Mycosphaerella is polyphyletic

Mycosphaerella, one of the largest genera of ascomycetes, encompasses several thousand species and has anamorphs residing in more than 30 form genera. Although previous phylogenetic studies based on the ITS rDNA locus supported the monophyly of the genus, DNA sequence data derived from the LSU gene distinguish several clades and families in what has hitherto been considered to represent the Mycosphaerellaceae. Several important leaf spotting and extremotolerant species need to be disposed to the genus Teratosphaeria, for which a new family, the Teratosphaeriaceae, is introduced. Other distinct clades represent the Schizothyriaceae, Davidiellaceae, Capnodiaceae, and the Mycosphaerellaceae. Within the two major clades, namely Teratosphaeriaceae and Mycosphaerellaceae, most anamorph genera are polyphyletic, and new anamorph concepts need to be derived to cope with dual nomenclature within the Mycosphaerella complex.Taxonomic novelties: Batcheloromyces eucalypti (Alcorn) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Catenulostroma Crous & U. Braun, gen. nov., Catenulostroma abietis (Butin & Pehl) Crous& U. Braun, comb. nov., Catenulostroma chromoblastomycosum Crous& U. Braun, sp. nov., Catenulostroma elginense (Joanne E. Taylor& Crous) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Catenulostroma excentricum (B. Sutton & Ganap.) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Catenulostroma germanicum Crous & U. Braun, sp. nov., Catenulostroma macowanii (Sacc.) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Catenulostroma microsporum (Joanne E. Taylor & Crous) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Catenulostroma protearum (Crous & M.E. Palm) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Penidiella Crous & U. Braun, gen. nov., Penidiella columbiana Crous & U. Braun, sp. nov., Penidiella cubensis (R.F. Castañeda) U. Braun, Crous& R.F. Castañeda, comb. nov., Penidiella nectandrae Crous, U. Braun & R.F. Castañeda, nom. nov., Penidiella rigidophora Crous, R.F. Castañeda & U. Braun, sp. nov., Penidiella strumelloidea (Milko & Dunaev) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Penidiella venezuelensis Crous & U. Braun, sp. nov., Readeriella blakelyi (Crous & Summerell) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Readeriella brunneotingens Crous & Summerell, sp. nov., Readeriella considenianae (Crous & Summerell) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Readeriella destructans (M.J. Wingf. & Crous) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Readeriella dimorpha (Crous& Carnegie) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Readeriella epicoccoides (Cooke & Massee) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Readeriella gauchensis (M.-N. Cortinas, Crous & M.J. Wingf.) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Readeriella molleriana (Crous & M.J. Wingf.) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Readeriella nubilosa (Ganap. & Corbin) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Readeriella pulcherrima (Gadgil & M. Dick) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Readeriella stellenboschiana (Crous) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Readeriella toledana (Crous & Bills) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Readeriella zuluensis (M.J. Wingf., Crous & T.A. Cout.) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Teratosphaeria africana (Crous & M.J. Wingf.) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Teratosphaeria alistairii (Crous) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Teratosphaeria associata (Crous & Carnegie) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Teratosphaeria bellula (Crous & M.J. Wingf.) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Teratosphaeria cryptica (Cooke) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Teratosphaeria dentritica (Crous & Summerell) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Teratosphaeria excentrica (Crous& Carnegie) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Teratosphaeria fimbriata (Crous & Summerell) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Teratosphaeria flexuosa (Crous & M.J. Wingf.) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Teratosphaeria gamsii (Crous) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Teratosphaeria jonkershoekensis (P.S. van Wyk, Marasas & Knox-Dav.) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Teratosphaeria maxii (Crous) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Teratosphaeria mexicana (Crous) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Teratosphaeria molleriana (Thüm.) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Teratosphaeria nubilosa (Cooke) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Teratosphaeria ohnowa (Crous & M.J. Wingf.) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Teratosphaeria parkiiaffinis (Crous & M.J. Wingf.) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Teratosphaeria parva (R.F. Park& Keane) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Teratosphaeria perpendicularis (Crous & M.J. Wingf.) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Teratosphaeria pluritubularis (Crous & Mansilla) Crous& U. Braun, comb. nov., Teratosphaeria pseudafricana (Crous & T.A. Cout.) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Teratosphaeria pseudocryptica (Crous) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Teratosphaeria pseudosuberosa (Crous & M.J. Wingf.) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Teratosphaeria quasicercospora (Crous & T.A. Cout.) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Teratosphaeria readeriellophora (Crous & Mansilla) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Teratosphaeria secundaria (Crous & Alfenas) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Teratosphaeria stramenticola (Crous & Alfenas) Crous& U. Braun, comb. nov., Teratosphaeria suberosa (Crous, F.A. Ferreira, Alfenas & M.J. Wingf.) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Teratosphaeria suttonii (Crous & M.J. Wingf.) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov., Teratosphaeria toledana (Crous & Bills) Crous& U. Braun, comb. nov., Teratosphaeriaceae Crous & U. Braun, fam. nov.     

