Search

ABSTRACTFollowing the abandonment of dual nomenclature and the implementation of single-name nomenclature for pleomorphic fungi, Coryneumwas considered to have priority over Pseudovalsaand was recommended for use. Currently, Coryneumis the only genus in the family Coryneaceae (Diaporthales). However, DNA sequence data are lacking for most Coryneumspecies, and no detailed phylogenetic analyses of the genus are yet available. In the present study, fresh Coryneumsamples were collected from chestnut (Castanea) and oak (Quercus) trees in China and morphologically compared with accepted Coryneumspecies. Based on morphological characteristics, they were identified as one known species, Coryneum castaneicola, and three novel species described here as C. gigasporum, C. sinense, and C. suttonii. Conidial dimensions and host association were considered major characters for species distinction. The previously unknown sexual morph of C. castaneicolais reported and described. A phylogenetic analysis of nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS) and large subunit (28S) sequence data of a representative matrix of Diaporthales confirmed Coryneaceae to represent a monophyletic clade. A phylogenetic analysis of a combined sequence matrix containing the ITS-28S rDNA, the translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1α), and the second largest subunit of the RNA polymerase II (RPB2) of the four Chinese and four additional European Coryneumspecies was performed, confirming the distinctness of these novel species.

The discovery of a second species of Bicornisporain Spain, B. seditiosa, which is closely related to B. exophialabut has smaller ascospores, narrower asci and different ecology, gave us the opportunity to culture and sequence the fungus. Phylogenetic analyses of rDNA regions including partial nuc 28S rDNA (28S) and ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS) supported a close relationship with species of the genus Lambertella(Rutstroemiaceae), placing Bicornispora, previously ascribed to Coryneliales, within Helotiales. This result confirmed an evolutionary linkage between certain inoperculate discomycetes such as Lambertella palmeriand derived cleistothecial forms (Bicornisporaspp.). Based on analyses of morphological study and molecular phylogenetic analyses, a new combination Rutstroemia asphodeliis proposed for Ciboria asphodeli.

Species of Sarawakusare rarely encountered. Their teleomorphs resemble sexual stages of Trichoderma, formerly called Hypocrea, but differ from that genus by unicellular ascospores. The two green-spored species S. britannicusand the type species of Sarawakus, S. lycogaloides, recently were collected, compared with their types and cultured. We redescribe and illustrate these species and transfer them to Trichoderma, based on phylogenetic analysis of the translation elongation factor 1-alpha encoding gene (tef1), containing the two last introns and exon, and a part of the rpb2gene, encoding the second largest RNA polymerase subunit. Trichoderma lycogaloides, was found to cluster with Hypocrea sulawesensis, an unusual species of Trichoderma, while T. britannicumis closely related to T. aerugineumof the Spinulosaclade. The anamorphs of the two examined species are characterized by (odd) verticillium-like conidiophores, large cylindrical phialides and conidia, which belong to the largest of those species forming green conidia, oval to subglobose in T. lycogaloidesand oblong in T. britannicum. All species currently recognized in Sarawakusare transferred to Trichoderma, introducing the new combinations T. fragile, T. hexasporum, T. izawae, T. sordidum, T. subtrachycarpum, T. succisumand T. trachycarpumand the new name T. rosellum. Trichoderma trachycarpumis redescribed and illustrated from an isotype.

The monotypic genus Woswasiais described for wood-inhabiting and mycotrophic fungi classified in the Sordariomycetidae. It is characterized by unicellular, hyaline, globose to ellipsoid, verruculose ascospores; unitunicate long-stipitate asci with an apical annulus staining blue in aqueous cotton blue and perithecia with a long neck immersed in a stroma exhibiting a conspicuous pH-dependent color reaction. In vitro, it produces branched subhyaline to hyaline conidiophores with terminally arranged sympodial conidiogenous cells and holoblastic hyaline conidia. The remarkable morphological similarity of Woswasiato Amplistromaof the Amplistromataceae, although suggestive of a close relationship, was not confirmed by molecular data. Phylogenetic analysis based on two functional ribosomal genes (large and small subunits of the nuclear rDNA) and one protein-coding gene (second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II) supports the placement of Woswasiain the Sordariomycetidae incertae sedis. Woswasia atropurpurea, the type and only species of the genus, groups within a large heterogeneous clade containing other small or monotypic genera of wood-inhabiting saprobic fungi, which are distantly related and of which the majority lacks an ordinal or familial affiliation. Within the clade a relationship of Woswasiato the freshwater genus Cyanoannulusis suggested.

Two new species of Hypocreaare added here to the European funga. Hypocrea britdaniae, a fungus with unknown anamorph and large, conspicuous stromata resembling basidiomata of a corticiaceous fungus, is a sister species to the Longibrachiatumclade, while H. foliicola, a leaf-dwelling species that forms pulvinate stromata, is recognized as an additional member of the pachybasium core group. Hypocrea foliicolasporulates in culture in a reduced verticillium-like manner, while it produces a white, typical pachybasium-like anamorph in nature. Ecologically H. foliicolais remarkable in inhabiting leaves, a substrate rarely recorded for Hypocrea. All relevant morphological teleomorphic and anamorphic traits are given. The phylogenetic placement of the new species within Hypocrea/Trichodermawas determined with combined analyses of rpb2and tef1exon sequences.

Three new species of Hypocrea/Trichodermasect. Trichoderma(Hypocreaceae, Hypocreales, Ascomycota, Fungi) are described from recent collections in southern Europe and the Canary Islands. They have been characterized by morphological and molecular methods, including microscopic examination of the teleomorph in thin sections, the anamorph, growth rate experiments and phylogenetic analyses based on a part of the translation elongation factor 1-alpha encoding gene (tef1) containing the two last introns and a part of the rpb2gene, encoding the second largest RNA polymerase subunit. Analyses involving tef1did not unequivocally resolve the sister clade relationship of Hypocrea caerulescensrelative to the Koningiiand Virideclades, while analyses based on rpb2clearly suggest a close relationship with the former, although the phenotype of H. caerulescensis similar to H. viridescens, particularly by its warted conidia and a coconut-like odor in CMD culture. Hypocrea hispanicaand T. samuelsiihowever are clearly related to the Virideclade by both phylogenetic markers, despite their morphological similarity to H. koningiiand its relatives. An apparently specific blue pigment is formed in CMD cultures by Hypocrea caerulescensbut could not be obtained by extraction with organic solvents.

A new species with remarkable morphology, Nectria eustromatica, is described, based on morphology of the teleomorph and anamorph, ecology and molecular phylogenetic analyses. Nectria eustromaticais characterized by sphaeroid perithecia immersed in pseudoparenchymatous stromata formed singly or collectively on a subiculum. Despite its deviating teleomorph morphology, it is placed within Nectriasensu stricto in phylogenetic analyses of a combined dataset of LSU, ITS, rpb2and tef1sequences with high internal support. Nectria eustromaticahas been collected specifically on Hippocrepis(Coronilla) emerusin southern Europe. The anamorph of N. eustromaticashares morphological traits with the genera Stilbellaand Tuberculariabut produces non-phialidic macroconidia in addition to phialoconidia.

AbstractPseudoclathrosphaerina evamariaeand Sympodioclathra globosaare described and illustrated as new genera and species, respectively. Their features are outlined and compared to similar genera, especially to Clathrosphaerina.The ecological niche as members of the aeroaquatic fungi is discussed and their distribution recorded.