Taxonomic revisions in the Microstromatales: two new yeast species,two new genera,and validation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Jaminaea</Emphasis> and two <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sympodiomycopsis</Emphasis> species

Environmental sampling yielded two yeast species belonging to Microstromatales (Exobasidiomycetes, Ustilaginomycotina). The first species was collected from a leaf phylloplane infected by the rust fungus Coleosporium plumeriae, and represents a new species in the genus Jaminaea, for which the name Jaminaea rosea sp. nov. is proposed. The second species was isolated from air on 50% glucose media and is most similar to Microstroma phylloplanum. However, our phylogenetic analyses reveal that species currently placed in Microstroma are not monophyletic, and M. phylloplanum, M. juglandis and M. albiziae are not related to the type species of this genus, M. album. Thus, Pseudomicrostroma gen. nov. is proposed to accommodate the following species: P. glucosiphilum sp. nov., P. phylloplanum comb. nov. and P. juglandis comb. nov. We also propose Parajaminaea gen. nov. to accommodate P. albizii comb. nov. and P. phylloscopi sp. nov. based on phylogenetic analyses that show these are not congeneric with Jaminaea or Microstroma. In addition, we validate the genus Jaminaea, its respective species and two species of Sympodiomycopsis and provide a new combination, Microstroma bacarum comb. nov., for the anamorphic yeast Rhodotorula bacarum. Our results illustrate non-monophyly of Quambalariaceae and Microstromataceae as currently circumscribed. Taxonomy of Microstroma and the Microstromataceae is reviewed and discussed. Finally, analyses of all available small subunit rDNA sequences for Jaminaea species show that J. angkorensis is the only known species that possess a group I intron in this locus, once considered a potential feature indicating the basal placement of this genus in Microstromatales.     

New <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penicillium</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Talaromyces</Emphasis> species from honey,pollen and nests of stingless bees

Penicillium and Talaromyces species have a worldwide distribution and are isolated from various materials and hosts, including insects and their substrates. The aim of this study was to characterize the Penicillium and Talaromyces species obtained during a survey of honey, pollen and the inside of nests of Melipona scutellaris. A total of 100 isolates were obtained during the survey and 82% of those strains belonged to Penicillium and 18% to Talaromyces. Identification of these isolates was performed based on phenotypic characters and β-tubulin and ITS sequencing. Twenty-one species were identified in Penicillium and six in Talaromyces, including seven new species. These new species were studied in detail using a polyphasic approach combining phenotypic, molecular and extrolite data. The four new Penicillium species belong to sections Sclerotiora (Penicillium fernandesiae sp. nov., Penicillium mellis sp. nov., Penicillium meliponae sp. nov.) and Gracilenta (Penicillium apimei sp. nov.) and the three new Talaromyces species to sections Helici (Talaromyces pigmentosus sp. nov.), Talaromyces (Talaromyces mycothecae sp. nov.) and Trachyspermi (Talaromyces brasiliensis sp. nov.). The invalidly described species Penicillium echinulonalgiovense sp. nov. was also isolated during the survey and this species is validated here.     

Taxonomy and pathogenicity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Leptographium</Emphasis> species associated with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ips subelongatus</Emphasis> infestations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Larix</Emphasis> spp. in northern China,including two new species

The larch bark beetle (Ips subelongatus), which occurs in larch plantations over a vast area of eastern Asia, infects both dying and fallen trees. When its population reaches a high density, the beetle may also infect healthy trees, resulting in tree decline and, eventually, death. Leptographium spp., in both their sexual and asexual states, are mainly associated with conifer-infesting bark beetles; some species are important tree pathogens. The aims of this study were to identify the Leptographium spp. associated with I. subelongatus infestations of Larix spp. in northern China and to examine their pathogenicity towards the tree. Morphological studies and phylogenetic approaches based on multilocus DNA sequence data (ITS2- partial r28S, partial β-tubulin, and EF-1α gene regions) showed that three Leptographium species occur in association with I. subelongatus in the areas investigated: Leptographium taigense, which is recorded in China for the first time, and two new species, namely L. innermongolicum sp. nov. and L. zhangii sp. nov. Leptographium innermongolicum is closely related to L. taigense, whereas L. zhangii belongs to the Grosmannia piceaperda species complex. The pathogenicity of these Leptographium species towards mature Larix spp. was tested by stem inoculation in forests. All inoculations only resulted in small lesions on the inner bark; therefore, the three Leptographium species were not considered to be pathogenic.     