Opportunistic,human-pathogenic species in the Herpotrichiellaceae are phenotypically similar to saprobic or phytopathogenic species in the Venturiaceae

Although morphologically similar, species of Cladophialophora (Herpotrichiellaceae) were shown to be phylogenetically distinct from Pseudocladosporium (Venturiaceae), which was revealed to be synonymous with the older genus, Fusicladium. Other than being associated with human disorders, species of Cladophialophora were found to also be phytopathogenic, or to occur as saprobes on organic material, or in water, fruit juices, or sports drinks, along with species of Exophiala. Caproventuria and Metacoleroa were confirmed to be synonyms of Venturia, which has Fusicladium (= Pseudocladosporium) anamorphs. Apiosporina, based on A. collinsii, clustered basal to the Venturia clade, and appears to represent a further synonym. Several species with a pseudocladosporium-like morphology in vitro represent a sister clade to the Venturia clade, and are unrelated to Polyscytalum. These taxa are newly described in Fusicladium, which is morphologically close to Anungitea, a heterogeneous genus with unknown phylogenetic affinity. In contrast to the Herpotrichiellaceae, which were shown to produce numerous synanamorphs in culture, species of the Venturiaceae were morphologically and phylogenetically more uniform. Several new species and new combinations were introduced in Cladophialophora, Cyphellophora (Herpotrichiellaceae), Exophiala, Fusicladium, Venturia (Venturiaceae), and Cylindrosympodium (incertae sedis).Taxonomic novelties: Cladophialophora australiensis Crous& A.D. Hocking, sp. nov., Cladophialophora chaetospira (Grove) Crous & Arzanlou, comb. nov., Cladophialophora hostae Crous, U. Braun & H.D. Shin, sp. nov., Cladophialophora humicola Crous& U. Braun, sp. nov., Cladophialophora potulentorum Crous & A.D. Hocking, sp. nov., Cladophialophora scillae (Deighton) Crous, U. Braun & K. Schub., comb. nov., Cladophialophora sylvestris Crous& de Hoog, sp. nov., Cylindrosympodium lauri Crous & R.F. Castañeda, sp. nov., Cyphellophora hylomeconis Crous, de Hoog& H.D. Shin, sp. nov., Exophiala eucalyptorum Crous, sp. nov., Fusicladium africanum Crous, sp. nov., Fusicladium amoenum (R.F. Castañeda & Dugan) Crous, K. Schub. & U. Braun, comb. nov., Fusicladium brevicatenatum (U. Braun & Feiler) Crous, U. Braun & K. Schub., comb. nov., Fusicladium fagi Crous & de Hoog, sp. nov., Fusicladium intermedium (Crous & W.B. Kendr.) Crous, comb. nov., Fusicladium matsushimae (U. Braun & C.F. Hill) Crous, U. Braun & K. Schub., comb. nov., Fusicladium pini Crous& de Hoog, sp. nov., Fusicladium ramoconidii Crous & de Hoog, sp. nov., Fusicladium rhodense Crous & M.J. Wingf., sp. nov., Venturia hystrioides (Dugan, R.G. Roberts & Hanlin) Crous & U. Braun, comb. nov.     

Phylogenetic lineages in the Capnodiales

The Capnodiales incorporates plant and human pathogens, endophytes, saprobes and epiphytes, with a wide range of nutritional modes. Several species are lichenised, or occur as parasites on fungi, or animals. The aim of the present study was to use DNA sequence data of the nuclear ribosomal small and large subunit RNA genes to test the monophyly of the Capnodiales, and resolve families within the order. We designed primers to allow the amplification and sequencing of almost the complete nuclear ribosomal small and large subunit RNA genes. Other than the Capnodiaceae (sooty moulds), and the Davidiellaceae, which contains saprobes and plant pathogens, the order presently incorporates families of major plant pathological importance such as the Mycosphaerellaceae, Teratosphaeriaceae and Schizothyriaceae. The Piedraiaceae was not supported, but resolves in the Teratosphaeriaceae. The Dissoconiaceae is introduced as a new family to accommodate Dissoconium and Ramichloridium. Lichenisation, as well as the ability to be saprobic or plant pathogenic evolved more than once in several families, though the taxa in the upper clades of the tree lead us to conclude that the strictly plant pathogenic, nectrotrophic families evolved from saprobic ancestors (Capnodiaceae), which is the more primitive state.Taxonomic novelties: Brunneosphaerella Crous, gen. nov., B. jonkershoekensis (Marinc., M.J. Wingf. & Crous) Crous, comb. nov., B. protearum (Syd. & P. Syd.) Crous, comb. nov., Devriesia hilliana Crous & U. Braun, sp. nov., D. lagerstroemiae Crous & M.J. Wingf., sp. nov., D. strelitziicola Arzanlou & Crous, sp. nov., Dissoconiaceae Crous & de Hoog, fam. nov., Hortaea thailandica Crous & K.D. Hyde, sp. nov., Passalora ageratinae Crous & A.R. Wood, sp. nov., P. armatae Crous & A.R. Wood, sp. nov., Rachicladosporium cboliae Crous, sp. nov.     

Biodiversity in the Cladosporium herbarum complex (Davidiellaceae,Capnodiales), with standardisation of methods for Cladosporium taxonomy and diagnostics

The Cladosporium herbarum complex comprises five species for which Davidiella teleomorphs are known. Cladosporium herbarum s. str. (D. tassiana), C. macrocarpum (D. macrocarpa) and C. bruhnei (D. allicina) are distinguishable by having conidia of different width, and by teleomorph characters. Davidiella variabile is introduced as teleomorph of C. variabile, a homothallic species occurring on Spinacia, and D. macrospora is known to be the teleomorph of C. iridis on Iris spp. The C. herbarum complex combines low molecular distance with a high degree of clonal or inbreeding diversity. Entities differ from each other by multilocus sequence data and by phenetic differences, and thus can be interpreted to represent individual taxa. Isolates of the C. herbarum complex that were formerly associated with opportunistic human infections, cluster with C. bruhnei. Several species are newly described from hypersaline water, namely C. ramotenellum, C. tenellum, C. subinflatum, and C. herbaroides. Cladosporium pseudiridis collected from Iris sp. in New Zealand, is also a member of this species complex and shown to be distinct from C. iridis that occurs on this host elsewhere in the world. A further new species from New Zealand is C. sinuosum on Fuchsia excorticata. Cladosporium antarcticum is newly described from a lichen, Caloplaca regalis, collected in Antarctica, and C. subtilissimum from grape berries in the U.S.A., while the new combination C. ossifragi, the oldest valid name of the Cladosporium known from Narthecium in Europe, is proposed. Standard protocols and media are herewith proposed to facilitate future morphological examination of Cladosporium spp. in culture, and neotypes or epitypes are proposed for all species treated.Taxonomic novelties: Cladosporium antarcticum K. Schub., Crous & U. Braun, sp. nov., C. herbaroides K. Schub., Zalar, Crous & U. Braun, sp. nov., C. ossifragi (Rostr.) U. Braun & K. Schub., comb. nov., C. pseudiridis K. Schub., C.F. Hill, Crous& U. Braun, sp. nov., C. ramotenellum K. Schub., Zalar, Crous& U. Braun, sp. nov., C. sinuosum K. Schub., C.F. Hill, Crous& U. Braun, sp. nov., C. subinflatum K. Schub., Zalar, Crous& U. Braun, sp. nov., C. subtilissimum K. Schub., Dugan, Crous& U. Braun, sp. nov., C. tenellum K. Schub., Zalar, Crous & U. Braun sp. nov., Davidiella macrocarpa Crous, K. Schub. & U. Braun, sp. nov., D. variabile Crous, K. Schub. & U. Braun, sp. nov.     

