Phylogeny and taxonomy of Calonectria and its Cylindrocladium anamorphs

Species in the genus Calonectria (anamorph: Cylindrocladium) are euascomycetes in the order Hypocreales and are important pathogens of a wide range of plant hosts globally. At the outset, this thesis considers the literature pertaining to species of Calonectria and especially the importance of the biological, morphological and phylogenetic species concepts on the taxonomy of this group. It is clear that DNA sequence comparisons have revolutionised the taxonomy of Calonectria and literature also highlights the importance of a polyphasic approach to species identification. Studies in this thesis treat a number of forest nursery disease problems caused by Calonectria spp. and new species are consequently described based on DNA sequence comparisons, morphological characteristics and sexual compatibility tests. As a consequence several cryptic species were also identified in the genus. Therefore, a multigene genealogy was constructed for all Calonectriaspp. for which cultures were available and shown to group together in 13 subclades also supported by morphological similarities. As a consequence all Cylindrocladium spp. were circumscribed to the genus Calonectria, regardless whether the teleomorph state was present or not, based on new nomenclature regulations stated in Article 59.Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2010.Microbiology and Plant PathologyUnrestricte

Mycoparasitic species of Sphaerellopsis, and allied lichenicolous and other genera

Species of Sphaerellopsis (sexual morph Eudarluca) are well-known cosmopolitan mycoparasites occurring on a wide range of rusts. Although their potential role as biocontrol agents has received some attention, the molecular phylogeny of the genus has never been resolved. Based on morphology and DNA sequence data of the large subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (LSU, 28S) and the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) and 5.8S rRNA gene of the nrDNA operon, the genus Sphaerellopsis is shown to belong to Leptosphaeriaceae in Dothideomycetes. Sphaerellopsis is circumscribed, and the sexually typified generic name Eudarluca treated as a synonym on the basis that Sphaerellopsis is more commonly used in literature, is the older generic name, and is the morph commonly encountered by plant pathologists in the field. A neotype is designated for Sphaerellopsis filum, and two new species are introduced, S. macroconidialis and S. paraphysata spp. nov. Species previously incorrectly placed in Sphaerellopsis are allocated to Neosphaerellopsis gen. nov. as N. thailandica, and to the genus Acrocalymma, as A. fici. The genus Rhizopycnis is nestled among species of Acrocalymma, and reduced to synonymy based on its morphology and DNA phylogeny, while Acrocalymmaceae is introduced as novel family to accommodate members of this genus in the Dothideomycetes. Furthermore, Sphaerellopsis proved to be phylogenetically closely allied to a lichenicolous complex of phoma-like taxa, for which the new genera Diederichomyces and Xenophoma are established. Several new combinations are introduced, namely D. xanthomendozae, D. ficuzzae, D. caloplacae, D. cladoniicola, D. foliaceiphila, and X. puncteliae combs. nov, while Paraphaeosphaeria parmeliae sp. nov. is newly described

Chapter F of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants as approved by the 11th International Mycological Congress, San Juan, Puerto Rico, July 2018

A revised version of Chapter F of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants is presented, incorporating amendments approved by the Fungal Nomenclature Session of the 11th International Mycological Congress held in San Juan, Puerto Rico in July 2018. The process leading to the amendments is outlined. Key changes in the San Juan Chapter F are (1) removal of option to use a colon to indicate the sanctioned status of a name, (2) introduction of correctability for incorrectly cited identifiers of names and typifications, and (3) introduction of option to use name identifiers in place of author citations. Examples have been added to aid the interpretation of new Articles and Recommendations, and Examples have also been added to the existing Art. F.3.7 concerning the protection extended to new combinations based on sanctioned names or basionyms of sanctioned names (which has been re-worded), and to Art. F.3.9 concerning typification of names accepted in the sanctioning works

Lineages in Nectriaceae: re-evaluating the generic status of Ilyonectria and allied genera

Genera with cylindrocarpon-like asexual morphs are important pathogens of various herbaceous and woody plant hosts globally. Recent multi-gene studies of this generic complex indicated that the genus Ilyonectria is paraphyletic. The present study was therefore initiated to re-evaluate the generic status of Ilyonectria and at the same time address some taxonomic irregularities in the genera Cylindrodendrum and Neonectria. Using multi-gene DNA data and morphological comparisons, the genus Dactylonectria is introduced with 10 new combinations, several of which were previously treated in Ilyonectria. Two new species, D. hordeicola and D. pinicola, are also described. Furthermore, one new combination is provided in the genus Cylindrodendrum, and three new combinations in the genus Neonectria, for species previously treated in the genera Acremonium, Cylindrocarpon, Nectria and Neonectria. The aquatic genus Heliscus is reduced to synonymy under Neonectria.

