝镰孢菌Fusarium verticillioides、禾谷镰孢菌F.graminearum和层出镰孢菌F.proliferatum,分别为67、9和8株,占79.77%、10.71%和9.52%。按照柯赫式法则,验证了3种镰孢菌代表菌株FV-39、FG-1和FP-2是玉米品种郑单958穗腐病的致病菌。拟轮枝镰孢菌为辽宁省玉米镰孢穗腐病的优势致病菌,广泛分布于辽东、辽南、辽中、辽北和辽西5个玉米生态区,分别占16.67%、11.90%、21.42%、10.72%和19.05%;禾谷镰孢菌主要分布于辽西地区,层出镰孢菌主要分布于辽中和辽北地区。     

大豆根腐病原镰孢菌种群多样性DGGE分析及其致病性研究

 应用变性梯度凝胶电泳(DGGE)技术以及主成分分析方法,结合植物病原菌传统分离、鉴定及致病力测定,检测位于黑龙江省海伦市大豆连作定位试验区根腐病原镰孢菌的种群构成及其致病力。采用真菌传统分离和鉴定方法共确定镰孢菌6个种,包括燕麦镰孢Fusarium avenaceum、木贼镰孢F. equiseti、禾谷镰孢F. graminearum、腐皮镰孢F. solani、尖镰孢F. oxysporum和拟轮枝镰孢F. verticillioides。其中,尖镰孢菌的分离频率最高,为56.7%。结合DGGE条带克隆测序及系统发育分析鉴定出8种镰孢菌,较传统方法增加了黄色镰孢F. culmorum和一个尖镰孢近似种。同时,DGGE图谱中尖镰孢所占百分比下降为37.4%。采用主成分分析方法将大豆生育指标相关的多种变量进行降维分析,得到第一主成分贡献值为91.2%。按照贡献值的正负结果,将30株镰孢菌分为致病和非致病类群。第二主成分贡献值为5.8%,根据其正负值可以矫正被错误估计的致病能力。综合所有研究结果,该定位试验区大豆根腐病主要病原镰孢菌为尖镰孢、禾谷镰孢和燕麦镰孢,且以尖镰孢菌为优势病原菌。     

春玉米区穗腐病病原菌组成、分布及禾谷镰孢复合种的鉴定

 本研究对2015年收集的春玉米区玉米穗腐病样本的病原菌进行了分离鉴定。结果表明,禾谷镰孢复合种(Fusarium graminearum species complex)的总分离频率最高,为35.90%,为优势菌。进一步分析显示,山西、河北、吉林和黑龙江省以禾谷镰孢复合种为主,分离频率分别为81.25%、 75.00%、 44.00%和44.44%;内蒙古以拟轮枝镰孢菌(F. verticillioides)为主,分离频率为56.25%;辽宁省拟轮枝镰孢菌和哈茨木霉(Trichoderma harzianum)的分离频率分别为34.48%和31.03%;而在陕西省,禾谷镰孢复合种、拟轮枝镰孢菌和亚粘团镰孢菌(F. subglutinans)分离频率均为28.57%。以禾谷镰孢复合种的EF-1α基因序列为基础构建系统发生树,进一步对分离到的禾谷镰孢复合种进行亚种鉴定。结果表明,春玉米区禾谷镰孢复合种为禾谷镰孢菌和布氏镰孢菌,且以布氏镰孢菌为主。     