Phylogenetic lineages in the Botryosphaeriaceae

Botryosphaeria is a species-rich genus with a cosmopolitan distribution, commonly associated with dieback and cankers of woody plants. As many as 18 anamorph genera have been associated with Botryosphaeria, most of which have been reduced to synonymy under Diplodia (conidia mostly ovoid, pigmented, thick-walled), or Fusicoccum (conidia mostly fusoid, hyaline, thin-walled). However, there are numerous conidial anamorphs having morphological characteristics intermediate between Diplodia and Fusicoccum, and there are several records of species outside the Botryosphaeriaceae that have anamorphs apparently typical of Botryosphaeria s.str. Recent studies have also linked Botryosphaeria to species with pigmented, septate ascospores, and Dothiorella anamorphs, or Fusicoccum anamorphs with Dichomera synanamorphs. The aim of this study was to employ DNA sequence data of the 28S rDNA to resolve apparent lineages within the Botryosphaeriaceae. From these data, 12 clades are recognised. Two of these lineages clustered outside the Botryosphaeriaceae, namely Diplodia-like anamorphs occurring on maize, which are best accommodated in Stenocarpella (Diaporthales), as well as an unresolved clade including species of Camarosporium/Microdiplodia. We recognise 10 lineages within the Botryosphaeriaceae, including an unresolved clade (Diplodia/Lasiodiplodia/Tiarosporella), Botryosphaeria s.str. (Fusicoccum anamorphs), Macrophomina, Neoscytalidium gen. nov., Dothidotthia (Dothiorella anamorphs), Neofusicoccum gen. nov. (Botryosphaeria-like teleomorphs, Dichomera-like synanamorphs), Pseudofusicoccum gen. nov., Saccharata (Fusicoccum- and Diplodia-like synanamorphs),“ Botryosphaeria” quercuum (Diplodia-like anamorph), and Guignardia (Phyllosticta anamorphs). Separate teleomorph and anamorph names are not provided for newly introduced genera, even where both morphs are known. The taxonomy of some clades and isolates (e.g. B. mamane) remains unresolved due to the absence of ex-type cultures.Taxonomic novelties: Neofusicoccum Crous, Slippers & A.J.L. Phillips gen. nov., Neofusicoccum andinum (Mohali, Slippers& M.J. Wingf.) Mohali, Slippers & M.J. Wingf. comb. nov., Neofusicoccum arbuti (D.F. Farr & M. Elliott) Crous, Slippers& A.J.L. Phillips comb. nov., Neofusicoccum australe (Slippers, Crous & M.J. Wingf.) Crous, Slippers & A.J.L. Phillips comb. nov., Neofusicoccum eucalypticola (Slippers Crous & M.J. Wingf.) Crous, Slippers & A.J.L. Phillips comb. nov., Neofusicoccum eucalyptorum (Crous, H. Smith & M.J. Wingf.) Crous, Slippers & A.J.L. Phillips comb. nov., Neofusicoccum luteum (Pennycook & Samuels) Crous, Slippers & A.J.L. Phillips comb. nov., Neofusicoccum macroclavatum (Burgess, Barber & Hardy) Burgess, Barber & Hardy comb. nov., Neofusicoccum mangiferae (Syd. & P. Syd.) Crous, Slippers & A.J.L. Phillips comb. nov., Neofusicoccum parvum (Pennycook & Samuels) Crous, Slippers & A.J.L. Phillips comb. nov., Neofusicoccum protearum (Denman & Crous) Crous, Slippers & A.J.L. Phillips comb. nov., Neofusicoccum ribis (Slippers, Crous& M.J. Wingf.) Crous, Slippers & A.J.L. Phillips comb. nov., Neofusicoccum viticlavatum (Niekerk & Crous) Crous, Slippers& A.J.L. Phillips comb. nov., Neofusicoccum vitifusiforme (Niekerk & Crous) Crous, Slippers & A.J.L. Phillips comb. nov., Neoscytalidium Crous & Slippers gen. nov., Neoscytalidium dimidiatum (Penz.) Crous & Slippers comb. nov., Pseudofusicoccum (Mohali, Slippers & M.J. Wingf.) Mohali, Slippers & M.J. Wingf. gen. nov., Pseudofusicoccum stromaticum (Mohali, Slippers & M.J. Wingf.) Mohali, Slippers & M.J. Wingf. comb. nov.     

