氟铃脲对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊不同虫态的致毒特点及毒力

为明确氟铃脲对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊不同虫态的致毒特点及毒力,采用胃毒触杀联合毒力法、药液定量滴加法及药膜法分别对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊卵、幼虫、蛹、成虫进行了生物测定。结果表明,经氟铃脲处理的0.5~1、1.5~2和2.5~3日龄韭菜迟眼蕈蚊卵至孵化24 h后,LC_(50)依次为2.27、1.60和0.64 mg/L,对1.5~3日龄卵的毒力高于对0.5~1日龄卵;经氟铃脲处理的2日龄卵、2龄幼虫、4龄幼虫、1日龄和3日龄蛹至羽化时LC_(50)分别为0.06、0.30、0.34、24.05和27.42 mg/L,毒力程度随韭菜迟眼蕈蚊发育而逐步下降;对蛹和成虫毒力较低,100 mg/L氟铃脲染毒1、3日龄蛹的羽化率分别高于10%和20%;药膜法100、1 000 mg/L氟铃脲处理成虫24 h,校正死亡率低于20%。研究表明,氟铃脲对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊各虫态的生长发育均有不利影响,抑制卵的孵化并导致初孵幼虫存活率降低;对幼虫毒杀作用较慢,对蛹及成虫阶段毒力较低。     

噻虫胺等药剂对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊的致毒效应

为了明确新烟碱类药剂对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊的毒力,采用管测药膜法和药液定量滴加法测定了噻虫胺等6种药剂对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊不同虫态的毒力,并研究了噻虫胺、甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐和辛硫磷亚致死浓度对其4龄幼虫生长发育和繁殖的影响。结果表明,新烟碱类杀虫剂噻虫胺、吡虫啉和噻虫嗪对成虫的击倒毒力均较高,分别是阿维菌素的5.75、3.86和3.51倍;6种药剂对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊卵的毒力均较低;对2龄和4龄幼虫的毒力,均以噻虫胺最高,LC₅₀分别为0.339 mg/L和1.020 mg/L,分别是阿维菌素的27.00倍和25.23倍。用噻虫胺亚致死剂量处理韭菜迟眼蕈蚊4龄幼虫,其发育历期和蛹期延长,蛹重、化蛹率、成虫羽化率、单雌产卵量和卵孵化率均降低。     

鸡粪沼液“新壮态”对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊的防控效果

为明确鸡粪沼液"新壮态"对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊的防控效果,于室内测定了其对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊卵和不同龄期幼虫的毒力,研究了其对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊雌成虫产卵和幼虫取食的驱避效果,并进行了田间药效试验。结果表明,"新壮态"0倍稀释液对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊卵有杀灭作用,死亡率达54.76%;对2~4龄幼虫均无直接毒杀作用;对雌成虫产卵和幼虫取食均有明显的驱避活性,对雌成虫产卵驱避率为74.75%,处理5 min后对幼虫的选择性和非选择性驱避率分别为78.62%和45.60%。田间药效试验表明,鸡粪沼液"新壮态"对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊有一定的控制作用,并明显增加韭菜产量。     

扬州市韭菜迟眼蕈蚊越冬习性及种群年动态变化规律

为探明扬州市韭菜迟眼蕈蚊Bradysia odoriphaga Yang et Zhang越冬习性及其种群年动态变化规律,通过田间调查和室内测定对2014—2015年扬州市杭集镇韭菜田韭菜迟眼蕈蚊的越冬时间、抗寒能力及种群年动态变化规律进行了研究。结果表明:扬州市韭菜迟眼蕈蚊主要以4龄幼虫虫态、以韭菜鳞茎内为场所进行越冬,越冬起止时间为12月初至次年3月中旬;越冬之前、越冬前期、越冬中期,幼虫的过冷却点分别为-5.5、-6.6和-7.8℃,均低于当地当年冬季的月最低温度-3.5℃,表明韭菜迟眼蕈蚊在扬州市能顺利越冬;单层、双层棚内越冬幼虫的发育进度观察发现,越冬幼虫可顺利发育至成虫,表明扬州市韭菜迟眼蕈蚊以休眠方式越冬。扬州市韭菜迟眼蕈蚊成虫在3—6月、9—11月中旬各有3个高峰,夏季虫量较少。     

