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Human and animal fungal pathogens are a growing threat worldwide leading to emerging infections and creating new risks for established ones. There is a growing need for a rapid and accurate identification of pathogens to enable early diagnosis and targeted antifungal therapy. Morphological and biochemical identification methods are time-consuming and require trained experts. Alternatively, molecular methods, such as DNA barcoding, a powerful and easy tool for rapid monophasic identification, offer a practical approach for species identification and less demanding in terms of taxonomical expertise. However, its wide-spread use is still limited by a lack of quality-controlled reference databases and the evolving recognition and definition of new fungal species/complexes. An international consortium of medical mycology laboratories was formed aiming to establish a quality controlled ITS database under the umbrella of the ISHAM working group on "DNA barcoding of human and animal pathogenic fungi." A new database, containing 2800 ITS sequences representing 421 fungal species, providing the medical community with a freely accessible tool at http://www.isham.org and http://its.mycologylab.org/ to rapidly and reliably identify most agents of mycoses, was established. The generated sequences included in the new database were used to evaluate the variation and overall utility of the ITS region for the identification of pathogenic fungi at intra-and interspecies level. The average intraspecies variation ranged from 0 to 2.25%. This highlighted selected pathogenic fungal species, such as the dermatophytes and emerging yeast, for which additional molecular methods/genetic markers are required for their reliable identification from clinical and veterinary specimens., This study was supported by an National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NH&MRC) grant [#APP1031952] to W Meyer, S Chen, V Robert, and D Ellis; CNPq [350338/2000-0] and FAPERJ [E-26/103.157/2011] grants to RM Zancope-Oliveira; CNPq [308011/2010-4] and FAPESP [2007/08575-1] Fundacao de Amparo Pesquisa do Estado de So Paulo (FAPESP) grants to AL Colombo; PEst-OE/BIA/UI4050/2014 from Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT) to C Pais; the Belgian Science Policy Office (Belspo) to BCCM/IHEM; the MEXBOL program of CONACyT-Mexico, [ref. number: 1228961 to ML Taylor and [122481] to C Toriello; the Institut Pasteur and Institut de Veil le Sanitaire to F Dromer and D Garcia-Hermoso; and the grants from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq) and the Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Goias (FAPEG) to CM de Almeida Soares and JA Parente Rocha. I Arthur would like to thank G Cherian, A Higgins and the staff of the Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory, Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Path West, QEII Medial Centre. Dromer would like to thank for the technical help of the sequencing facility and specifically that of I, Diancourt, A-S Delannoy-Vieillard, J-M Thiberge (Genotyping of Pathogens and Public Health, Institut Pasteur). RM Zancope-Oliveira would like to thank the Genomic/DNA Sequencing Platform at Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz-PDTIS/FIOCRUZ [RPT01A], Brazil for the sequencing. B Robbertse and CL Schoch acknowledge support from the Intramural Research Program of the NIH, National Library of Medicine. T Sorrell's work is funded by the NH&MRC of Australia; she is a Sydney Medical School Foundation Fellow., info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

Fermentation processes for the biochemical reagents cerulenin and helvolic acid employ 'Cephalosporium caerulens,' an invalidly published designation that has been used for more than 40 years. However, its identity has never been critically examined because strains were unavailable from major culture collections. An authentic strain of C. caerulens', derived from the original strain KF-140, was recently found and compared to Sarocladium oryzae, another Acremonium-like fungus which also produces cerulenin and helvolic acid. Morphological comparisons, rDNA sequence data, and chromatography of secondary metabolites established that 'C. caerulens' and S. oryzae are conspecific. Sequence data from ribosomal DNA genes indicated S. oryzae belongs to the Hypocreales and is allied with members of the Ceratostomataceae, Scopinella species, Emericellopsis species and certain Acremonium-like anamorphs of uncertain familial relationships. At least two of the isolates of S. oryzae produced titres of cerulenin and helvolic acid similar to those of KF-140. This finding demonstrates that manufacture of cerulenin need not be limited to the original strain.

The new species Umbelopsis dimorpha sp. nov. was isolated from a soil sample in the Red Hills area of Mt Richmond Forest Park, in the northern part of the South Island of New Zealand. It has two kinds of pale pinkish sporangia: (1) single-spored, indistinguishable from those of U. versiformis; and (2) multi-spored, similar to those of U. vinacea. ITS sequences place the species in the immediate vicinity of the former species.

