Fungal systematics and evolution最新文献

Species of Pseudocercospora are commonly associated with leaf and fruit spots on diverse plant hosts in sub-tropical and tropical regions. Pseudocercospora spp. have mycosphaerella-like sexual morphs, but represent a distinct genus in Mycosphaerellaceae (Mycosphaerellales, Dothideomycetes). The present study adds a further 29 novel species of Pseudocercospora from 413 host species representing 297 host genera occurring in 60 countries and designates four epitypes and one lectotype for established names. This study recognises 329 species names, with an additional 69 phylogenetic lineages remaining unnamed due to difficulty in being able to unambiguously apply existing names to those lineages. To help elucidate the taxonomy of these species, a phylogenetic tree was generated from multi-locus DNA sequence data of the internal transcribed spacers and intervening 5.8S nuclear nrRNA gene (ITS), partial actin (actA), and partial translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1), as well as the partial DNA-directed RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (rpb2) gene sequences. Novel species described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Australia, Ps. acaciicola from leaf spots on Acacia sp., Ps. anopter from leaf spots on Anopterus glandulosus, Ps. asplenii from leaf spots on Asplenium dimorphum, Ps. australiensis from leaf spots on Eucalyptus gunnii, Ps. badjensis from leaf spots on Eucalyptus badjensis, Ps. erythrophloeicola from leaf spots on Erythrophleum chlorostachys, Ps. grevilleae from leaf spots on Grevillea sp., Ps. lophostemonigena from leaf spots on Lophostemon confertus, Ps. lophostemonis from leaf spots on Lophostemon lactifluus, Ps. paramacadamiae from leaf spots on Macadamia integrifolia, Ps. persooniae from leaf spots on Persoonia sp., Ps. pultenaeae from leaf spots on Pultenaea daphnoides, Ps. tristaniopsidis from leaf spots on Tristaniopsis collina, Ps. victoriae from leaf spots on Eucalyptus globoidea. Brazil, Ps. musigena from leaf spots on Musa sp. China, Ps. lonicerae-japonicae from leaf spots on Lonicera japonica, Ps. rubigena leaf spots on Rubus sp. France (Réunion), Ps. wingfieldii from leaf spots on Acacia heterophylla. Malaysia, Ps. musarum from leaf spots on Musa sp. Netherlands, Ps. rhododendri from leaf spots on Rhododendron sp. South Africa, Ps. balanitis from leaf spots on Balanites sp., Ps. dovyalidicola from leaf spots on Dovyalis zeyheri, Ps. encephalarticola from leaf spots on Encephalartos sp. South Korea, Ps. grewiana from leaf

Here we report on the detection and surveillance response to two Rugonectria species found in Sydney, Australia, in 2015. Both Rugonectria castaneicola and R. wingfieldii sp. nov. were found in association with cankers on Quercus robur (English oak). The fungi were initially found to be localised on amenity trees in northern Sydney, New South Wales, and as they were new detections for Australia, eradication was considered. Ongoing surveillance across the Sydney basin, regional New South Wales, and the Australian Capital Territory, however, indicated that they were already well established. Species identities were confirmed through morphological examination and molecular barcoding, with the subsequent analysis undertaken to classify R. wingfieldii sp. nov. This study provides the first records of Rugonectria found in association with canker on Oak trees in Australia. Citation: Trollip C, Carnegie AJ, Anderson C, Priest MJ, Gorrie B, Daly A (2024). Response to the detection of Rugonectria castaneicola and Rugonectria wingfieldii sp. nov. on Quercus in Australia. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 13: 123-130. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2024.13.06.

Species of Cylindrocladiella are saprobic or plant pathogenic, and widely distributed in soil in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Limited information is available about the species diversity and distribution of Cylindrocladiella in China. The aim of this study was to identify the Cylindrocladiella isolates from soils collected in a Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation in the Yunnan Province of southwestern China. Species identification was based on DNA phylogeny of his3, ITS, tef1 and tub2 regions, combined with morphological characteristics. Isolates obtained were identified as Cylindrocladiella longistipitata and a novel species, described here as C. yunnanensis sp. nov. Further studies are required, however, to elucidate the lifestyles of these taxa. Citation: Liu Y, Chen SF (2024). Cylindrocladiella species from Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation soils in southwestern China. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 13: 143-152. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2024.13.08.