昆虫病原线虫Heterorhabditis indica LN2品系防治韭菜迟眼蕈蚊的影响因素研究

在室内采用培养皿滤纸测定法和小杯土壤测定法测定了温度、土壤含水量和线虫剂量对异小杆属昆虫病原线虫Heterorhabditis india LN2侵染韭菜迟眼蕈蚊Bradysia odoriphaga幼虫(韭蛆)的影响。结果表明，在测定土壤中韭菜迟眼蕈蚊幼虫与LN2线虫比分别为1：200和1：400时．韭菜迟眼蕈蚊幼虫的死亡率分别为85．4％和88．2％。LN2线虫侵染韭蛆的适宜温度为25℃-30℃、适宜土壤含水量为10％．15％。LN2线虫与常见化学农药的相容性测定结果显示，测定的化学农药中，安打、齐螨素、卡死克对LN2线虫的存活率影响显著，乐斯本和辛硫磷对LN2线虫的存活率无显著影响。     

吡虫啉与多杀菌素混配剂对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊幼虫的室内毒力测定

为了筛选可用于韭菜迟眼蕈蚊幼虫防治的杀虫剂混剂,测定了吡虫啉与多杀菌素混配剂对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊幼虫的室内毒力。使用胃毒及触杀联合毒力的室内生物测定法,测定了吡虫啉与多杀菌素以1:5,1:10,1:20及1:40等4个浓度比例组成的混剂对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊3龄幼虫的室内毒力,并计算了相应的共毒系数。与吡虫啉和多杀菌素对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊3龄幼虫的LC_(50)分别是11.68和92.21mg/L相比,吡虫啉与多杀菌素以1:5,1:10,1:20及1:40等4个浓度比例组成的混剂对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊3龄幼虫的室内毒力LC_(50)是12.30、8.14、5.39和9.29mg/L。共毒系数表明吡虫啉与多杀菌素以1:5,1:10,1:20及1:40浓度比例组成的4种混剂对韭蛆的毒力均表现出了增效作用。其中以1:20浓度比组成的混剂具有最大的共毒系数1 287.58。吡虫啉与多杀菌素以1:20浓度比组成的混剂具有最大的共毒系数,对韭蛆幼虫的毒力也最高,可用于韭菜迟眼蕈蚊幼虫的防治。     

不同寄主植物对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊生长发育、繁殖和保护酶活力的影响

为了明确韭菜迟眼蕈蚊幼虫(韭蛆)取食不同寄主植物对其生长发育的影响,并试图从其体内保护酶活力的差异分析不同寄主植物对其生长发育造成影响的原因。选取4种寄主植物(韭菜、生菜、大葱和马铃薯)饲养韭蛆,统计不同寄主条件下韭菜迟眼蕈蚊卵、幼虫、蛹的发育历期和繁殖力,并分别测定不同寄主饲养后韭蛆的三大保护酶系(超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和过氧化物酶(POD))的活性。结果表明:韭菜迟眼蕈蚊幼虫取食生菜后下一代的卵期(3.23d)最长,幼虫期(23.83d)最短;与取食韭菜的下一代的卵期(3.05d)和幼虫期(24.16d)差异显著。取食大葱的发育期(卵期+幼虫期+蛹期)合计最长(31.91d),与取食生菜的差异显著(30.96d),但与取食马铃薯和韭菜的差异不显著,后两者分别为31.87d和31.64d。与取食其他3种寄主的韭蛆相比,取食韭菜的成虫(雌和雄)寿命最长,产卵量最多。取食马铃薯的韭菜迟眼蕈蚊幼虫的SOD活力最低,取食其他寄主的SOD活力之间差异不显著。取食大葱的幼虫POD活力最高,其次是取食韭菜的。取食韭菜的幼虫CAT活力最高,显著高于取食其他寄主。因此,韭菜迟眼蕈蚊的生长发育与寄主植物有一定的关联,寄主植物不同,韭蛆体内保护酶系的活力也不尽相同。     