Petri disease, or black goo, is a serious disease of vines in most areas where grapevines are cultivated. The predominant associated fungus is Phaeomoniella chlamydospora (Chaetothyriales). Several species of Phaeoacremonium (Pm.) also are associated, of which Pm. aleophilum is the most common. Although no teleomorph is known for Phaeoacremonium, the genus Togninia previously has been linked to phaeoacremonium-like anamorphs. To investigate the possible anamorph-teleomorph connection of Phaeoacremonium to Togninia, anamorphs of Togninia minima, T. fraxinopennsylvanica and T. novae-zealandiae morphologically were compared with Pm. aleophilum and some representative cultures were mated in all combinations. Although no interspecies mating proved fertile, matings between isolates of Pm. aleophilum produced a Togninia teleomorph within 3-4 weeks. Certain field isolates of Pm. aleophilum commonly produced the teleomorph, demonstrating that both mating types can occur in the same vine and thus also explaining the genetic diversity observed for this fungus in some vineyards. To elucidate the phylogenetic relationships among these taxa, isolates were subjected to sequence analysis of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacers (ITS1, ITS2) and the 5.8S rRNA gene, as well as portions of the translation elongation factor 1 alpha (EF-1α) gene. The generic placement of teleomorphs within Togninia (Calosphaeriales) further was confirmed via phylogenetic analyses of 18S small subunit (SSU) DNA. From these sequences, morphological and mating data, we conclude that T. minima is the teleomorph of Pm. aleophilum, and that it has a biallelic heterothallic mating system. An epitype and mating type tester strains also are designated for T. minima.

The morphology of two soil-borne Verticillium species, V. dahliae and V. tricorpus, was studied on two semi-selective agar media, in the absence and presence of soil. Morphology of the fungi differed considerably between the media, with respect to presence and shape of microsclerotia, dark hyphae (i.e. short melanised hyphae attached to the microsclerotia) and dark mycelium (i.e. melanised mycelium throughout the colony). On modified soil extract agar (MSEA), a pectate based agar, V. dahliae always had globose to elongate microsclerotia, without dark hyphae or dark mycelium, whereas V. tricorpus always had dark hyphae or dark mycelium, and micro sclerotia.. whenever present, were globose to irregular in shape. On ethanol agar (EA), V. dahliae had large microsclerotia and abundant dark hyphae, whereas V. tricorpus did not form microsclerotia, but always abundant dark mycelium. For the first time we observed the formation of dark hyphae by V. dahliae to a great extent. in the presence of soil, most characteristics were less pronounced, and V. dahliae microsclerotia were smaller, but V. tricorpus produced large microsclerotia, even when they were absent in pure culture. Morphological characteristics suitable for discrimination between the two species on MSEA plates in the presence of soil were selected and tested with fresh isolates from agricultural fields. The two fungi could be distinguished using qualitative characteristics and microsclerotial size. Molecular analysis and morphology on potato dextrose agar confirmed all identifications made on soil dilution plates.

Trichoderma aggressivum sp. nov. and T. aggressivum f. europaeum f. nov. are described. These forms cause the green mold epidemic in commercially grown Agaricus bisporus in North America and Europe, respectively. In the literature they have been reported as T. harzianum biotypes Th 4 and Th 2, respectively. They are strongly separated from their closest relative, T. harzianum, in sequences of the ITS-1 region of nuclear rDNA and an approximately 689 bp fragment of the protein coding translation elongation factor gene (EF-1α). They are distinguished from the morphologically similar T. harzianum and T. atroviride (the latter also known as biotype Th 3) most readily by rate of growth. Of these, only T. harzianum grows well and sporulates at 35 C, while T. atroviride is the slowest growing. Trichoderma aggressivum f. aggressivum and f. europaeum are effectively indistinguishable morphologically although they have subtly different growth rates at 25 C on SNA and statistically significant micromorphological differences. Based on findings of this study, descriptions of T. harzianum and T. atroviride are expanded. A key to Trichoderma species commonly found associated with commercially grown A. bisporus is provided.

Based on ITS and β-tubulin sequence data of 33 isolates, the newly introduced genus, Phaeomoniella was confirmed as being distinct from Phaeoacremonium (Pm.). Phylogeny inferred from DNA sequences and cultural characteristics also confirmed the species status of Pm. aleophilum and Pm. angustius , which were recently reduced to synonymy. Pm. aleophilum has an optimum growth rate at 30 °C and the ability to grow at 35°, whereas Pm. angustius has an optimum growth rate at 25 °C and does not grow at 35°. Furthermore, ITS and β-tubulin sequence data showed Pm. viticola to be indistinguishable from Pm. angustius , while a new species, Pm. mortoniae , could be distinguished from this complex.