Phylogenetic and morphotaxonomic revision of Ramichloridium and allied genera

The phylogeny of the genera Periconiella, Ramichloridium, Rhinocladiella and Veronaea was explored by means of partial sequences of the 28S (LSU) rRNA gene and the ITS region (ITS1, 5.8S rDNA and ITS2). Based on the LSU sequence data, ramichloridium-like species segregate into eight distinct clusters. These include the Capnodiales (Mycosphaerellaceae and Teratosphaeriaceae), the Chaetothyriales (Herpotrichiellaceae), the Pleosporales, and five ascomycete clades with uncertain affinities. The type species of Ramichloridium, R. apiculatum, together with R. musae, R. biverticillatum, R. cerophilum, R. verrucosum, R. pini, and three new species isolated from Strelitzia, Musa and forest soil, respectively, reside in the Capnodiales clade. The human-pathogenic species R. mackenziei and R. basitonum, together with R. fasciculatum and R. anceps, cluster with Rhinocladiella (type species: Rh. atrovirens, Herpotrichiellaceae, Chaetothyriales), and are allocated to this genus. Veronaea botryosa, the type species of the genus Veronaea, also resides in the Chaetothyriales clade, whereas Veronaea simplex clusters as a sister taxon to the Venturiaceae (Pleosporales), and is placed in a new genus, Veronaeopsis. Ramichloridium obovoideum clusters with Carpoligna pleurothecii (anamorph: Pleurothecium sp., Chaetosphaeriales), and a new combination is proposed in Pleurothecium. Other ramichloridium-like clades include R. subulatum and R. epichloës (incertae sedis, Sordariomycetes), for which a new genus, Radulidium is erected. Ramichloridium schulzeri and its varieties are placed in a new genus, Myrmecridium (incertae sedis, Sordariomycetes). The genus Pseudovirgaria (incertae sedis) is introduced to accommodate ramichloridium-like isolates occurring on various species of rust fungi. A veronaea-like isolate from Bertia moriformis with phylogenetic affinity to the Annulatascaceae (Sordariomycetidae) is placed in a new genus, Rhodoveronaea. Besides Ramichloridium, Periconiella is also polyphyletic. Thysanorea is introduced to accommodate Periconiella papuana (Herpotrichiellaceae), which is unrelated to the type species, P. velutina (Mycosphaerellaceae).Taxonomic novelties: Myrmecridium Arzanlou, W. Gams & Crous, gen. nov., Myrmecridium flexuosum (de Hoog) Arzanlou, W. Gams& Crous, comb. et stat. nov., Myrmecridium schulzeri (Sacc.) Arzanlou, W. Gams & Crous var. schulzeri, comb. nov., Myrmecridium schulzeri var. tritici (M.B. Ellis) Arzanlou, W. Gams & Crous, comb. nov., Periconiella arcuata Arzanlou, S. Lee & Crous, sp. nov., Periconiella levispora Arzanlou, W. Gams& Crous, sp. nov., Pleurothecium obovoideum (Matsush.) Arzanlou& Crous, comb. nov., Pseudovirgaria H.D. Shin, U. Braun, Arzanlou& Crous, gen. nov., Pseudovirgaria hyperparasitica H.D. Shin, U. Braun, Arzanlou & Crous, sp. nov., Radulidium Arzanlou, W. Gams& Crous, gen. nov., Radulidium epichloës (Ellis & Dearn.) Arzanlou, W. Gams & Crous, comb. nov., Radulidium subulatum (de Hoog) Arzanlou, W. Gams & Crous, comb. nov., Ramichloridium australiense Arzanlou & Crous, sp. nov., Ramichloridium biverticillatum Arzanlou & Crous, nom. nov., Ramichloridium brasilianum Arzanlou & Crous, sp. nov., Ramichloridium strelitziae Arzanlou, W. Gams & Crous, sp. nov., Rhinocladiella basitona (de Hoog) Arzanlou & Crous, comb. nov., Rhinocladiella fasciculata (V. Rao & de Hoog) Arzanlou & Crous, comb. nov., Rhinocladiella mackenziei (C.K. Campb. & Al-Hedaithy) Arzanlou & Crous, comb. nov., Rhodoveronaea Arzanlou, W. Gams & Crous, gen. nov., Rhodoveronaea varioseptata Arzanlou, W. Gams & Crous, sp. nov., Thysanorea Arzanlou, W. Gams& Crous, gen. nov., Thysanorea papuana (Aptroot) Arzanlou, W. Gams & Crous, comb. nov., Veronaea japonica Arzanlou, W. Gams& Crous, sp. nov., Veronaeopsis Arzanlou & Crous, gen. nov., Veronaeopsis simplex (Papendorf) Arzanlou & Crous, comb.nov.     

Phylogenetic reassessment of Mycosphaerella spp. and their anamorphs occurring on Eucalyptus. II.

Species of Eucalyptus are widely planted as exotics in the tropics and Southern Hemisphere and to some extent in southern Europe, for timber and fibre production. Species of Mycosphaerella are commonly associated with leaves and twigs of Eucalyptus and can result in defoliation, dieback, and even tree death. In the present study, numerous isolates of Mycosphaerella species were collected from leaf litter, living leaves exhibiting leaf spot symptoms or severe Mycosphaerella leaf blotch symptoms. Isolates were compared based on DNA sequence data for the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1 & ITS2) and the 5.8S gene. These data, together with characteristics of the fungal growth on three different media, morphology of the anamorph and teleomorph structures as well as ascospore germination patterns were used to describe 21 new species.Taxonomic novelties: Colletogloeopsis stellenboschiana Crous sp. nov., Mycosphaerella davisoniellae Crous sp. nov. (anamorph Davisoniella eucalypti H.J. Swart), Mycosphaerella eucalyptorum Crous & M.J. Wingf. sp. nov. Mycosphaerella gamsii Crous sp. nov., Mycosphaerella perpendicularis Crous& M.J. Wingf. sp. nov., Mycosphaerella pluritubularis Crous & J.P. Mansilla sp. nov., Mycosphaerella pseudafricana Crous & T. Coutinho sp. nov., Mycosphaerella pseudocryptica Crous sp. nov. (anamorph Colletogloeopsis sp.), Mycosphaerella pseudoendophytica Crous & G. Hunter sp. nov. (anamorph Pseudocercosporella sp.), Mycosphaerella pseudosuberosa Crous & M.J. Wingf. sp. nov. (anamorph Trimmatostroma sp.), Mycosphaerella quasicercospora Crous & T. Coutinho sp. nov., Mycosphaerella scytalidii Crous & M.J. Wingf. sp. nov. (anamorph Stenella sp., synanamorph, Scytalidium-like.), Mycosphaerella secundaria Crous & A.C. Alfenas sp. nov., Mycosphaerella stramenti Crous & A.C. Alfenas sp. nov., Mycosphaerella stramenticola Crous & A.C. Alfenas sp. nov., Mycosphaerella sumatrensis Crous & M.J. Wingf. sp. nov., Mycosphaerella verrucosiafricana Crous & M.J. Wingf. sp. nov., Septoria eucalyptorum Crous sp. nov., Septoria provencialis Crous sp. nov., Stenella pseudoparkii Crous & M.J. Wingf. sp. nov. (teleomorph Mycosphaerella sp.), Stenella xenoparkii Crous & M.J. Wingf., sp. nov. (teleomorph Mycosphaerella sp.).     