甘肃省玉米籽粒中镰孢菌分离频率及伏马毒素含量监测

为了解甘肃省玉米籽粒中病原镰孢菌的种类以及籽粒中伏马毒素的含量,通过形态学特征、分子生物学鉴定和高效液相色谱法对2011—2012年间采自甘肃省5个地区的225份玉米籽粒样品进行了镰孢菌的分离、鉴定和伏马毒素含量的测定。结果表明,分离获得的516株镰孢菌经鉴定分别属于拟轮生镰孢菌Fusarium verticillioides、层出镰孢菌F.proliferatum、禾谷镰孢复合种F.graminearum species complex、亚粘团镰孢菌F.subglutinans、藤仓镰孢菌F.fujikuroi、木贼镰孢菌F.equiseti、尖镰孢菌F.oxysporum和F.temperatum;其中拟轮生镰孢菌分离频率最高,属甘肃省的优势病原菌。2011和2012年,镰孢菌的分离频率分别为31.0%和10.7%,禾谷镰孢复合种和拟轮生镰孢菌为当年的优势种群。同时,2011和2012年样品中伏马毒素的污染率分别为30.5%和50.9%,平均含量分别为175μg/kg和224μg/kg,但未发现伏马毒素含量超过欧盟委员会限量标准(4 000μg/kg)的样品。     

新疆绿洲灌溉玉米产区玉米茎腐病优势病原菌分离与鉴定

为明确新疆维吾尔自治区（简称新疆）绿洲灌溉玉米产区玉米茎腐病优势病原菌的种类组成及时空变化差异,于2020年和2021年在新疆主要玉米种植区共采集335株病样,获得601个分离物,通过形态学结合分子生物学技术对各代表菌株的rDNA-ITS和TEF-1α基因序列进行扩增和同源率比对鉴定。结果表明,镰孢菌共560株,占比93.18%,其中拟轮枝镰孢菌Fusarium verticillioides、层出镰孢菌F. proliferatum、禾谷镰孢菌F. graminearum、尖孢镰孢菌F. oxysporum和腐皮镰孢菌F. solani为主要致病菌,2020年分离频率依次为44.10%、29.77%、9.77%、5.69%和5.23%,2021年分离频率依次为50.95%、38.22%、0、2.55%和0。拟轮枝镰孢菌和层出镰孢菌在5个地州均有分布,且总分离频率显著高于其他病原菌。苗期接种结果表明,禾谷镰孢菌致病率（86.30%）、病情指数（35.33）显著高于其他4种病原菌,为强致病菌;层出镰孢菌和拟轮枝镰孢菌的致病率和病情指数分别为63.33%、16.00和55.00%、11.6...     

安徽省玉米穗腐病主要致病镰孢菌的分离与鉴定

为明确安徽省玉米穗腐病主要致病镰孢菌的种类,采用单孢分离、形态学鉴定和分子生物学鉴定的方法,对2017年采集自安徽省6个玉米主产区——合肥市、蚌埠市、淮北市、阜阳市、亳州市和宿州市的玉米穗腐病病样进行了分离鉴定。在获得的455株镰孢菌中,拟轮枝镰孢菌、禾谷镰孢复合种、层出镰孢菌、尖孢镰孢菌和黄色镰孢菌的分离频率分别为59.13%、21.28%、13.68%、5.12%和0.79%。其中拟轮枝镰孢菌在各地的分布最广,属于安徽省的优势致病镰孢菌。     

Dermestid beetles in ‘evolution Canyon’, lower Nahal Oren, Mt. Carmel, including new records for Israel

Fifteen species of dermestid beetles were recorded at ‘Evolution Canyon’ (EC), Lower Nahal Oren, Mt. Carmel, Israel. They represent ~35% of known Israeli dermestid species. The following three species were recorded for the first time in Israel:Trogoderma svriaca Dalla Torre, 1911;Ctesias svriaca Ganglbauer, 1904; andAnthrenus (s.str.) jordaniens Pic, 1934. Adults of 13 species were collected on the more solar radiated, warmer and climatically more fluctuating south-facing slope (SFS); ten species were collected on the opposite, north-facing slope (NFS), which was cooler and climatically more stable. The abundance of adult dermestid beetles was 1.9 times higher on the SFS than on the NFS (86 and 47, respectively). Species richness and abundance distribution at EC (three collecting stations on each slope and one at the valley bottom) were significantly negatively correlated with the plant cover that consisted of trees and bushes (Spearmanr _s ,P=0.007 and 0.039, respectively) and perennials (Spearmanr _s ,P=0.039 and 0.077, respectively), indicating that non-woody plants were preferred by adult dermestid beetles.     

