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Melanconis-like fungi are distributed in several families of Diaporthales, mainly Juglanconidaceae, Melanconidaceae, Melanconiellaceae and Pseudomelanconidaceae. A new Melanconis-like genus of Pseudomelanconidaceae was discovered on branches of Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima) in southern China, which was confirmed by both morphology and phylogenetic analysis of combined ITS, LSU, tef1a and rpb2 sequences. The new genus Micromelanconis is characterized by two types of conidia from natural substrate and manual media of PDA, respectively. Conidia from Chinese chestnut branches are pale brown, ellipsoid, multiguttulate, aseptate with hyaline sheath. While conidia from PDA plates are pale brown, long dumbbell-shaped, narrow at the middle and wide at both ends, multiguttulate, aseptate, and also with hyaline sheath. All Pseudomelanconidaceae species were only reported on tree branches in China until now. More interesting taxa may be discovered if detailed surveys on tree-inhabiting fungi are carried out in East Asia in the future.

The genus Melanconis (Melanconidaceae, Diaporthales) in the strict sense is here re-evaluated regarding phylogenetic structure, taxonomy, distribution and ecology. Using a matrix of sequences from ITS, LSU, ms204, rpb2, tef1 and tub2, eight species are recognised and their phylogenetic positions are determined. Based on phylogenetic, morphological and geographical differentiation, Melanconis marginalis is subdivided into four subspecies. Melanconis italica is reduced to a subspecies of Melanconis marginalis. The two species Melanconis larissae from Betula sp. and M. pacifica from Alnus rubra are described as new. Melanconis alni and M. stilbostoma are lectotypified and M. alni, M. marginalis and M. stilbostoma are epitypified. All GenBank sequences deposited as Melanconis alni are shown to actually represent M. marginalis and those as M. marginalis belong to the newly described M. pacifica. Currently, Alnus and Betula are the sole host genera of Melanconis. All species and subspecies are (re-)described and illustrated. In addition, the neotypification of Melanconium pterocaryae is here validated.

Diaporthales is a fungal order comprising important plant pathogens, saprobes and endophytes on a wide range of woody hosts. It is often difficult to differentiate the pathogens in this order, since both the morphology and disease symptoms are similar among the various species. In the current study, we obtained 15 representative diaporthalean isolates from six tree hosts belonging to plant families Betulaceae, Fagaceae, Juglandaceae, Rosaceae, and Ulmaceae from Mount Dongling in China. Six species were identified residing in four families of Diaporthales (Diaporthaceae, Erythrogloeaceae, Juglanconidaceae and Melanconidaceae). Based on morphological comparison and the phylogenetic analyses of partial ITS, LSU,cal,his3,rpb2,tef1-αandtub2gene sequences, we identified five known species (Diaporthe betulina,D. eres,D. rostrata,Juglamconis oblongaandMelanconis stilbostoma) and one novel species (Dendrostoma donglinensis). These results represent the first study of diaporthalean fungi associated with canker and dieback symptoms from Mount Dongling in Beijing, China.

Melanconis-like species comprise latent fungal pathogens with a wide range of woody hosts. Taxonomy of these pathogens is difficult due to their uninformative descriptions and similar asexual morphology. Based on molecular phylogenies, many species of this group were placed in various families of Diaporthales. In this study, eight species of melanconis-like fungi were isolated from Betulaalbosinensis, B.platyphylla (Betulaceae), Cornuscontroversa (Cornaceae), Corylusmandshurica (Betulaceae) and Juglansregia (Juglandaceae) in China. These species were phylogenetically placed in three families of Diaporhthales, i.e. Juglanconisjuglandina, J.oblonga (Juglanconidaceae), Melanconiellabetulicolasp. nov., M.corylinasp. nov. (Melanconiellaceae), Melanconisbetulae, Ms.itoana, Ms.stilbostoma (Melanconidaceae) and one new genus, Sheathospora (Melanconiellaceae). Sheathospora is proposed to accommodate Melanconiellacornuta with conical and discrete pycnidia with aseptate, hyaline, cylindrical to ellipsoidal conidia with distinct hyaline sheath on branches of Cornuscontroversa. Combined analyses of ITS, LSU, CAL, RPB2 and TEF1-α sequence data were used to construct the molecular phylogeny. Additionally, we provided separate phylogenetic trees for three families (Juglanconidaceae, Melanconidaceae and Melanconiellaceae) to show the species distribution of melanconis-like fungi in China.