Two unusual species of Acremonium sect. Acremonium, A. borodinense sp. nov. and A. cavaraeanum, are described and illustrated. They were isolated in Japan from rhizosphere soil of sugarcane and an outer wall of a wooden house respectively. A. borodinense is characterized by forming two kinds of conidia, ellipsoidal rough-walled and cylindrical smooth-walled. Of A. cavaraeanum a second isolate has become available; it forms long chains of fusiform conidia, has a luteous reverse and exudes a livid-red pigment into the medium.

Because the common soil fungus and mycoparasite Gliocladium roseum differs from the type species of Gliocladium, G. penicillioides, in morphology, ecology, teleomorph, and DNA sequence data, it is ...

Trichoderma harzianum is neotypified by an isolate from the type locality, and this neotype is fully described. It is compared with original herbarium specimens and recent isolates of T. at...

Two nematode-parasitic isolates of Harposporium are reported to form synanamorphs attributable to the Hirsutella . One is attributed to Harposporium anguillulae , the second is described as a new species, H. cerberi. H. cerberi also produced an arthroconidial synanamorph. In infection studies of nematodes, conidia typical of Harposporium proved to be capable of killing bacterial feeding nematodes ( Rhabditis sp.) when ingested. Infective conidia of H. cerberi were located posterior to the oesophageal bulb, while those of H. anguillulae lodged above it. Hirsutella conidia were not observed to be infective or adhesive, and none of the spore forms was capable of infecting either of two species of stylet-bearing nematodes ( Aphelenchus sp. and Meloidogyne hapla ).

A new hyphomycete genus, Phaeoacremonium, is proposed for five new species, P. aleophilum, P. angustius, P. chlamydosporum, P. inflatipes, P. rubrigenum, and the type species, P. parasiticum, which...

Sequences of the internal transcribed spacers of the ribosomal DNA were used to compare 13 species from Fusarium sections Elegans, Liseola and Dlaminia. Two UPGMA similarity dendrograms based on the sequences ofthe ITS1 and ITS2 regions were discordant with each other. The dendrogram for ITS1 revealed a close similarity for most species except F. beomiforme and F. polyphialidicum. In con? trast, species groupings based on the ITS2 sequences formed two main clusters that did not coincide with

Plectosporium is described as a new genus for Fusarium tabacinum (≡ Cephalosporium tabacinum), the anamorph of Plectosphaerella cucumerina. The genus is characterized by moist colonies, sim...

In Phomopsis leptostromiformis two varieties, leptostromiformis and occidentalis have been known. The present investigation confirmed that only P. l. var. occidentalis produced its teleomorph in vitro . For this fungus, isolated in Western Australia, the name Diaporthe woodii is recognized. Observations of the fungal development on infected lupin stubble in the field resulted in the discovery of the teleomorph of the Phomopsis state earlier recognized as var. leptostromiformis , which causes the lupinosis problem in grazing animals. The teleomorphs of the two taxa are sufficiently different to regard them as two distinct species. A new species, D. toxica , is described for the teleomorph of the toxigenic Phomopsis .

Ticogloea guttulata , classified in a new genus of Hyphomycetes, was isolated from the rhizoplane of Ticodendron incognitum from the premontane rain forest in Costa Rica. It is characterized by holoblastic, solitary, aseptate, dark brown conidia, produced on simple or short-stalked cells, which are polyblastic and arise in dense clusters from aerial hyphae or hyphal bundles. Ultrastructure of its cell wall and septal pore indicates an affinity to Ascomycetes; it is equipped with an ubiquinone system of CoQ-10H 2 . Related genera of Hyphomycetes are compared and discussed.

The chemical and antigenic characteristics of extracellular polysaccharides of moulds belonging to the mortierella isabellina group were determined. The study was used to establish the affinity of the group to either the Mucoraceae or the Mortierellaceae. The extracellular polysaccharides showed antigenic similarity with the Mucoraceae and related families, as they reacted with IgG antibodies raised against EPS from Mucor racemosus . Also, the presence of β(1–4)- d -glucuronic acid polymers, previously established as characteristic for these families, support classification in this affinity.