Pestalotioid fungi from Restionaceae in the Cape Floral Kingdom

Eight pestalotioid fungi were isolated from the Restionaceae growing in the Cape Floral Kingdom of South Africa. Sarcostroma restionis, Truncatella megaspora, T. restionacearum and T. spadicea are newly described. New records include Pestalotiopsis matildae, Sarcostroma lomatiae, Truncatella betulae and T. hartigii. To resolve generic affiliations, phylogenetic analyses were performed on ITS (ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2) and part of 28S rDNA. DNA data support the original generic concept of Truncatella, which encompasses Pestalotiopsis species having 3-septate conidia. The genus Sarcostroma is retained as separate from Seimatosporium.Taxonomic novelties: Pestalotiopsis matildae (Richatt) S. Lee & Crous comb. nov., Truncatella betulae (Morochk.) S. Lee& Crous comb. nov., Sarcostroma restionis S. Lee & Crous sp. nov., Truncatella megaspora S. Lee & Crous sp. nov., Truncatella restionacearum S. Lee & Crous sp. nov., Truncatella spadicea S. Lee & Crous sp. nov.     

Cladosporium leaf-blotch and stem rot of Paeonia spp. caused by Dichocladosporium chlorocephalum gen. nov.

Cladosporium chlorocephalum (= C. paeoniae) is a common, widespread leaf-spotting hyphomycete of peony (Paeonia spp.), characterised by having dimorphic conidiophores. During the season, one stage of this fungus causes distinct, necrotic leaf-blotch symptoms on living leaves of Paeonia spp. In late autumn, winter or after overwintering, a second morphologically distinct conidiophore type occurs on dead, blackish, rotting stems. Conspecificity of the two morphs, previously proposed on the basis of observations in culture, was supported by DNA sequence data from the ITS and LSU gene regions, using cultures obtained from leaf-blotch symptoms on living leaves, as well as from dead stems of Paeonia spp. Sequence data were identical, indicating a single species with two morphs. On account of its distinct conidiogenous loci and conidial hila, as well as its sequence-based phylogenetic position separate from the Davidiella/Cladosporium clade, the peony fungus has to be excluded from Cladosporium s. str., but still belongs to the Davidiellaceae (Capnodiales). The leaf-blotching (cladosporioid) morph of this fungus morphologically resembles species of Fusicladium, but differs in having dimorphic fruiting, and is phylogenetically distant from the Venturiaceae. The macronematous (periconioid) morph resembles Metulocladosporiella (Chaetothyriales), but lacks rhizoid conidiophore hyphae, and has 0-5-septate conidia. Hence, C. chlorocephalum is assigned to the new genus Dichocladosporium.Taxonomic novelties: Dichocladosporium K. Schub., U. Braun& Crous, gen. nov., Dichocladosporium chlorocephalum (Fresen.) K. Schub., U. Braun & Crous, comb. nov.     

Re-evaluating the taxonomic status of Phaeoisariopsis griseola,the causal agent of angular leaf spot of bean

Angular leaf spot of Phaseolus vulgaris is a serious disease caused by Phaeoisariopsis griseola, in which two major gene pools occur, namely Andean and Middle-American. Sequence analysis of the SSU region of nrDNA revealed the genus Phaeoisariopsis to be indistinguishable from other hyphomycete anamorph genera associated with Mycosphaerella, namely Pseudocercospora and Stigmina. A new combination is therefore proposed in the genus Pseudocercospora, a name to be conserved over Phaeoisariopsis and Stigmina. Further comparisons by means of morphology, cultural characteristics, and DNA sequence analysis of the ITS, calmodulin, and actin gene regions delineated two groups within P. griseola, which are recognised as two formae, namely f. griseola and f. mesoamericana.Taxonomic novelties: Pseudocercospora griseola (Sacc.) Crous & U. Braun comb. nov., P. griseola f. mesoamericana Crous & U. Braun f. nov.     

Multigene phylogeny and mating tests reveal three cryptic species related to Calonectria pauciramosa

Calonectria pauciramosa is a pathogen of numerous plant hosts worldwide. Recent studies have indicated that it included cryptic species, some of which are identified in this study. Isolates from various geographical origins were collected and compared based on morphology, DNA sequence data of the β-tubulin, histone H3 and translation elongation factor-1α regions and mating compatibility. Comparisons of the DNA sequence data and mating compatibility revealed three new species. These included Ca. colombiana sp. nov. from Colombia, Ca. polizzii sp. nov. from Italy and Ca. zuluensis sp. nov. from South Africa, all of which had distinguishing morphological features. Based on DNA sequence data, Ca. brasiliensis is also elevated to species level.Taxonomic novelties: Calonectria brasiliensis (Bat. & Cif.) L. Lombard, M.J. Wingf. & Crous, comb. nov., Calonectria colombiana L. Lombard, Crous & M.J. Wingf., sp. nov., Calonectria polizzii L. Lombard, Crous & M.J. Wingf., sp. nov., Calonectria zuluensis L. Lombard, Crous & M.J. Wingf., sp. nov.     