In this study we accept 25 families in Diaporthales based on phylogenetic analyses using partial ITS, LSU, rpb2 and tef1-α gene sequences. Four different families associated with canker and dieback of tree hosts are morphologically treated and phylogenetically compared. These include three new families (Diaporthostomata-ceae, Pseudomelanconidaceae, Synnemasporellaceae), and one new genus, Dendrostoma (Erythrogloeaceae). Dendrostoma is newly described from Malus spectabilis, Osmanthus fragrans and Quercus acutissima having fusoid to cylindrical, bicellular ascospores, with three new species namely D. mali, D. osmanthi and D. quercinum. Diaporthostomataceae is characterised by conical and discrete perithecia with bicellular, fusoid ascospores on branches of Machilus leptophylla. Pseudomelanconidaceae is defined by conidiogenous cells with apical collarets and discreet annellations, and the inconspicuous hyaline conidial sheath when mature on Carya cathayensis, compared to morphologically similar families Melanconidaceae and Juglanconidaceae. Synnemasporellaceae is proposed to accommodate fungi with synnematous conidiomata, with descriptions of S. toxicodendri on Toxico-dendron sylvestre and S. aculeans on Rhus copallina.

56. Titania [Titania] Meigen, 1800: 35. CURRENT STATUS: Name suppressed for the purposes of the Principle of Priority but not the Principle of Homonymy by action of I.C.Z.N. (1955a: 421 [Opinion 348]; treated under Chlorops Meigen, 1803 [teste Sabrosky (1999: 308)]. FAMILY: CHLOROPIDAE. REMARKS: Titania Meigen (1800: 35) was declared an available name by two actions of the ICZN Commission (I.C.Z.N. 1910: 66 [Opinion 28], 1944: 181 [Opinion 152]). Later, in order to protect the younger name Chlorops Meigen, 1803, the ICZN Commission (I.C.Z.N. 1955a: 421 [Opinion 348]) ruled to suppress Titania Meigen, 1800 for the purposes of the Principle of Priority but not for the Principle of Homonymy; treated under Chlorops Meigen, 1803 [teste Nartshuk (2012: 26)]. Titania Meigen in Hendel, 1908: 63 . ORIGINALLY INCLUDED SPECIES: None. FIRST INCLUDED SPECIES: Chlorops laeta Meigen, 1803 (in Coquillett 1910a: 615). TYPE SPECIES: Chlorops laeta Meigen, 1803, by subsequent designation (Coquillett 1910a: 615). CURRENT STATUS: Preoccupied by Titania Meigen, 1800; junior synonym of Chlorops Meigen, 1803. New Synonymy. REMARKS: Titania was originally proposed by Meigen (1800: 35) without included species, the entire work of which was subsequently suppressed for the purposes of zoological nomenclature by action of the I.C.Z.N. (1963: 339 [Opinion 678]). Hendel (1908: 63) was the first after Meigen (1800) to give characters to differentiate the taxon (reproducing Meigen’s characters) and to treat Titania as valid, which makes the name available from that work with Meigen as author. No species were included in Hendel (1908). The first included species is in Coquillett (1910a: 615), who designated Chlorops laeta Meigen, 1803 as the type species. The action of the I.C.Z.N. (1955a: 421 (Opinion 348) suppressed Titania only for the purpose of priority and not for homonymy. As there is no wording in Opinion 678 to contravene earlier rulings of names in Meigen (1800), this allows for Titania to be made available by subsequent usage as a valid taxon, but the name immediately becomes invalid as a junior homonym of Titania Meigen, 1800.