Verticillium fungicola, the type species of Verticillium sect. Albo-erecta, and related taxa were studied using morphological and molecular techniques. Sequences of the ITS region and SSU rDNA suggest that V. fungicola is very close to members of the genus Lecanicillium and unrelated to other species that were originally accommodated in the same section. New combinations in Lecanicillium are proposed for Verticillium fungicola and its var. flavidum at species rank, L. f. var. aleophilum is retained as a variety. These taxa can be distinguished from each other by optimum and maximum temperatures for growth, in addition to ITS sequence differences. Morphologically, L. flavidum is also distinct by repeated branching of the conidiophores, whereas the two varieties of L. fungicola have a simple conidiophore axis.

A comprehensive phylogenetic classification of the kingdom Fungi is proposed, with reference to recent molecular phylogenetic analyses, and with input from diverse members of the fungal taxonomic community. The classification includes 195 taxa, down to the level of order, of which 16 are described or validated here: Dikarya subkingdom nov.; Chytridiomycota, Neocallimastigomycota phyla nov.; Monoblepharidomycetes, Neocallimastigomycetes class. nov.; Eurotiomycetidae, Lecarioromycetidae, Mycocaliciomycetidae subclass. nov.; Acarosporales, Corticiales, Baeomycetales, Candelariales, Gloeophyllales, Melanosporales, Trechisporales, Umbilicariales ords. nov. The clade containing Ascomycota and Basidiomycota is classified as subkingdom Dikarya, reflecting the putative synapomorphy of dikaryotic hyphae. The most dramatic shifts in the classification relative to previous works concern the groups that have traditionally been included in the Chytridiomycota and Zygomycota. The Chytridiomycota is retained in a restricted sense, with Blastocladiomycota and Neocallimastigomycota representing segregate phyla of flagellated Fungi. Taxa traditionally placed in Zygomycota are distributed among Glomeromycota and several subphyla incertae sedis, including Mucoromycotina, Entomophthoromycotina, Kickxellomycotina, and Zoopagomycotiria. Microsporidia are included in the Fungi, but no further subdivision of the group is proposed. Several genera of 'basal' Fungi of uncertain position are not placed in any higher taxa, including Basidiobolus, Caulochytrium, Olpidium, and Rozella. (c) 2007 The British Mycological Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Eight strains of Trichoderma species (T. strigosum, T. erinaceus, T. pubescens, T. stromaticum, and T. spirale as well as T. cf. strigosum, T. cf. pubescens) were selected because of their antagonistic potential against Eutypa dieback and Esca which are fungal diseases of grapevine trunks. These isolates were screened for the production of a group of polypeptide antibiotics named peptaibiotics, including its subgroups peptaibols and lipopeptaibols. Fully-grown fungal cultures on potato-dextrose agar were extracted with CH(2)Cl(2)/MeOH, and these extracts were subjected to SPE using C(18) cartridges. The methanolic eluates were analyzed by on-line LC/ESI-MS(n) coupling--a method which is referred to as 'peptaibiomics'. New seven-, ten-, and eleven-residue lipopeptaibols, with N-terminal alkanoyl, and C-terminal leucinol or isoleucinol residues were found and named lipostrigocins and lipopubescins. Furthermore, new 18-residue peptaibols named trichostromaticins and 19-residue peptaibols named trichostrigocins were discovered. One peptaibiotic carrying a free C-terminal valine (or isovaline) named trichocompactin XII was also sequenced. These results corroborate the hypothesis that peptaibiotics might contribute to the plant-protective action of their fungal producers. The data also point out that comparison of peptaibiotic sequences is of limited relevance in order to establish chemotaxonomic relationships among species of the genus Trichoderma.

A hyphomycetous fungus isolated from montane fen soil in the Caucasus Mountains, Russia, had obscurely sympodial conidiogenous cells that suggested a link to the heterogeneous genus Leptodontidium. Sequence analysis of the nuclear ribosomal small subunit and internal transcribed spacer region, however, disclosed that the fungus was an anamorphic member of a clade containing the cleistothecial ascomycetous genus Pseudeurotium. Teberdinia, gen. nov., is proposed for the blastic, generally sympodially proliferating anamorphs in this group, and Teberdinia hygrophila, sp. nov., is proposed for the species from upland fens. Binomials are not proposed for the remaining Teberdinia anamorphs of Pseudeurotium species. Purely anamorphic isolates in this clade are difficult to recognize using current morphological keys and might be more widely distributed and ecologically significant than is currently evident.