食用菌眼蕈蚊的分类鉴定及温度对其生长发育的影响

眼蕈蚊是甘肃省食用菌种植区的主要害虫,为探明当地食用菌生产中常见眼蕈蚊的种类,对采自该省定西市食用菌上的眼蕈蚊成虫进行了形态学鉴定和基于线粒体COⅠ基因的分子鉴定,并观察记录了室内不同温度条件下各虫态的发育历期。结果表明,在平菇大棚中采集到的眼蕈蚊为厉眼蕈蚊（Lycoriella ingenua）;各虫态发育历期均随温度升高而变短,温度对发育历期的影响显著;厉眼蕈蚊卵、幼虫、蛹、卵-蛹的发育起点温度分别为3.49、6.09、7.50、5.94℃,有效积温分别为102.88、211.97、52.48、364.21 d·℃。本研究结果可为食用菌厉眼蕈蚊的测报与防治提供理论依据。     

苏云金芽胞杆菌JQ23的表型鉴定及对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊的防治效果

韭菜迟眼蕈蚊是韭菜生产上的重要害虫,实验室从河南省采集的土样中分离获得1株对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊幼虫高毒力的Bt新菌株JQ23。经BiologGENⅢ细菌鉴定系统分析菌株JQ23为苏云金芽胞杆菌,相似率为0.596;通过室内生物活性测定,明确菌株JQ23对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊2龄幼虫72h的LC₅₀值为8.38×10⁶芽胞/mL;经室内盆栽防治试验结果表明,菌株JQ23在1×10⁷芽胞/mL浓度下,采用滴灌法连续用药3次,间隔7d,对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊的防治效果达到86.28%;经春季田间小区试验,再次验证菌株JQ23在1×10⁸芽胞/mL浓度下,采用滴灌法连续用药3次,间隔7~10d,对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊的防治效果达到66.75%。由此可见,菌株JQ23能够有效地控制韭菜迟眼蕈蚊的虫口数量,减少作物的受害率,达到较好的防治效果。     

五种昆虫生长调节剂对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊的致毒作用

为明确昆虫生长调节剂对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊幼虫的毒力差异、作用特点和田间控制效果,采用药液定量滴加法比较了5种昆虫生长调节剂对其不同龄期幼虫的毒力、LC50对4龄幼虫生长发育和繁殖的影响,以及药剂致毒的温度效应和盆栽防效。结果表明:5种昆虫生长调节剂对韭菜迟眼蕈蚊2龄和4龄幼虫的毒力均以虱螨脲最高,LC50分别为0.173 mg/L和0.295 mg/L,氟铃脲和氟啶脲次之,均高于对照药剂辛硫磷;而吡丙醚和灭蝇胺低于辛硫磷。5种昆虫生长调节剂以LC50处理4龄幼虫后,虱螨脲、氟铃脲和氟啶脲对其存活幼虫后续发育历期、成虫羽化率和繁殖力的影响较大,尤其是单雌产卵量较清水对照分别降低72.6%、57.8%和58.1%;灭蝇胺也可使成虫产卵量降低;吡丙醚可引起卵孵化率下降。该类药剂对其幼虫的毒力基本不受环境温度的影响;虱螨脲、氟铃脲和氟啶脲7.5、15 g a.i./667 m2处理对当代4龄幼虫的防效较低,但对下一代幼虫的防效可达93%以上;虱螨脲、氟铃脲和灭蝇胺与新烟碱类的噻虫胺混用,可显著提高药剂的速效性,且持续控制作用好。     

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.