New species, hyper-diversity and potential importance of Calonectria spp. from Eucalyptus in South China

Plantation forestry is expanding rapidly in China to meet an increasing demand for wood and pulp products globally. Fungal pathogens including species of Calonectria represent a serious threat to the growth and sustainability of this industry. Surveys were conducted in the Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan Provinces of South China, where Eucalyptus trees in plantations or cuttings in nurseries displayed symptoms of leaf blight. Isolations from symptomatic leaves and soils collected close to infected trees resulted in a large collection of Calonectria isolates. These isolates were identified using the Consolidated Species Concept, employing morphological characters and DNA sequence comparisons for the β-tubulin, calmodulin, histone H3 and translation elongation factor 1-alpha gene regions. Twenty-one Calonectria species were identified of which 18 represented novel taxa. Of these, 12 novel taxa belonged to Sphaero-Naviculate Group and the remaining six to the Prolate Group. Southeast Asia appears to represent a centre of biodiversity for the Sphaero-Naviculate Group and this fact could be one of the important constraints to Eucalyptus forestry in China. The remarkable diversity of Calonectria species in a relatively small area of China and associated with a single tree species is surprising.This study was initiated through the bilateral agreement between the Governments South Africa and China, and we are grateful for the funding via projects 2010KJCX015-03 (Forestry Science and Technology Innovation Project of Guangdong Province of China), 2012DFG31830 (International Science & Technology Cooperation Program of China), 31400546 (National Natural Science Foundation of China) and the NWO Joint Scientific Thematic Research Programme – Joint Research Projects 2012 ALW file number 833.13.005 “Building the fungal quarantine & quality barcode of life database to ensure plant health”. We also appreciate the financial support of members of the Tree Protection Cooperative Programme (TPCP).http://www.studiesinmycology.org/am201

Calonectria species isolated from Eucalyptus plantations and nurseries in South China

Diseases caused by species of Calonectria (Ca.) represent a serious threat to the growth and sustainability of Eucalyptus plantations in China. Symptoms caused by these fungi mainly include leaf blight on trees in plantations and rotting of stems and leaves in nurseries. Extensive surveys have recently been conducted where Calonectria species were collected in Eucalyptus plantations and nurseries in the FuJian, GuangDong, GuangXi, and YunNan Provinces of South China. Additional isolates were baited from soil samples in the Hong Kong Region. The aim of this study was to identify the 115 Calonectria isolates obtained using comparisons of DNA sequence data for the β-tubulin (tub2), calmodulin (cmdA), histone H3 (his3) and partial translation elongation factor-1α (tef1) gene regions as well as their morphological features. Seven known species were identified, including Calonectria arbusta, Ca. asiatica, Ca. chinensis, Ca. eucalypti, Ca. hongkongensis, Ca. mossambicensis and Ca. pentaseptata. In addition, six novel taxa were collected and are described here as Ca. aciculata, Ca. honghensis, Ca. lantauensis, Ca. pseudoturangicola, Ca. pseudoyunnanensis, and Ca. yunnanensis spp. nov. Overall, the results reflect a high diversity of Calonectria species in China.The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (Project Numbers 31622019, 31400546).http://www.imafungus.orgam2018Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)GeneticsMicrobiology and Plant PathologyPlant Production and Soil Scienc