56. Titania [Titania] Meigen, 1800: 35. CURRENT STATUS: Name suppressed for the purposes of the Principle of Priority but not the Principle of Homonymy by action of I.C.Z.N. (1955a: 421 [Opinion 348]; treated under Chlorops Meigen, 1803 [teste Sabrosky (1999: 308)]. FAMILY: CHLOROPIDAE. REMARKS: Titania Meigen (1800: 35) was declared an available name by two actions of the ICZN Commission (I.C.Z.N. 1910: 66 [Opinion 28], 1944: 181 [Opinion 152]). Later, in order to protect the younger name Chlorops Meigen, 1803, the ICZN Commission (I.C.Z.N. 1955a: 421 [Opinion 348]) ruled to suppress Titania Meigen, 1800 for the purposes of the Principle of Priority but not for the Principle of Homonymy; treated under Chlorops Meigen, 1803 [teste Nartshuk (2012: 26)]. Titania Meigen in Hendel, 1908: 63 . ORIGINALLY INCLUDED SPECIES: None. FIRST INCLUDED SPECIES: Chlorops laeta Meigen, 1803 (in Coquillett 1910a: 615). TYPE SPECIES: Chlorops laeta Meigen, 1803, by subsequent designation (Coquillett 1910a: 615). CURRENT STATUS: Preoccupied by Titania Meigen, 1800; junior synonym of Chlorops Meigen, 1803. New Synonymy. REMARKS: Titania was originally proposed by Meigen (1800: 35) without included species, the entire work of which was subsequently suppressed for the purposes of zoological nomenclature by action of the I.C.Z.N. (1963: 339 [Opinion 678]). Hendel (1908: 63) was the first after Meigen (1800) to give characters to differentiate the taxon (reproducing Meigen���s characters) and to treat Titania as valid, which makes the name available from that work with Meigen as author. No species were included in Hendel (1908). The first included species is in Coquillett (1910a: 615), who designated Chlorops laeta Meigen, 1803 as the type species. The action of the I.C.Z.N. (1955a: 421 (Opinion 348) suppressed Titania only for the purpose of priority and not for homonymy. As there is no wording in Opinion 678 to contravene earlier rulings of names in Meigen (1800), this allows for Titania to be made available by subsequent usage as a valid taxon, but the name immediately becomes invalid as a junior homonym of Titania Meigen, 1800., Published as part of Evenhuis, Neal L. & Pape, Thomas, 2017, Battling the un-dead: the status of the Diptera genus-group names originally proposed in Johann Wilhelm Meigen's 1800 pamphlet, pp. 1-74 in Zootaxa 4275 (1) on page 54, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4275.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/804234, {"references":["Meigen, J. W. (1800) Nouvelle classification des mouches a deux ailes (Diptera L.) d'apres un plan tout nouveau. Par J. G. Meigen. \" An VIII (1800 v. s.) \". J. J. Fuchs, Paris, 40 pp. [before 22 September] [Dated from Thompson et al. (1999: 476).] https: // doi. org / 10.5962 / bhl. title. 119764","Meigen, J. W. (1803) Versuch einer neuen Gattungs-Eintheilung der europaischen zweiflugligen Insekten. Magazin fur Insektenkunde, 2, 259 - 281. [after 17 May] [Dated from Thompson et al. (1999: 476).]","Sabrosky, C. W. (1999) Family group names in Diptera. An annotated catalog. Myia, 9, 1 - 360. [before 4 April]","Nartshuk, E. P. (2012) A check list of the world genera of the family Chloropidae (Diptera, Cyclorrhapha, Muscomorpha). Zootaxa, 3267, 1 - 43. [12 April]","Hendel, F. (1908) Nouvelle classification des mouches a deux ailes (Diptera L.). D'apres un plan tout nouveau par J. G. Meigen, Paris, an VIII (1800 v. s.). Mit Kommentar herausgegeben von Friedrich Hendel. Verhandlungen der K. - k. Zoologisch- Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien, 58, 43 - 69. [22 April]","Coquillett, D. W. (1910 a) The type-species of the North American genera of Diptera. Proceedings of the United States National Museum, 37, 499 - 647. [4 August] https: // doi. org / 10.5479 / si. 00963801.37 - 1719.499"]}