Phylogenetic lineages in Pseudocercospora

Pseudocercospora is a large cosmopolitan genus of plant pathogenic fungi that are commonly associated with leaf and fruit spots as well as blights on a wide range of plant hosts. They occur in arid as well as wet environments and in a wide range of climates including cool temperate, sub-tropical and tropical regions. Pseudocercospora is now treated as a genus in its own right, although formerly recognised as either an anamorphic state of Mycosphaerella or having mycosphaerella-like teleomorphs. The aim of this study was to sequence the partial 28S nuclear ribosomal RNA gene of a selected set of isolates to resolve phylogenetic generic limits within the Pseudocercospora complex. From these data, 14 clades are recognised, six of which cluster in Mycosphaerellaceae. Pseudocercospora s. str. represents a distinct clade, sister to Passalora eucalypti, and a clade representing the genera Scolecostigmina, Trochophora and Pallidocercospora gen. nov., taxa formerly accommodated in the Mycosphaerella heimii complex and characterised by smooth, pale brown conidia, as well as the formation of red crystals in agar media. Other clades in Mycosphaerellaceae include Sonderhenia, Microcyclosporella, and Paracercospora. Pseudocercosporella resides in a large clade along with Phloeospora, Miuraea, Cercospora and Septoria. Additional clades represent Dissoconiaceae, Teratosphaeriaceae, Cladosporiaceae, and the genera Xenostigmina, Strelitziana, Cyphellophora and Thedgonia. The genus Phaeomycocentrospora is introduced to accommodate Mycocentrospora cantuariensis, primarily distinguished from Pseudocercospora based on its hyaline hyphae, broad conidiogenous loci and hila. Host specificity was considered for 146 species of Pseudocercospora occurring on 115 host genera from 33 countries. Partial nucleotide sequence data for three gene loci, ITS, EF-1α, and ACT suggest that the majority of these species are host specific. Species identified on the basis of host, symptomatology and general morphology, within the same geographic region, frequently differed phylogenetically, indicating that the application of European and American names to Asian taxa, and vice versa, was often not warranted.

Taxonomic novelties:

New genera - Pallidocercospora Crous, Phaeomycocentrospora Crous, H.D. Shin & U. Braun; New species - Cercospora eucommiae Crous, U. Braun & H.D. Shin, Microcyclospora quercina Crous & Verkley, Pseudocercospora ampelopsis Crous, U. Braun & H.D. Shin, Pseudocercospora cercidicola Crous, U. Braun & C. Nakash., Pseudocercospora crispans G.C. Hunter & Crous, Pseudocercospora crocea Crous, U. Braun, G.C. Hunter & H.D. Shin, Pseudocercospora haiweiensis Crous & X. Zhou, Pseudocercospora humulicola Crous, U. Braun & H.D. Shin, Pseudocercospora marginalis G.C. Hunter, Crous, U. Braun & H.D. Shin, Pseudocercospora ocimi-basilici Crous, M.E. Palm & U. Braun, Pseudocercospora plectranthi G.C. Hunter, Crous, U. Braun & H.D. Shin, Pseudocercospora proteae Crous, Pseudocercospora pseudostigmina-platani Crous, U. Braun & H.D. Shin, Pseudocercospora pyracanthigena Crous, U. Braun & H.D. Shin, Pseudocercospora ravenalicola G.C. Hunter & Crous, Pseudocercospora rhamnellae G.C. Hunter, H.D. Shin, U. Braun & Crous, Pseudocercospora rhododendri-indici Crous, U. Braun & H.D. Shin, Pseudocercospora tibouchinigena Crous & U. Braun, Pseudocercospora xanthocercidis Crous, U. Braun & A. Wood, Pseudocercosporella koreana Crous, U. Braun & H.D. Shin; New combinations - Pallidocercospora acaciigena (Crous & M.J. Wingf.) Crous & M.J. Wingf., Pallidocercospora crystallina (Crous & M.J. Wingf.) Crous & M.J. Wingf., Pallidocercospora heimii (Crous) Crous, Pallidocercospora heimioides (Crous & M.J. Wingf.) Crous & M.J. Wingf., Pallidocercospora holualoana (Crous, Joanne E. Taylor & M.E. Palm) Crous, Pallidocercospora konae (Crous, Joanne E. Taylor & M.E. Palm) Crous, Pallidoocercospora irregulariramosa (Crous & M.J. Wingf.) Crous & M.J. Wingf., Phaeomycocentrospora cantuariensis (E.S. Salmon & Wormald) Crous, H.D. Shin & U. Braun, Pseudocercospora hakeae (U. Braun & Crous) U. Braun & Crous, Pseudocercospora leucadendri (Cooke) U. Braun & Crous, Pseudocercospora snelliana (Reichert) U. Braun, H.D. Shin, C. Nakash. & Crous, Pseudocercosporella chaenomelis (Y. Suto) C. Nakash., Crous, U. Braun & H.D. Shin; Typifications: Epitypifications - Pseudocercospora angolensis (T. Carvalho & O. Mendes) Crous & U. Braun, Pseudocercospora araliae (Henn.) Deighton, Pseudocercospora cercidis-chinensis H.D. Shin & U. Braun, Pseudocercospora corylopsidis (Togashi & Katsuki) C. Nakash. & Tak. Kobay., Pseudocercospora dovyalidis (Chupp & Doidge) Deighton, Pseudocercospora fukuokaensis (Chupp) X.J. Liu & Y.L. Guo, Pseudocercospora humuli (Hori) Y.L. Guo & X.J. Liu, Pseudocercospora kiggelariae (Syd.) Crous & U. Braun, Pseudocercospora lyoniae (Katsuki & Tak. Kobay.) Deighton, Pseudocercospora lythri H.D. Shin & U. Braun, Pseudocercospora sambucigena U. Braun, Crous & K. Schub., Pseudocercospora stephanandrae (Tak. Kobay. & H. Horie) C. Nakash. & Tak. Kobay., Pseudocercospora viburnigena U. Braun & Crous, Pseudocercosporella chaenomelis (Y. Suto) C. Nakash., Crous, U. Braun & H.D. Shin, Xenostigmina zilleri (A. Funk) Crous; Lectotypification - Pseudocercospora ocimicola (Petr. & Cif.) Deighton; Neotypifications - Pseudocercospora kiggelariae (Syd.) Crous & U. Braun, Pseudocercospora lonicericola (W. Yamam.) Deighton, Pseudocercospora zelkovae (Hori) X.J. Liu & Y.L. Guo.Key words: Capnodiales, Cercospora, cercosporoid, Mycosphaerella, Mycosphaerellaceae, Paracercospora, Pseudocercosporella, Multi-Locus Sequence Typing (MLST), systematics     