New species of cylindrocladiella from plantation soils in South-East Asia

Cylindrocladiella spp. are widely distributed especially in tropical and sub-tropical regions, where they are mainly known as saprobes although some species are plant pathogens. Very little is known about these fungi in South-East Asia. The aim of this study was to identify a collection of Cylindrocladiella isolates from soils collected in forest nurseries and plantations in Vietnam and Malaysia. This was achieved using DNA sequence comparisons and morphological observations. The study revealed two previously described species, Cy. lageniformis and Cy. peruviana as well as five novel taxa, described here as Cy. arbusta sp. nov., Cy. malesiana sp. nov., Cy. obpyriformis sp. nov., Cy. parvispora sp. nov. and Cy. solicola sp. nov. A relatively small collection of isolates from a limited geographic sampling revealed an unexpectedly high level of Cylindrocladiella diversity suggesting that many more species in this genus await discovery in South-East Asia.The Tree Protection and Cooperation Programme (TPCP) and the DST/NRF Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology (CTHB), South Africa.https://mycokeys.pensoft.netForestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI

Fungal systematics and evolution : FUSE 1

Fungal Systematics and Evolution (FUSE) is introduced as a new series to expedite the publication of issues relating to the epitypification of formerly described species, report new sexual-asexual connections, the merging of sexual and asexual genera following the end of dual nomenclature, and to describe species or note interesting observations regarding fungi. This first paper includes 18 new combinations, 13 new species, three new genera and one new family. All taxa are ascomycetes, except one novel species, which is a basidiomycete. Based on its acervular conidioma, Septoria capensis is allocated to the genus Acervuloseptoria (Mycosphaerellaceae, Capnodiales, Dothideomycetes). Cheirospora botryospora is shown to have a Phialophora synasexual morph, and to belong to the Helotiales (Leotiomycetes). The genus Circinotrichum (Xylariaceae, Xylariales) is shown to be paraphyletic, and in need of revision. Dictyochaeta triseptata (Chaetosphaeriaceae, Chaetosphaeriales, Sordariomycetes) is reported on Eucalyptus twigs from Malaysia, and shown to have a microconidial morph. Pseudodinemasporium fabiforme (Chaetosphaeriaceae, Chaetosphaeriales, Sordariomycetes) is reported from leaf spots on Acacia mangium from Malaysia, and Sclerostagonospora cycadis (Phaeosphaeriaceae, Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes) on leaves of Dioscorea composita from Mexico. Novel taxa include: Asperisporium caricicola (Mycosphaerellaceae, Capnodiales, Dothideomycetes) from Carica papaya (Fiji), Coniella peruensis (Schizoparmaceae, Diaporthales, Sordariomycetes) from soil (Peru), Curreya acacia (Cucurbitariaceae, Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes) from Acacia mangium (Malaysia), Verrucoconiothyrium nitidae gen. nov. (Didymosphaeriaceae, Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes) from Proteaceae (South Africa), Cyphellophoriella pruni gen. et sp. nov. (Chaetothyriaceae, Chaetothyriales, Eurotiomycetes) from Prunus leaves (USA), Mycotribulus indonesiae (Physalacriaceae, Agaricales) from Eucalyptus leaves (Indonesia), Myrmecridium spartii (Myrmecridiaceae, Myrmecridiales, Sordariomycetes) and Diaporthe spartinicola (Diaporthaceae, Diaporthales, Sordariomycetes) from Spartium junceum (Spain), Neodevriesia poagena (Neodevriesiaceae, Capnodiales, Dothideomycetes) on stems of Poa sp. (the Netherlands). Novel taxa from Germany include: Dothiorella ulmacea (Botryosphaeriaceae, Botryosphaeriales, Dothideomycetes) from Ulmus laevis, Eleutheromyces pseudosubulatus (incertae sedis, Helotiales) from Lactarius scrobiculatus, Paracamarosporium fagi (Didymosphaeriaceae, Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes) from Fagus sylvatica, Phaeoisaria loranthacearum (incertae sedis, Sordariomycetes) from Loranthus europaeus, and Flammocladiella aceris gen. et sp. nov. (Flammocladiellaceae fam. nov., Hypocreales) from Acer platanoides. An epitype is designated for Phomatospora striatigera (incertae sedis, Sordariomycetes) from Typha angustifolia (France).http://www.sydowia.at/syd62-1/syd62-1.htmam2016Microbiology and Plant Patholog