Melanconis is a monotypic genus in Melanconidaceae and mostly restricted to hardwood trees in Betulaceae, as endophytes and plant pathogens. During a routine forest pathogens investigation of canker disease in China, some melanconidaceous fungi were observed on Betula spp. with various symptoms. The primary objective of the present study was to identify species of Melanconidaceae associated with canker and dieback of Betula spp. in China. In the present study, we investigated 45 isolates using morphology and multi-gene phylogenetic analyses based on the internal transcribed spacers (ITS), nuclear large subunit rDNA (LSU), RNA polymerase II subunit 2 (rpb2), translation elongation factor 1-α (tef1-α) and β-tubulin (tub). Three melanconidaceous taxa were identified: Melanconis betulae sp. nov., M. itoana and M. stilbostoma. This is the first phylogenetic study evaluating species of Melanconis associated with canker and dieback disease of Betula spp. in China, resulting in the description of a novel species and the report of M. itoana as a new record.

Molecular phylogenetic analyses of LSU rDNA demonstrate monophyly of the genus Melanconiella, and its status as a genus distinct from Melanconis is confirmed. Data of macro- and microscopic morphology, pure cultures and phylogenetic analyses of partial SSU-ITS-LSU rDNA, tef1 and rpb2 sequences revealed 13 distinct species of Melanconiella, six of which are described as new (M. chrysodiscosporina, M. chrysomelanconium, M. chrysorientalis, M. echinata, M. elegans, M. meridionalis). Melanconiella hyperopta var. orientalis is described as a new variety. Diaporthe carpinicola, D. ellisii, D. flavovirens, D. hyperopta and D. ostryae are formally combined into Melanconiella. The name Melanconiella chrysostroma is excluded from Melanconiella, as it is an obligate synonym of Wuestneia xanthostroma. The type of Melanconiella is confirmed as M. spodiaea. Several species are lecto- and/or epitypified. A key to all treated species of Melanconiella is provided, and the circumscriptions of the genera Melanconis and Melanconiella are emended. Most Melanconiella species revealed by molecular phylogenetic analyses can be well characterised by a suite of morphological traits including ascospore shape, length and width, colour, absence/presence and shape of appendages and the anamorph. Anamorph-teleomorph connections were confirmed by pure culture and DNA data, revealing the presence of a single melanconium- or discosporina-like anamorph for each species. Colony growth was found to be characteristic of the respective species. Melanconiella is shown to be confined to the host family Betulaceae, and all species are found to be highly host-specific, mostly confined to a single host species. The biodiversity of Melanconiella was determined to be centred on the genus Carpinus with nine species, five of which have been confirmed on C. betulus. Europe appears to be the geographic centre of Melanconiella biodiversity.

Discula betulina is a foliar pathogen on birch (Betula) and Gnomonia intermedia is found on overwintered birch leaves. Perithecia of G. intermedia developed in vitro on colonies of D. betulina isolated from birch tissues in late summer, and single ascospores of G. intermedia consistently developed into colonies similar to D. betulina, producing typical D. betulina conidia. Isolates of D. betulina could be grouped into two mating types, which produced fertile perithecia of G. intermedia when mated with each other. Mycelia from single-ascospore and single-conidial isolates were inoculated onto shoots of downy birch, causing lesions and die-back from which D. betulina was consistently isolated. ITS region ribosomal DNA sequence analysis confirmed the results of the morphological and mating studies, and found that the closest known relatives of G. intermedia/D. betulina are Gnomoniella nana and Sirococcus clavigignenti-juglandacearum. The conclusion from these studies is that D. betulina is the anamorph of G. intermedia.

Members of Melanconiella are opportunistic pathogens and endophytic fungi, and have been found to confined so far, on the collection of host family Betulaceae. Moreover, two fresh specimens associated with canker and dieback of Cornus controversa and Juglans regia collected in Shaanxi, China were found as distinct and new species of Melanconiella, based on morphological and multi-gene, combined, phylogenetic analyses (ITS, LSU, rpb2 and tef1-α). Results also revealed the host and geographic range extensions of this genus. Melanconiella cornuta sp. nov. is introduced with an illustrated account and differs from similar species in its host association and multigene phylogeny.