The monotype species of the genus Verticillium, Verticillium tenerum, is a synonym of the older name Sporotrichum luteo-album. Its purported teleomorph connection with 'Nectria' inventa is refuted and the preserved specimens of that species are considered as probably identical with Stephanonectria keithii (Bionectriaceae). V. luteo-album takes a unique position in the Glomerella clade of ascomycetes, as sister of the Verticillium-Plectosphaerella clade, which comprises plant-pathogenic species. V. luteo-album is not closely related to V. dahliae and its relatives, which are also situated in this clade. Conservation of the name Verticillium with V. dahliae as conserved type will be necessary to retain this generic name for the plant-pathogenic Verticillium species. In anticipation of this conservation, the new combination Acrostalagmus luteo-albus (syn. Sporotrichum luteo-album) is made.

In a continuation of studies started by de Ruiter et al. (1993), all known species of the Mortierella isabellina-group (Micromucor/Umbelopsis clade of O'Donnell et al. 2001) and a few other Mucorales and species of Mortierella were investigated by RFLP (including ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2 and the 5' end of the large subunit rDNA gene) and ITS1 sequence analyses. This monophyletic group is unrelated to Mortierella and is only distantly related to the core group of the Mucoraceae. M. longicollis falls outside the Umbelopsis clade. Molecular data resolved two subclades within the M. isabellina-group; however, they are not correlated with any differences in sporangial wall and shape, spore pigmentation and shape, or sporangiophore branching. Therefore we subsume all taxa in one genus, Umbelopsis. The new family Umbelopsidaceae and the new combinations U. isabellina, U. ramanniana, and U. autotrophica are proposed.

This issue of Mycological Research News features: Forthcoming International Mycological Meetings. Fifteen papers are presented. The first consider the functional assignments of Aspergillus nidulans genes, and coding and non-coding data in the model fungus Phycomyces blakesleeanus. Molecular phylogenetic studies are used to present a new classification of the lichen-forming genus Melanelia, determine the relationships of Stachybotrys chartarum, examine the phylogeny and biogeography of Amanita muscaria and A. pantherina, and re-evaluate the identity of Trichoderma isolates used in biocontrol. Mycoviruses are reported from Monilinia fructicola for the first time. Pleurotus sajor-caju can degrade toxic juglone, and the degradation of tannic acid by black Aspergillus species is compared. The dynamics of fungi and other organisms in soil are studied with ergosterol and glomalin markers. The distribution of the dark septate endophyte Phialocephala fortinii is examined in Canada, and in a broader study found to comprise different genotypes; the melanin in the endophytic Phyllosticta capitalensis is also characterized. Influences on the solubilization of metal phosphate by ericoid mycorrhizal fungi are explored, as are the factors affecting the growth of Potebniamyces pyri. The following new scientific names are introduced: Melanelixia, and Melanohalea gens. nov.; Melanelixia albertana (syn. Parmelia albertana) M. fuliginosa (syn. P. olivacea var. fuliginosa), M. glabra (syn. P. olivacea f. glabra), M. glabroides (syn. P. glabroides), M. huei (syn. P. huei), M. subargentifera (syn. P. subargentifera), M. subaurifera (syn. P. subaurifera), M. villosella (syn. P. villosella), Melanohalea elegantula (syn. P. olivacea var. elegantula), M. exasperate (syn. P. exasperate), M. exasperatula (syn. P. exasperatula), M. gomukhensis (syn. Melanelia gomukhensis), Melanohalea halei (syn. Parmelia halei), M. inactiva (syn. Melanelia inactiva), Melanohalea infumata (syn. P. infumata), M. laciniatula (syn. P. exasperate var. laciniatula), M. multispora (syn. P. multispora), M. olivacea (syn. Lichen olivaceus), M. olivaceoides (syn. P. olivaceoides), M. poeltii (syn. Melanelia poeltii), Melanohalea septentrionalis (syn. P. olivacea var. septentrionalis), M. subelegantula (syn. Parmelia subelegantula), M. subolivacea (syn. P. subolivacea), M. subverruculifera (syn. P. subverruculifera), M. trabeculata (syn. P. trabeculata), M. ushuaiensis (syn. P. ushuaiensis), and M. zopheroa (syn. Melanelia zopheroa) combs. nov.