The smut fungal genus Anthracoidea contains more than 100 species that parasitize hosts predominantly in the sedge genus Carex. Anthracoidea species are mainly found in the boreal zones of the Northern Hemisphere and many species have an arctic-alpine distribution. Recent re-organization of the taxonomy of the main host genus Carex questions current understanding of host associations in Anthracoidea. Host specificity for many of the species in this genus is considered to be quite broad and a host spectrum of over 10 host species is common. One aim of the study is to understand the potential influence that host taxonomy has on the evolutionary patterns of Anthracoidea. Additionally, by including more specimens, we clarify host specificity and species delimitation in Anthracoidea sempervirentis, a prevalent species occurring on different host species in different Carex subgroups using molecular data. Host colonization patterns within Anthracoidea are complex, and different subclades of Carex have been colonized several times independently, whereas clades of related Anthracoidea species often occur on Carex species from the same host clade. Parasites previously thought to be Anthracoidea sempervirentis occurring on the different Carex host are shown to be at least four distinct species that are restricted to individual host species. Three new species, Anthracoidea ferrugineae on Carex ferruginea from the Alps and the Carpathians, A. firmae on Carex firma from the Alps, and A. kitaibelianae on Carex kitaibeliana from mountains in the Balkan Peninsula, are described and illustrated. An emended description of Anthracoidea sempervirentis is also provided. Anthracoidea sempervirentis in its emended circumscription consists of two clades that correspond to respective clades within Carex sempervirens. The study shows that host colonization in Anthracoidea is more complex than current host taxonomy suggests. Further, including several specimens per host species results in a much higher diversity within Anthracoidea than previously assumed. Citation: Kemler M, Denchev TT, Feige A, Denchev CM, Begerow D (2024). Host specificity in the fungal plant parasite Anthracoidea sempervirentis (Anthracoideaceae, Ustilaginales) reveals three new species and indicates a potential split in the host plant Carex sempervirens. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 13: 91-110. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2024.13.04.

During a survey of culturable microfungi from the bark of sugar maple (Acer saccharum), Atrocalyx glutinosus and Nigrograna rubescens, two novel species of Pleosporales (Dothideomycetes) were isolated from several locations in eastern Ontario, Canada. Formal species descriptions are presented based on unique colony phenotypes and micromorphological characteristics and supported using multi-locus molecular phylogenetic comparisons with similar species. Both A. glutinosus and N. rubescens produce pycnidial asexual morphs in culture. As their names imply, under specific culture conditions, A. glutinosus excretes large amounts of the glutinous polysaccharide pullulan and N. rubescens produces a dark red naphthoquinone pigment that diffuses in the culture medium. Citation: Mack JN, Sproule A, Shields SW, Seifert KA, Smith M, Overy DP (2024). Two novel Pleosporales species isolated from the bark of Acer saccharum . Fungal Systematics and Evolution 13: 1-14. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2024.13.01.

A taxonomically comprehensive perspective on the fungal associates of bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), and powerful molecular tools for detection of these fungi, are imperative to understanding bark beetle impacts on forest ecosystems. The most common filamentous fungi living alongside bark beetles in infested trees are ophiostomatoids (Ascomycota: Ophiostomatales and Microascales), yet an undescribed species of Neonectria (Neonectria sp. nov.; Ascomycota: Hypocreales) was recently identified cohabitating with the alder bark beetle, Alniphagus aspericollis, in red alder, Alnus rubra. The hardwood-infesting alder bark beetle is found throughout the range of its red alder host in the Pacific Coast region of North America and is associated with Neonectria sp. nov. in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. The aim of this study was to describe and name Neonectria sp. nov. and to develop a quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay to enable rapid detection of Neonectria sp. nov. from individual adult alder bark beetles and to define the distribution of the fungus. Neonectria sp. nov. was phylogenetically and morphologically determined to represent a distinct species closely related to N. ditissima and is described herein as Neonectria bordenii sp. nov. Neonectria bordenii was reliably detected from individual whole-beetle DNA extractions using a probe-based qPCR assay targeting multi-copy internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA. The qPCR assay amplified the fungus from 87.8 % (36/41) of individual alder bark beetle samples and was highly sensitive to N. bordenii, with a lower limit of detection of 1 × 10^-6 ng/μL of culture DNA (or ~262 genome copies). Application of the qPCR assay developed in this study will expedite future research evaluating N. bordenii as a potential symbiote of the alder bark beetle. Citation: Wertman DL, Tanney JB, Hamelin RC, Carroll AL (2024). Neonectria bordenii sp. nov., a potential symbiote of the alder bark beetle, and its detection by quantitative PCR. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 13: 15-28. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2024.13.02.

Members of the Botryosphaeriaceae are well-known endophytes and stress-related pathogens. We recently characterised the diversity of Botryosphaeriaceae in healthy tissues of three tree species in the Anacardiaceae, namely Sclerocarya birrea, Mangifera indica and Lannea schweinfurthii. Here we ask how that diversity compares with the Botryosphaeriaceae diversity associated with dieback on those tree species. Samples were collected from agroecosystems (Tshikundamalema and Tshipise in Limpopo) and conservation areas (Nwanedi and the Mapungubwe National Park in Limpopo and the Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga) ecosystems. Species were characterised using multigene sequence data and morphological data. Diplodia allocellula, Dothiorella brevicollis, Do. viticola, Lasiodiplodia crassispora, L. mahajangana and Neofusicoccum parvum occurred on both asymptomatic and symptomatic samples. Dothiorella dulcispinea, L. gonubiensis and L. exigua, as well as a previously unknown species described here as Oblongocollomyces ednahkunjekuae sp. nov, only occurred in asymptomatic branches. An interesting aspect of the biology of O. ednahkunjekuaeae is that it appears to be adapted to higher temperatures, with an optimum growth at 30 °C, and faster growth at 35 °C than at 25 °C. Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae only occurred in symptomatic branches. Neofusicoccum parvum was notably absent from conservation areas, and in agroecosystem it was most common on M. indica. Only L. crassispora and L. mahajangana overlapped on all three tree species and were the dominant species associated with dieback. These results show that not all Botryosphaeriaceae occurring asymptomatically in an area contribute equally to disease development on a related group of hosts, and that environmental disturbance plays a significant role in the distribution of N. parvum. Citation: Slippers B, Ramabulana E, Coetzee MPA (2024). Botryosphaeriaceae partially overlap on asymptomatic and symptomatic tissues of Anacardiaceae in agroecosystems and conservation areas in northern South Africa. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 13: 131-142. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2024.13.07.