Epidemiology of Toxigenic Fungi and their Associated Mycotoxins for Some Mediterranean Crops

Recent data on the epidemiology of the common mycotoxigenic species of Fusarium, Alternaria, Aspergillus and Penicillium in infected or colonized plants, and in stored or processed plant products from the Mediterranean area are reviewed. Emphasis is placed on the toxigenicity of the causal fungal species and the natural occurrence of well known mycotoxins (aflatoxins, ochratoxins, fumonisins, trichothecenes, zearalenone, patulin, Alternaria-toxins and moniliformin), as well as some more recently described compounds (fusaproliferin, beauvericin) whose toxigenic potential is not yet well understood. Several Fusarium species reported from throughout the Mediterranean area are responsible of the formation of mycotoxins in infected plants and in plant products, including: Fusarium graminearum, F. culmorum, F. cerealis, F. avenaceum, F. sporotrichioides and F. poae, which produce deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, fusarenone, zearalenone, moniliformin, and T-2 toxin derivatives in wheat and other small grains affected by head blight or scab, and in maize affected by red ear rot. Moreover, strains of F. verticillioides, F. proliferatum, and F. subglutinans, that form fumonisins, beauvericin, fusaproliferin, and moniliformin, are commonly associated with maize affected by ear rot. Fumonisins, were also associated with Fusarium crown and root rot of asparagus and Fusarium endosepsis of figs, caused primarily by F. proliferatum. Toxigenic A. alternata strains and associated tenuazonic acid and alternariols were commonly found in black mould of tomato, black rot of olive and citrus, black point of small cereals, and black mould of several vegetables. Toxigenic strains of A. carbonarius and ochratoxin A were often found associated with black rot of grapes, whereas toxigenic strains of A. flavus and/or P. verrucosum, forming aflatoxins and ochratoxin A, respectively, were found in moulded plant products from small cereals, peanuts, figs, pea, oilseed rape, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, pistachios, and almonds. Finally, toxigenic strains of P. expansum and patulin were frequently found in apple, pear and other fresh fruits affected by blue mould rot, as well as in derived juices and jams.     

A survey of the genera of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Microgaster</Emphasis> latreille and<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hygroplitis</Emphasis> thomson (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae) from China

The genera ofMicrogaster Latreille 1804 andHygroplitis Thomson 1895 from China are presented systematically in this paper. Thirty-two species ofMicrogaster and three species ofHygroplitis are known in China. Diagnosis, character variation, distribution and host of each species among the two genera are presented, including its host and distribution. Keys to the species ofMicrogaster andHygroplitis are given. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Dec. 19, 2006.     

Plant Viruses Transmitted by Whiteflies

One-hundred and fourteen virus species are transmitted by whiteflies (family Aleyrodidae). Bemisia tabaci transmits 111 of these species while Trialeurodes vaporariorum and T. abutilonia transmit three species each. B. tabaci and T. vaporariorum are present in the European–Mediterranean region, though the former is restricted in its distribution. Of the whitefly-transmitted virus species, 90% belong to the Begomovirus genus, 6% to the Crinivirus genus and the remaining 4% are in the Closterovirus, Ipomovirus or Carlavirus genera. Other named, whitefly-transmitted viruses that have not yet been ranked as species are also documented. The names, abbreviations and synonyms of the whitefly-transmitted viruses are presented in tabulated form together with details of their whitefly vectors, natural hosts and distribution. Entries are also annotated with references. Whitefly-transmitted viruses affecting plants in the European–Mediterranean region have been highlighted in the text.     

Broad bean mottle virus in Morocco; curculionid vectors,and natural occurrence in food legumes other than faba bean (Vicia faba)