<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">d</Emphasis>-Xylose fermentation,xylitol production and xylanase activities by seven new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sugiyamaella</Emphasis>

Sixteen yeast isolates identified as belonging to the genus Sugiyamaella were studied in relation to D-xylose fermentation, xylitol production, and xylanase activities. The yeasts were recovered from rotting wood and sugarcane bagasse samples in different Brazilian regions. Sequence analyses of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the D1/D2 domains of large subunit rRNA gene showed that these isolates belong to seven new species. The species are described here as Sugiyamaella ayubii f.a., sp. nov. (UFMG-CM-Y607^T = CBS 14108^T), Sugiyamaella bahiana f.a., sp. nov. (UFMG-CM-Y304^T = CBS 13474^T), Sugiyamaella bonitensis f.a., sp. nov. (UFMG-CM-Y608^T = CBS 14270^T), Sugiyamaella carassensis f.a., sp. nov. (UFMG-CM-Y606^T = CBS 14107^T), Sugiyamaella ligni f.a., sp. nov. (UFMG-CM-Y295^T = CBS 13482^T), Sugiyamaella valenteae f.a., sp. nov. (UFMG-CM-Y609^T = CBS 14109^T) and Sugiyamaella xylolytica f.a., sp. nov. (UFMG-CM-Y348^T = CBS 13493^T). Strains of the described species S. boreocaroliniensis, S. lignohabitans, S. novakii and S. xylanicola, isolated from rotting wood of Brazilian ecosystems, were also compared for traits relevant to xylose metabolism. S. valenteae sp. nov., S. xylolytica sp. nov., S. bahiana sp. nov., S. bonitensis sp. nov., S. boreocarolinensis, S. lignohabitans and S. xylanicola were able to ferment d-xylose to ethanol. Xylitol production was observed for all Sugiyamaella species studied, except for S. ayubii sp. nov. All species studied showed xylanolytic activity, with S. xylanicola, S. lignohabitans and S. valenteae sp. nov. having the highest values. Our results suggest these Sugiyamaella species have good potential for biotechnological applications.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Allophoma hayatii</Emphasis> sp. nov., an undescribed pathogenic fungus causing dieback of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lantana camara</Emphasis> in Iran

Dieback and canker diseases are a major problem in ornamental shrubs and trees of Ahvaz, southwestern Iran. Symptomatic stems and branches were collected from two urban parks in the downtown regions of Ahvaz to identify the dieback-causing agents of Lantana camara. Accordingly, two isolates of a new species, Allophoma hayatii sp. nov., were obtained, which are described and illustrated. This species is identified based on morphological characters and analyses of nucleotide sequences of four regions, including internal transcribed spacer 1 and 2 and 5.8S nrDNA (ITS), partial large subunit 28S nrDNA (LSU-D1/D2), a partial sequence of the β-tubulin (tub2) and part of the RNA polymerase II (rpb2). The isolates of A. hayatii generated a well-supported clade in the trees constructed from multi-locus phylogenetic analysis, distinct from other previously known species of Allophoma. Pathogenicity of both isolates was verified by the inoculation of stem fragments of L. camara. These findings confirm A. hayatii as the causal agents of dieback and canker of L. camara in Ahvaz.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Calcarisporium xylariicola</Emphasis> sp. nov. and introduction of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Calcarisporiaceae</Emphasis> fam. nov. in Hypocreales

During a survey of fungicolous fungi, a novel taxon from the surface of stroma of an unidentified Xylaria species was collected. Phylogenetic analyses showed that this taxon clustered with Calcarisporium sp. and C. arbuscula isolates, but was resolved as a distinct species. A detailed morphological examination coupled with phylogenetic analysis indicated that the taxon represented a new species. Calcarisporium xylariicola sp. nov. is thus introduced. The new taxon is characterized by short conidiophores with swollen bases and less length/width ratio of conidia that distinguish it from other Calcarisporium species. Calcarisporium is presently placed in Hypocreales genera, incertae sedis genus. Species in the genus are largely fungicolous, or occasionally caulicolous or foliicolous, and have hyaline, erect, verticillate conidiophores and sympodial, polyblastic conidiation. A phylogenetic analysis of combined SSU, ITS, LSU, TEF and RPB2 sequence data from Calcarisporium species and other taxa in Hypocreales indicate that Calcarisporium is a distinct lineage from other families. Therefore, a new family, Calcarisporiaceae, in Hypocreales is introduced.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cantharellus</Emphasis> sect. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Amethystini</Emphasis> in Asia

In this contribution on the genus Cantharellus in Asia, C. subvaginatus is described from the Republic of Korea as a close relative to the Chinese C. vaginatus, which is here reported for the first time from India. Both species are here placed in Cantharellus subg. Cantharellus sect. Amethystini, together with the Indian C. pseudoformosus (syn.: C. umbonatus) and the Malayan C. subamethysteus. As such, Asia has suddenly become the continent with the highest diversity for Amethystini. Species delimitation in sect. Amethystini is molecularly supported by a combined phylogenetic analysis of rDNA sequences obtained for LSU and ITS and additionally suggests the existence of a still undescribed species in North America. Character variability is discussed for all known members of Amethystini, including atypical specimens of the North American C. lewisii that are morphologically more reminiscent of the South Korean C. subvaginatus.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cacopsylla biwa</Emphasis> sp. nov. (Hemiptera: Psyllidae): a new pest of loquat <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eriobotrya japonica</Emphasis> (Rosaceae) in Japan

A new psyllid species, Cacopsylla biwa Inoue, sp. nov., is described from Tokushima Prefecture, Shikoku, Japan. This new species develops only on Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. (Rosaceae), causing severe damage to its fruits and flowers. It is strongly suspected that C. biwa is an alien species. Morphological similarities and host-plant relationships indicate that C. biwa is most closely related to Cacopsylla eriobotryae (Yang) comb. nov. (transferred from Edentatipsylla Li), which occurs in Taiwan and feeds on Eriobotrya deflexa (Hemsl.) Nakai. Morphological diagnostic characteristics of C. biwa and differences from the other congeners are discussed. Information is provided on the biology and life cycle of the new species.     

The genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusariella</Emphasis>

The genus Fusariella, typified by F. atrovirens, is characterised by semi- to macronematous, mononematous conidiophores, with cylindrical, subulate or lageniform phialidic conidiogenous cells that produce catenate, septate, curved to straight, subhyaline to brown conidia. During a survey of hyaline-spored hyphomycetes from karst areas in Thailand, we collected a new species of Fusariella with curved conidia and introduce it in this paper as Fusariella curvata sp. nov. In addition, all hitherto described species of Fusariella are reviewed. The result of phylogenetic analyses, based on combined SSU, LSU, TEF and RPB2 sequence data, indicates that the genus belongs in the family Bionectriaceae (Hypocreales, Sordariomycetes).     

Disentangling the effects of isolation-by-distance and isolation-by-environment on genetic differentiation among <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhododendron</Emphasis> lineages in the subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tsutsusi</Emphasis>

Ecological speciation has long been noted as a central topic in the field of evolutionary biology, and investigation into the relative importance of ecological and geographical factors is becoming increasingly emphasized. We surveyed genetic variation of 277 samples from 25 populations of nine Rhododendron species within Tsutsusi subgenus in Taiwan using simple sequence repeats of expressed sequence tags. Bayesian clustering revealed four genetic lineages: (1) the Rhododendron simsii, Rhododendron kanehirai, and Rhododendron nakaharae lineage (lineage 1); (2) the Rhododendron longiperulatum, Rhododendron breviperulatum, and Rhododendron noriakianum lineage (lineage 2); (3) the Rhododendron rubropilosum lineage (lineage 3); and (4) the Rhododendron oldhamii lineage (lineage 4). Asymmetric introgressions were found from lineage 3 into lineages 1 and 2 (introgressed lineages). Genetic admixture of non-R. oldhamii species was also revealed by a neighbor-joining tree. Variation partitioning showed that environment explained much larger portions of genetic variation than geography between non-introgressed lineages (i.e., between R. oldhamii and other lineages). However, the Mantel and partial Mantel tests and the multiple matrix regression with randomization found that isolation-by-distance played a more important role than isolation-by-environment (IBE) in contributing to genetic variation in most between lineage comparisons. Nevertheless, strong IBE was found when compared between non-introgressed lineages of R. oldhamii and R. rubropilosum, suggesting post-speciation ecological divergence. Several environmental variables, including annual mean temperature, aspect, isothermality, seasonal precipitation, slope, and soil pH, could be important ecological drivers involved in reproductive isolation between R. oldhamii and non-R. oldhamii species within the Tsutsusi subgenus.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Elaphoglossum mickeliorum</Emphasis> (Dryopteridaceae), a new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Elaphoglossum</Emphasis> sect. <Emphasis Type="Italic">Polytrichia</Emphasis> from Peru

Elaphoglossum mickeliorum, a new species from the eastern slopes of the Peruvian Andes, is here described and illustrated. It belongs to E. sect. Polytrichia, which is characterized by the presence of subulate scales and absence of hydathodes on the sterile leaves of adult sporophytes. Herbarium specimens of this new species were first collected by Alwyn H. Gentry ca. 40 years ago, but these got readily confused with E. erinaceum and went undescribed since then. The new species differs from members of the E. erinaceum complex by having a nearly continuous band of planar, nonsubulate scales along the laminar margins of sterile leaves. Based on this character, E. mickeliorum resembles species such as E. glaziovii, E. ornatum, and E. scolopendrifolium. It differs from these by the presence of minute glandular hairs on petioles and costae. A distribution map and a figure with line drawings are also provided. For comparative purposes, the line drawing includes E. blepharoglottis, which is here illustrated for the first time.     

Polyphasic characterisation of three novel species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paraboeremia</Emphasis>

Paraboeremia was recently introduced for a distinct lineage in the family Didymellaceae. Currently, three species are included, i.e. P. adianticola, P. putaminum and P. selaginellae, all of which are plant pathogens. Paraboeremia is morphologically similar to Phoma but phylogenetically distinct. In this paper, three new species, i.e. Paraboeremia camelliae isolated from Camellia sp., P. litseae from Litsea sp., and P. oligotrophica from cave limestone, are described, illustrated and compared with closely related taxa. Phylogenetic analysis based on the multi-locus sequences of the internal transcribed spacer regions 1 and 2 and 5.8S nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (ITS), partial large subunit 28S nrDNA region (LSU), partial β-tubulin (TUB2) gene and RNA polymerase II (RPB2) gene regions confirmed the distinction of these species in Paraboeremia. These three new species were discovered from habitats and hosts that are previously unknown from this genus.