Fusarium agapanthi is newly reported from the centre of origin of Agapanthus in South Africa, where it is associated with dead flower stalks of Agapanthus praecox. Mjuua agapanthi, a rare hyphomycete with a morphology corresponding to asexual morphs of Pyxidiophora, was isolated as mycoparasitic on F. agapanthi, along with bacteria that co-occurred in synnematal heads of M. agapanthi. Germinating conidia of M. agapanthi were observed to parasitise germinating conidia of F. agapanthi. Although M. agapanthi could not be cultivated on its own, the association with Fusarium proved to not be restricted to F. agapanthi, as it could also be cultivated with other Fusarium spp. Mjuua agapanthi is a member of Pyxidiophorales, an order of obligate insect parasitic microfungi. The exact role of the bacteria in synnematal heads of M. agapanthi remains to be further elucidated, although one bacterium, Alsobacter metallidurans, appeared to cause lysis of the synnematal conidial cell walls. This discovery suggests that many unculturable obligate biotrophic microbes can probably be cultivated if co-cultivated with their respective hosts. Citation: Crous PW, Dijksterhuis J, Figge M, Sandoval-Denis M (2024). Mjuua agapanthi gen. et sp. nov., a biotrophic mycoparasite of Fusarium spp. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 13: 153-161. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2024.13.09.

During a survey of fungi on electricity utility poles in South Africa, a diverse range of fungi were discovered. Paecilomyces was frequently isolated, with five species identified using ITS and β-tubulin (BenA) sequences. These were P. brunneolus, P. dactylethromorphus, P. lecythidis, P. paravariotii and a potential new species. The genomes of 30 of these strains were subsequently sequenced and used in a phylogenomic analysis with 45 previously published genomes of the genus. Phylogenetic analyses were also conducted using ITS, BenA, calmodulin (CaM), RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2), RNA polymerase II largest subunit (RPB1), the genes coding for the theta subunit of the TCP-1 chaperonin complex (Cct8), and for a putative ribosome biogenesis protein (Tsr1). Both phylogenomic and phylogenetic analyses supported the 15 Paecilomyces species currently accepted and confirmed the novelty of the new species, which we describe as P. lignorum. The latter is the sister species of P. brunneolus and belongs to a clade also containing P. variotii and P. paravariotii. Morphologically, the new species produces longer ellipsoidal conidia and grows more restricted on malt extract agar at 30 °C compared to its closest relatives. Citation: Visagie CM, Cruywagen EM, Duong TA (2024). A new Paecilomyces from wooden utility poles in South Africa. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 13: 163-181. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2024.13.10.

The genus Phytophthora contains many destructive and globally important plant pathogens. In the last decade, targeted sampling efforts have resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of known species, as well as a better understanding of their global distribution. Routine activities undertaken in botanical gardens, combined with great numbers of local and international visitors, place botanical gardens at risk to the accidental introduction and establishment of pathogens such as Phytophthora spp. In this study, the occurrence of Phytophthora was investigated in two botanical gardens in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa. Symptomatic collar and stem tissues were collected, and root and rhizosphere soil samples were taken from trees exhibiting symptoms of decline. Standard baiting techniques and direct plating of symptomatic tissues revealed the presence of seven species of Phytophthora residing in four phylogenetic clades. Five of these species, P. cinnamomi, P. citrophthora, P. multivora, P. parvispora and the informally designated taxon Phytophthora sp. stellaris were known to be present in South Africa and P. aquimorbida was recorded for the first time. Of these, P. citrophthora represented a novel host-pathogen association causing bleeding cankers on indigenous Celtis africana. A multilocus phylogenetic analysis based on ITS, βtub, cox1 and hsp90 sequences showed the presence of an undescribed species belonging to the Phytophthora ITS Clade 5. This species is described here as Phytophthora mammiformis sp. nov. This study highlights the importance of monitoring botanical gardens for the detection and discovery of pathogens and emphasises their value as sites for the discovery of novel host-pathogen associations. Citation: Paap T, Balocchi F, Burgess TI, Bose T, Wingfield MJ (2024). A diverse range of Phytophthora species from botanical gardens in South Africa, including the novel Clade 5 species, Phytophthora mammiformis sp. nov. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 13: 111-122. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2024.13.05.