Broad bean mottle virus (BBMV) was transmitted from infected to healthy faba-bean plants by the curculionid weevilsApion radiolus Kirby,Hypera variabilis Herbst,Pachytychius strumarius Gyll,Smicronyx cyaneus Gyll, andSitona lineatus L. The latter appeared to be an efficient vector: acquisition and inoculation occurred at the first bite, the rate of transmission was c. 41%, and virus retention lasted for at least seven days.S. lineatus transmitted the virus from faba bean to lentil and pea, but not to the three genotypes of chickpea tested. This is the first report on the generaHypera, Pachytychius, andSmicronyx as virus vectors, and onA. radiolus, H. variabilis, P. strumarius, andS. cyaneus as vectors of BBMV.Out of 351 samples of food legumes with symptoms suggestive of virus infection, 16, 11, 19, and 17% of the samples of chickpea, lentil, pea, and common bean, respectively, were found infected when tested for BBMV in DAS-ELISA. This is the first report on the natural occurrence of BBMV in chickpea, lentil, pea, and common bean. The virus should be regarded as a food-legume virus rather than a faba-bean virus solely, and is considered an actual threat to food legume improvement programmes.     

Characterization of potato potyvirus Y (PVY) isolates from seed potato batches. Situation of the NTN, Wilga and Z isolates

A collection of 38 PVY isolates from seed potato batches, originating from several Western European countries, was characterized by using current biological, serological and molecular tools differentiating PVY strains and groups. The correlation between the three kinds of tests was good but not absolute. No single serological or PCR method was able to discriminate among the five isolate groups found. Twenty-nine isolates belonged to the PVY^N strain and six to the PVY^O strain. No PVY^C was found. Two other isolates reacted serologically like PVY^O, but were unable to elicit a hypersensitive response from the Ny_tbr gene and probably represent the PVY^Z group. At the molecular level, these two isolates showed a combination of both PVY^O and PVY^N and could be recombinants of these strains. Another isolate reacted serologically like PVY^O, but induced vein necrosis in tobacco, like PVY^N-Wilga. Some PVY^N isolates caused tuber ring necrosis in glasshouse conditions. These might belong to the PVY^NTN group. The PVY^NTN, PVY^N-Wilga and PVY^Z groups probably represent pathotypes within strains PVY^N and PVY^O, respectively. The present study also confirms previous reports showing a high genetic variation at the 5 end within the PVYN strain.     

The autumn leafroller: Phenology,damage and parasitoids in a Dutch apple orchard

The phenology of the autumn leafroller,Syndemis musculana, a local pest of apple, was studied in order to forecast larval emergence. From 1983–1986, peak flight as determined with sexpheromone traps was always between 13–18 May. The duration of embryonic development was determined at various constant temperatures and used to estimate the periods of egg hatch in these four years. Each year, most eggs should have hatched in the second decade of June.Differences in attack rates between apple cultivars seem to be explained largely by the variation in picking time. Larvae are only half grown at the beginning of harvest (cv. James Grieve), and have gone into hibernation when the latest variety (cv. Golden Delicious) is picked. Moreover, the varieties Cox's Orange Pippin and Belle de Boskoop, picked about half time, are liable to receive additional damage by caterpillars brought with the picked fruits into storage.Various hymenopterous parasites were reared from caterpillars. As the only leafroller in the orchard which hibernates as mature larva,S. musculana may promote winter survival of some parasitoids, like the eulophidColpyclypeus florus.Samenvatting De fenologie van de herfstbladroller (Syndemis musculana Hübner), een incidentele plaag op appel, werd nader bepaald met het doel het uitkomen van de eieren te kunnen voorspellen. In 1983–1986 viel de piekvlucht, bepaald met behulp van feromoonvallen, steeds tussen 13 en 18 mei.De ontwikkelingsduur van de eieren bij verschillende constante temperaturen werd gebruikt om de periode van uitkomen te schatten. De meeste eieren zullen ieder jaar in de eerste helft van juni uitkomen.Geconstateerde verschillen in schade tussen appelrassen blijken goeddeels terug te voeren op verschillen in pluktijdstip. De rupsen van de herfstbladroller zijn pas half-was als de eerste appels eind augustus geplukt worden, terwijl tegen het einde van de oogst begin oktober de meeste al in winterslaap zijn. Met name tussentijdse rassen, als Cox's Orange Pippin and Schone van Boskoop, lopen extra schade op doordat grotere rupsen met de geplukte vruchten in de kist terecht komen.Uit de rupsen werden negen, al van andere boomgaardbladrollers bekende, sluipwespen gekweekt, Omdat deze bladrollersoort, als enige in de boomgaard, als volgroeide rups overwintert, lijkt zij bij uitstek geschikt als winterwaard.This study was carried out at the Experimental Orchard De Schuilenburg, Schuilenburg 3, 4041 BK Kesteren, the Netherlands, to which address correspondence should be addressed.     