A species of Wuestneia occurring on stems of eucalypts is described as Wuestneia epispora. The new species is distinguished by its large 4- to 8-spored asci and ascospores with firm, thick gelatinous sheaths. Two different anamorphs, Harknessia sp. and an unnamed hyaline, non-appendaged conidial species were associated with this fungus. Both anamorphs have microconidial synanamorphs. A new combination, Wuestneia karvarrae, is proposed for Cryptosporella karvarrae.

Prostratus cyclobalanopsidis gen. et sp. nov. is described and illustrated from Taiwan and placed in the family Melanconidaceae. This unusual ascomycete is characterized by horizontal stromatic ascomata, asci with distinct apical structures not turning blue in iodine and brown ascospores with a hyaline dwarf cell at the basal or apical end. Similar types of dwarf-celled ascospores are characteristic of some species of Anthostomella and Clypeosphaeria but this genus is clearly separable from them by its distinct diaporthaceous horizontal stromatic ascomata with an upwardly bending ostiolar beak and by asci with an apical structure not turning blue in iodine.

Recent phylogenetic studies on the members of the Diaporthales have shown that the order includes a number of distinct phylogenetic groups. These groups represent the Gnomoniaceae, Melanconidaceae, Valsaceae, Diaporthaceae and Togniniaceae. New groups representing undescribed families also have emerged and they have been referred to as the Schizoparme, Cryphonectria-Endothia and Harknessia complexes. In this study we define the new family Cryphonectriaceae (Diaporthales) to accommodate genera in the Cryphonectria-Endothia complex. These genera can be distinguished from those in other families or undescribed groups of the Diaporthales by the formation of orange stromatic tissue at some stage of their life cycle and a purple reaction in KOH and a yellow reaction in lactic acid associated with pigments in the stromatic tissue or in culture.

The genus Diatractium , members of which have ascospores that are isthmoid, i.e. narrowed over a significant length of the central portion of the spore, is redescribed and illustrated. Two species are accepted D. cordianum and D. ingae ; both are parasites of leaves in Central and South America. The genus should probably be placed in the Phyllachoraceae rather than the Valsaceae or Melanconidaceae. The biological significance of the constricted ascospore is discussed.

Hapalocystis berkeleyi and Macrodiplodiopsis desmazieresii were found fruiting together on host material, and were studied in artificial culture. Hapalocystis berkeleyi produced a Phoma-like anamorph with variable conidiogenous cells and hyaline, oval conidia, while M. desmazieresii produced a conidial state resembling that on host material, with distoseptate, four-celled, brown conidia and percurrently proliferating conidiogenous cells. Hapalocystis Auersw. ex Fuckel (Diaporthales, Melanconidaceae) is charac? terized by valsoid stromata, oblong or ellipsoid asci, and brown, appendaged phragmosporous ascospores (Barr, 1978). Little is known about anamorphic states of Hapalocystis species, but generally they are believed to be Stilbospora -like (Wehmeyer, 1941; Barr, 1978). Recently, a collection was made ofthe type species, H. berkeleyi Auersw. ex Fuckel (Holm, 1975; Barr, 1978), with perithecial stro? mata intermingled with pycnidia of Macrodiplodiopsis desmazieresii (Mont.) Pe? trak, a fungus that resembles Stilbospora in conidial morphology and ontogeny. Shear and Davidson (1936) showed through cultural studies that M. desmazieresii is the anamorph of Splanchnonema platani (Ces.) Barr [=Massaria platani Ces.] (Barr, 1982). However, based on earlier discussions of Hapalocystis anamorphs (Wehmeyer, 1941; Barr, 1978), it seemed that the two fungi in this collection might be different states of the same organism, and cultural studies were undertaken to determine if this were true. This study determined that: (1) the two states are, in fact, different fungi, a conclusion consistent with those of Shear and Da? vidson (1936), and (2) in culture, H. berkeleyi produces a Phoma-like anamorph. Since there is little published information on H. berkeleyi and M. desmazieresii, they are described on host material and in culture.