New species of Lachnum nd Perrotia from Hong Kong, China

Three new species, Lachnum qlindm'cum, L. granulatum, and Perrotia hongkongensis, are described from Hong Kong. Lachnum carneolum is recorded for the first time from China. A key to the long-spored species of Lachnum related to the newr taxa is provided.published_or_final_versio

Phylloplane fungi in Hong Kong mangroves: evaluation of study methods

Many methods have been used to study phylloplane fungi, most of which have constraints and may result in biased results. This study used light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to investigate fungal abundance on the leaves of the most common mangrove trees in Hong Kong, Kandelia candel and Aegiceras corniculatum. Species richness was investigated using light microscopy and a leaf washing method. Methods to study phylloplane fungi are discussed and the performances of these three investigation methods are evaluated. Seven mitosporic fungal taxa were found by light microscopy, while 30 sporulating taxa and 18 Mycelia sterilia were isolated using the leaf washing method. Fungal abundance in terms of percentage cover investigated with light microscopy was similar using the SEM method, and was significantly higher on Aegiceras corniculatum than on Kandelia candel. Fungal abundance peaked in the summer and was lowest in the winter. This study indicates that light microscopy reveals the most typical phylloplane fungi and is more efficient than SEM, while the leaf washing method reveals many casual species and is not quantitative.published_or_final_versio

Ascomycetes from freshwater habitats: Ascolacicola aquatica gen. et sp. nov., and a new species of Ascotaiwania from wood submerged in a reservoir in Hong Kong

Ascolacicola aquatica gen. et sp. nov., and Ascotaiwania mitriformis sp. nov., from decaying submerged wood collected in the Plover Cove Reservoir in Hong Kong are described and illustrated. Ascolacicola aquatica has characteristics that are common to both Ascotaiwania and Savoryella, but the anamorph is Trichocladium uniseptatum. A new genus is therefore introduced to accommodate this fungus. Ascotaiwania mitriformis sp. nov. is typical of the genus and differs from other species in having large brown fusiform ascospores with mitriform end cells. Its anamorph is an undescribed species of Monotosporella and both states of the fungus are described and illustrated.published_or_final_versio

A new species of Canalisporium from Australia

Canalisporium variabile sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on several specimens from submerged wood and decaying palm rachis in Australia. It is most similar to C. pallidurn in having pale conidia with clearly visible septa and canals, but they are two distinct species. In C. pallidurn, conidia are more stable in shape, size and septation, with mostly a single column of vertical septa. In C. vam'abile, however, conidia are more variable in morphology, with mostly two columns of vertical septa, and the cells are more constricted. Conidia of C. pallidum are generally longer and more slender than those of C. variabile, which are generally shorter and broader. Canalispom'urn vam'abile is also compared with C. pulchrum and C. kenyense.published_or_final_versio

Massarina ingoldiana, a new ascomycete from freshwater habitats

A Species of Massarina (Pleosporales) was found on woody debris in aquatic habitats in several countries. This new species is characterized by its transversely septate ascospores that are surrounded by a large, gelatinous sheath. The pattern of ascospore appendage enlargement is very similar to that of another freshwater ascomycete, Pleospora scirpicola.published_or_final_versio

Biodiversity of intertidal estuarine fungi on Phragmites at Mai Po Marshes, Hong Kong

Intertidal decaying stems and leaf sheaths of Phragmites australis were randomly collected and their mycota examined. Sixty one species of fungi were associated with the decaying stems and leaf sheaths, including Antiptodera spp., Lignincola laevis, Phomatospora phragmiticola and ZopfieUa latipes. The following new species are described, Halosarpheia phragmiticola, Massarina phragmiticola, Phomqtospora phragmiticola and Cytoplacosphaeria phragmiticola. The fungal communities associated with decaying Phragmites australis permanently submerged in the gei wai (tidal shrimp farms) differ from those in the intertidal region. The diversity of these fungi are discussed in relation to the biodiversity of fungi in mangrove communities in Hong Kong and with those fungi of other salt marsh communities.published_or_final_versio

Two new species of Spadicoides from Brunei and Hong Kong

Spadicoides hodgkissa sp. nov. and Spadicoides arengae sp. nov., recorded from submerged decaying wood in Hong Kong and from decaying palm fronds in Brunei, are described and illustrated. Spadicoides hodgkissa is characterized by versicolored, obovoid conidia with up to 2 septa, including a distal distoseptum and a proximal euseptum, while Spadicoides arengae is characterized by unicellular, ellipsoidal conidia with verruculose walls that are relatively large. Eight genera, including Dendrographium, Helminthosporium, Luzfridiella, Paliphora, Polyschema, Polytretophora, Porosubramaniania, and Weufia, have the same conidiogenesis as Spadicoides. A key to these genera is providedpublished_or_final_versio

Spacicoides cordanoides, sp. nov., a new dematiaceous hyphomycete from submerged wood in Australia, with a taxonomic review of the genus

Spadicoides cordanoides sp. nov. occurring on submerged wood in north Queensland, Australia is described and illustrated. It differs from all previously described Spadicoides species in having predominately obpyriform, versicolored, two celled conidia, in which the apical cell is verruculose. The current generic concept of the genus is briefly discussed and the 21 accepted species are illustrated. A key to Spadicoides species is provided.published_or_final_versio

Cataractispora receptaculorum, a new freshwater ascomycete from Hong Kong

A new species of Cataractispora, C. receptaculorum, is described from freshwater habitats. This species is characterized by triseptate verruculose ascospores and polar appendages that unfurl in water. The ascospores lack polar chambers that enclose the appendages as in C. bipolaris and C. viscosa. An ultrastructural study of this species revealed that the ascus wall and apical ring of this species is typical of the Annulatascaceae, while the ascospore wall with verruculose ornamentations and the ontogeny of the ascospore polar appendages are similar to the other species of Cataractispora. Cataractispora receptaculorum is illustrated with interference light, scanning and transmission electron micrographs.published_or_final_versio

Two new species of Pseudohalonectria from palms

Two new species, Pseudohalonectria eubenangeensis and I? palmicola, are described from palms in rainforests in north Queensland, Australia. The new species are compared with the known species in the genus, all of which occur in freshwater habitats. This is the first record of species in this genus from terrestrial habitats and from monocotyledonous hosts.published_or_final_versio