Diagnostics,genetic diversity and pathogenic variation of ascochyta blight of cool season food and feed legumes

Molecular diagnostic techniques have been developed to differentiate the Ascochyta pathogens that infect cool season food and feed legumes, as well as to improve the sensitivity of detecting latent infection in plant tissues. A seed sampling technique was developed to detect a 1% level of infection by Ascochyta rabiei in commercial chickpea seed. The Ascochyta pathogens were shown to be genetically diverse in countries where the pathogen and host have coexisted for a long time. However, where the pathogen was recently introduced, such as A. rabiei to Australia, the level of diversity remained relatively low, even as the pathogen spread to all chickpea-growing areas. Pathogenic variability of A. rabiei and Ascochyta pinodes pathogens in chickpea and field pea respectively, appears to be quantitative, where measures of disease severity were based on aggressiveness (quantitative level of infection) rather than on true qualitative virulence. In contrast, qualitative differences in pathogenicity in lentil and faba bean genotypes indicated the existence of pathotypes of Ascochyta lentis and Ascochyta fabae. Therefore, reports of pathotype discrimination based on quantitative differences in pathogenicity in a set of specific genotypes is questionable for several of the ascochyta-legume pathosystems such as A. rabiei and A. pinodes. This is not surprising since host resistance to these pathogens has been reported to be mainly quantitative, making it difficult for the pathogen to overcome specific resistance genes and form pathotypes. For robust pathogenicity assessment, there needs to be consistency in selection of differential host genotypes, screening conditions and disease evaluation techniques for each of the Ascochyta sp. in legume-growing countries throughout the world. Nevertheless, knowledge of pathotype diversity and aggressiveness within populations is important in the selection of resistant genotypes.     

Characterization of Sclerotinia minor populations in Texas peanut fields

In the summer of 2004 an epidemic of sclerotinia blight of peanut, a disease caused by Sclerotinia minor, occurred in Texas in fields where the disease was never previously detected. The disease was observed on many plants within one of the fields (>3000 disease foci), although most foci were <1 m. It is hypothesized that these observations were inconsistent with the recent introduction of a monocyclic pathogen, even if disease developed under conducive environmental conditions. The pattern of disease is most suggestive of the presence of foliar (ascospore) infections, although air temperature was above the known limits for apothecia development if the pathogen had arrived in the field in 2004 peanut seed. To further examine this epidemic, 232 isolates were collected, across a variety of spatial scales spanning this field and other Texas peanut fields, and evaluated for aggressiveness, fungicide sensitivity and genotypic diversity. There was wide variation among isolates for the phenotypic characteristics measured, but there was no evidence that a genotypically unique, highly aggressive, and fungicide resistant isolate had been introduced or evolved. The predominant genotype, TX1, which contained 154 isolates, was found in every county and field population.     

Eyespot of Cereals Revisited: ITS phylogeny Reveals New Species Relationships

Four species so far classified in Pseudocercosporella or Ramulispora (hyphomycetes) are associated with eyespot disease symptoms of cereals. Two of these have been linked to teleomorphs that were described in Tapesia. Sequence data derived from the Internal Transcribed Spacer region (ITS1, 5.8S and ITS2) of the rDNA operon showed, however, that the eyespot fungi associated with Tapesia are not congeneric with Ramulispora sorghi, the type of Ramulispora. The genus name Tapesia is now rejected in favour of the conserved name Mollisia, which appears to comprise heterogeneous fungi. Tapesia yallundae is not closely related to the type of Mollisia, M. cinerea, but clusters separately, being more closely allied to species with Cadophora anamorphs. A new holomorph genus, Oculimacula, is therefore proposed for teleomorphs of the eyespot fungi, while the anamorphs are accommodated in Helgardia gen. nov.