Drought meets acid: three new genera in a dothidealean clade of extremotolerant fungi

Fungal strains isolated from rocks and lichens collected in the Antarctic ice-free area of the Victoria Land, one of the coldest and driest habitats on earth, were found in two phylogenetically isolated positions within the subclass Dothideomycetidae. They are here reported as new genera and species, Recurvomyces mirabilis gen. nov., sp. nov. and Elasticomyces elasticus gen. nov., sp. nov. The nearest neighbours within the clades were other rock-inhabiting fungi from dry environments, either cold or hot. Plant-associated Mycosphaerella-like species, known as invaders of leathery leaves in semi-arid climates, are also phylogenetically related with the new taxa. The clusters are also related to the halophilic species Hortaea werneckii, as well as to acidophilic fungi. One of the latter, able to grow at pH 0, is Scytalidium acidophilum, which is ascribed here to the newly validated genus Acidomyces. The ecological implications of this finding are discussed.Taxonomic novelties: Recurvomyces Selbmann & de Hoog, gen. nov.; Recurvomyces mirabilis Selbmann & de Hoog, sp. nov.; Elasticomyces Zucconi & Selbmann, gen. nov.; Elasticomyces elasticus Zucconi & Selbmann, sp. nov.; Acidomyces Selbmann, de Hoog & De Leo, gen. nov.; Acidomyces acidophilus (Sigler & J.W. Carmich.) Selbmann, de Hoog & De Leo, comb. nov.     

Microthia,Holocryphia and Ursicollum,three new genera on Eucalyptus and Coccoloba for fungi previously known as Cryphonectria

Cryphonectria havanensis is a fungus associated with Eucalyptus species in Cuba and Florida (U.S.A.). Until recently, there have been no living cultures of C. havanensis and it has thus not been possible to assess its taxonomic status. Isolates thought to represent this fungus have, however, emerged from surveys of Eucalyptus in Mexico and Hawaii (U.S.A.). Results of this study showed that these isolates represent C. havanensis but reside in a genus distinct from Cryphonectria sensu stricto, which is described here as Microthia. Isolates of an unidentified fungus occurring on Myrica faya in the Azores and Madeira also grouped in Microthia and were identical to other M. havanensis isolates. Cryphonectria coccolobae, a fungus occurring on sea grape (Coccoloba uvifera) in Bermuda and Florida, was found to be morphologically identical to Microthia and is transferred to this genus, but as a distinct species. Surveys for M. coccolobae on sea grape in Florida, yielded a second diaporthalean fungus from this host. This fungus is morphologically and phylogenetically distinct from M. coccolobae and other closely related taxa and is described as Ursicollum fallax gen. et sp. nov. Phylogenetic analyses in this study have also shown that isolates of C. eucalypti, a pathogen of Eucalyptus in South Africa and Australia, group in a clade separate from all other groups including that representing Cryphonectria sensu stricto. This difference is supported by the fact that Cryphonectria eucalypti has ascospore septation different to that of all other Cryphonectria species. A new genus, Holocryphia, is thus erected for C. eucalypti.Taxonomic novelties: Microthia Gryzenh. & M.J. Wingf. gen. nov., Microthia havanensis (Bruner) Gryzenh. & M.J. Wingf. comb. nov., Microthia coccolobae (Vizioli) Gryzenh. & M.J. Wingf. comb. nov., Holocryphia Gryzenh. & M.J. Wingf. gen. nov., Holocryphia eucalypti (M. Venter & M.J. Wingf.) Gryzenh. & M.J. Wingf. comb. nov., Ursicollum Gryzenh. & M.J. Wingf. gen. nov., Ursicollum fallax Gryzenh. & M.J. Wingf. sp. nov.     

Species of Cercospora associated with grey leaf spot of maize

Grey leaf spot is a serious yield-reducing disease of maize (Zea mays) in many parts of the world where this crop is cultivated. The causal organism associated with the disease is Cercospora zeae-maydis. Two potential sibling species have been recognized as Groups I and II. The DNA sequences for the internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 & ITS2), the 5.8S rRNA gene, elongation factor 1-α, histone H3, actin and calmodulin gene regions suggest that Groups I and II are two distinct species. Furthermore, Cercospora zeae-maydis (Group I) can be distinguished from C. zeina sp. nov. (Group II) by its faster growth rate on artificial media, the ability to produce cercosporin, longer conidiophores, and broadly fusiform conidia. A PCR-based test that distinguishes the two species was developed using species-specific primers designed from the histone H3 gene.Taxonomic novelties: Cercospora zeina Crous & U. Braun sp. nov.     