Random amplified polymorphic DNA pattern (RAPD pattern) analysis and secondary metabolite profile (SM profile) assays were used to investigate genetic variability within Fusarium culmorum and Fusarium avenaceum isolated from four geographic regions in The Netherlands. The main aim was to investigate the genotypic and phenotypic variability within the two species in relation to geographic origin. The occurrence of isolates with a certain characteristic set of RAPD pattern and SM profile could have predictive values on the mycotoxins found in the cereals originating from certain geographic regions. Among the F. culmorum isolates, small variations were found with RAPD pattern analysis. F. culmorum isolates belonging to the RAPD type I were found in all four geographic regions in The Netherlands while isolates with RAPD types Ia and Ib were obtained from region B only. All F. culmorum isolates showed a different SM profile. F. avenaceum isolates were very heterogeneous both with RAPD pattern analysis and SM profile assay, resulting in individual identification of each isolate. It is concluded that the combination of RAPD pattern analysis and SM profile assays is very powerful to differentiate Fusarium isolates, permitting visualization of variations between occurring isolates. However, due to high discrimination of both assays, the application for epidemiological procedures seems to be limited.

The genus Fusarium harbours important plant pathogens and mycotoxin producers. One of the economically most important species is F. oxysporum, that comprises over one hundred formae speciales as well as saprophytic and antagonistic strains. F. oxysporum belongs to section Elegans, together with F. redolens. The questionable morphological distinction between the latter two species has been the subject of many studies [1, 3, 4, 7, 11]. Sequence analysis of part of the 28S ribosomal RNA gene indicates that Elegans is most closely related to Liseola [5]. The section Liseola comprises many mycotoxin-producing species such as F. fujikuroi, F. proliferatum, F. sacchari, F. subglutinans and F. verticillioides. The distinction between section Liseola, without chlamydospores, and Elegans, with chlamydospores, is increasingly questioned and a new section, Dlaminia, has even been proposed to accommodate species such as F. dlaminii that combine characteristics of both sections [6].

Trichoderma brevicompactum, a new spe- cies, was isolated from soil or tree bark in North, Cen- tral and South America, including the Caribbean Is- lands, and southwestern and southeastern Asia. Mor- phological and physiological characters, the internal transcribed spacer regions of the rDNA cluster (ITS1- 5.8SrDNA-ITS2) and partial sequences of translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1) are described. Tricho- derma brevicompactum is characterized by a pachyba- sium-type morphology, morphologically resembling other small-spored species referable to Trichoderma section Pachybasium but with essentially subglobose conidia. It is most closely related phylogenetically to Hypocrea lutea, from which it differs in morphologi- cal and physiological characters.

The new genus Phialemonium is described for the three new species Ph. obovatum, Ph. curvatum, and Ph. dimorphosporum. The genus is intermediate between Acremonium Link: Fr. and Phialophora Medlar, being characterized by short cylindrical, lateral adelophialides arising from creeping vegetative hyphae, and by lacking conspicuous collarettes and periclinal wall thickenings. For the Phialophora hoffmannii group, the genus Lecythophora Nannfeldt is reintroduced. The new combinations L. hoffmannii and L. mutabilis are proposed. The anamorph genera Acremonium Link:Fr. and Phialophora Medlar are generally accepted as being heterogeneous and not sharply delimited. Acremonium comprises anamorphs associated with some species of Emericellopsis (Cephalothecaceae, Eurotiales) and several nectriaceous genera (Gams, 1971; Samuels, 1976), as well as some fungi classified in the Pseudeurotiaceae (Malloch and Cain, 1970), Chaetomiaceae, and Clavicipitaceae (Morgan-Jones and Gams, 1982). Carmichael et al. (1980) and Kendrick and DiCosmo (1979) listed these and some other connections in detail, though not all of the combinations listed formerly as "Cephalosporium" are actually referable to Acremonium. The genus Phialophora comprises not only anamorphs of many genera of the Helotiales (Hennebert and Bellemere, 1979), but also of the pyrenomycetous genera Coniochaeta (Coniochaetaceae, Schol-Schwarz, 1970; Hawksworth and Yip, 1981), Lasiosphaeria (Lasiosphaeriaceae, Gams and Holubova-Jechova, 1976), and Gaeumannomyces (Diaporthaceae, Walker, 1980). To establish a practical system of classification for these anamorph genera, they should not be split further, though more natural groups that correlate with their appropriate teleomorph genera can sometimes be distinguished at the subgeneric level (Morgan-Jones and Gams, 1982) for these taxa.

A new species, Mortierella indohii, produces partially invested zygospores and stylospores (aerial, stalked, spiny chlamydospores). It appears closely related to M. polycephala. A second species, M...

An Acremonium sp. has been involved in serious losses of muskmelon in Spain for several years. The common name suggested for the disease is "Acremonium collapse", due to the rapid death of affected plants. More recently, the fungus has been isolated from cucurbits in the United States, from California and Texas production areas. The species is described as Acremonium cucurbitacearum Alfaro