Species concepts in Cercospora: spotting the weeds among the roses

The genus Cercospora contains numerous important plant pathogenic fungi from a diverse range of hosts. Most species of Cercospora are known only from their morphological characters in vivo. Although the genus contains more than 5 000 names, very few cultures and associated DNA sequence data are available. In this study, 360 Cercospora isolates, obtained from 161 host species, 49 host families and 39 countries, were used to compile a molecular phylogeny. Partial sequences were derived from the internal transcribed spacer regions and intervening 5.8S nrRNA, actin, calmodulin, histone H3 and translation elongation factor 1-alpha genes. The resulting phylogenetic clades were evaluated for application of existing species names and five novel species are introduced. Eleven species are epi-, lecto- or neotypified in this study. Although existing species names were available for several clades, it was not always possible to apply North American or European names to African or Asian strains and vice versa. Some species were found to be limited to a specific host genus, whereas others were isolated from a wide host range. No single locus was found to be the ideal DNA barcode gene for the genus, and species identification needs to be based on a combination of gene loci and morphological characters. Additional primers were developed to supplement those previously published for amplification of the loci used in this study.

Taxonomic novelties:

New species - Cercospora coniogrammes Crous & R.G. Shivas, Cercospora delaireae C. Nakash., Crous, U. Braun & H.D. Shin, Cercospora euphorbiae-sieboldianae C. Nakash., Crous, U. Braun & H.D. Shin, Cercospora pileicola C. Nakash., Crous, U. Braun & H.D. Shin, Cercospora vignigena C. Nakash., Crous, U. Braun & H.D. Shin. Typifications: epitypifications - Cercospora alchemillicola U. Braun & C.F. Hill, Cercospora althaeina Sacc., Cercospora armoraciae Sacc., Cercospora corchori Sawada, Cercospora mercurialis Pass., Cercospora olivascens Sacc., Cercospora violae Sacc.; neotypifications - Cercospora fagopyri N. Nakata & S. Takim., Cercospora sojina Hara.Key words: Cercospora apii complex, co-evolution, host jumping, host specificity, speciation     

Phylogeny and systematics of the genus Calonectria

Species of Calonectria are important plant pathogens, several of which have a worldwide distribution. Contemporary taxonomic studies on these fungi have chiefly relied on DNA sequence comparisons of the β-tubulin gene region. Despite many new species being described, there has been no phylogenetic synthesis for the group since the last monographic study almost a decade ago. In the present study, the identity of a large collection of Calonectria isolates from various geographic regions was determined using morphological and DNA sequence comparisons. This resulted in the discovery of seven new species; Ca. densa, Ca. eucalypti, Ca. humicola, Ca. orientalis, Ca. pini, Ca. pseudoscoparia and Ca. sulawesiensis, bringing the total number of currently accepted Calonectria species to 68. A multigene phylogeny was subsequently constructed for all available Calonectria spp., employing seven gene regions, namely actin, β-tubulin, calmodulin, histone H3, the internal transcribed spacer regions 1 and 2 and the 5.8S gene of the ribosomal RNA, 28S large subunit RNA gene and translation elongation 1-alpha. Based on these data 13 phylogenetic groups could be distinguished within the genus Calonectria that correlated with morphological features. Dichotomous and synoptic keys to all Calonectria spp. currently recognised are also provided.Taxonomic novelties: New combinations - Calonectria angustata (Crous & El-Gholl) L. Lombard, M.J. Wingf. & Crous, Ca. australiensis (Crous & H.D. Hyde) L. Lombard, M.J. Wingf.& Crous, Ca. canadensis (J.C. Kang, Crous & C.L. Schoch) L. Lombard, M.J. Wingf. & Crous, Ca. chinensis (Crous) L. Lombard, M.J. Wingf. & Crous, Ca. citri (H.S. Fawc. & Klotz) L. Lombard, M.J. Wingf. & Crous, Ca. curvata (Boedijn & Reitsma) L. Lombard, M.J. Wingf. & Crous, Ca. curvispora (Crous & D. Victor) L. Lombard, M.J. Wingf. & Crous, Ca. ecuadoriae (Crous& M.J. Wingf.) L. Lombard, M.J. Wingf. & Crous, Ca. gordoniae (Leahy, T.S. Schub. & El-Gholl) L. Lombard, M.J. Wingf. & Crous, Calonectria hawksworthii (Peerally) L. Lombard, M.J. Wingf. & Crous, Calonectria hurae (Crous) L. Lombard, M.J. Wingf. & Crous, Calonectria indonesiae (Crous) L. Lombard, M.J. Wingf. & Crous, Ca. leucothoës (El-Gholl, Leahy & T.S. Schub.) L. Lombard, M.J. Wingf. & Crous, Ca. malesiana (Crous) L. Lombard, M.J. Wingf. & Crous, Ca. multiphialidica (Crous, Simoneau & Risède) L. Lombard, M.J. Wingf. & Crous, Ca. pacifica (J.C. Kang, Crous & C.L. Schoch) L. Lombard, M.J. Wingf. & Crous, Ca. penicilloides (Tubaki) L. Lombard, M.J. Wingf. & Crous, Ca. pseudonaviculata (Crous, J.Z. Groenew. & C.F. Hill) L. Lombard, M.J. Wingf. & Crous, Ca. sumatrensis (Crous) L. Lombard, M.J. Wingf. & Crous. New species - Ca. densa L. Lombard, M.J. Wingf. & Crous, Ca. eucalypti L. Lombard, M.J. Wingf. & Crous, Ca. humicola L. Lombard, M.J. Wingf. & Crous, Ca. orientalis L. Lombard, M.J. Wingf. & Crous, Ca. pini L. Lombard, M.J. Wingf. & Crous, Ca. pseudoscoparia L. Lombard, M.J. Wingf. & Crous, Ca. sulawesiensis L. Lombard, M.J. Wingf. & Crous.