<Emphasis Type="Italic">Dictyochaeta multifimbriata</Emphasis>, a new species from Taiwan

A new species of the dematiaceous hyphomycete genus Dictyochaeta was collected on a dead twig in Taiwan. It is characterised by solitary conidiophores and reniform, non-septate conidia with several setulae at each end. The species is compared with other species having non-septate, setulate conidia and is described as Dictyochaeta multifimbriata.     

Dactylella chichisimensis, sp. nov. in the Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands, Japan

ADactylella isolate obtained from soil in the Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands, Japan is described and illustrated as a new species,D. chichisimensis. The fungus is characterized by single terminal multiseptate clavate or ellipsoidal conidia at the apex of simple conidiophores and mycelium that forms chlamydospores and sclerotia. A key is provided for sixDactylella species that produce primary clavate or ellipsoidal conidia at the apex of simple conidiophores.     

Three new species and a new record of Diplococcium from plant debris in Spain

Diplococcium dimorphosporum sp. nov., D. racemosum sp. nov., D. singulare sp. nov. and D. pulneyense Subram. & Sekar collected from plant debris in natural areas of Spain are described and illustrated. The first species is characterized principally by the production of branched conidiophores and short chains of conidia. Diplococcium singulare has unbranched conidiophores, and conidia produced usually at the tip of conidiophores and from lateral spherical conidiogenous cells. In addition, both species develop a Selenosporella synanamorph with narrow falcate conidia. Diplococcium racemosum produces branched, verrucose conidiophores, and verrucose conidia in long branched chains. Diplococcium pulneyense is the second record, being described for first time on the natural substratum and re-described in pure culture. A key to currently accepted species of Diplococcium is provided.     

Fusarium kyushuense sp. nov. from Japan

Four trichothecene-producing strains originally isolated from diseased wheat and a vinyl plate in Kyushu and Shikoku, Japan are described and illustrated as a new species,Fusarium kyushuense. This species does not produce chalamydospores, which is the key morphological character which distinguishes it fromF. sporotrichioides with which it has been mistaken.Fusarium kyushuense is also differentiated from another morphologically similar species,F. arthrosporioides, by absence of sclerotia and by differences in conidiogenesis of obovate, conidia. InF. arthrosporioides conidia are partly holoblastic from the aerial conidiophores and mostly phialidic from the sporodochial conidiophores, while inF. kyushuense conidia are mostly holoblastic and only produced from aerial conidiophores.     

Three newAspergillus species isolated from clinical sources as a causal agent of human aspergillosis

Three new species ofAspergillus isolated from clinical sources in China are described and illustrated:A. beijingensis, A. qizutongii andA. wangduanlii. The first species is characterized by spreading colonies, yellow to grayish green conidial heads, smooth-walled conidiophores with a clavate vesicle, uniseriate aspergilla and nearly globose, micro-verrucose conidia. The second is characterized by spreading colonies, olive-yellow conidial heads, conspicuously roughened conidiophores with a flask-shaped vesicle, uniseriate but often secondarily proliferating aspergilla and globose, smooth conidia. The third is characterized by rapidly growing colonies, dull green conidial heads, smooth to irregularly roughened conidiophores which are often surrounded by coiled hyphae in the basal part and are terminally swollen into a globose or irregular shaped vesicle, uniseriate aspergilla and globose, micro-verrucose conidia.     

New hyphomycetes from Restionaceae in fynbos: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Parasarcopodium ceratocaryi</Emphasis> gen. et sp. nov., and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhexodenticula elegiae</Emphasis> sp. nov.

Two new hyphomycetous anamorphs were isolated from plant hosts of the Restionaceae in the fynbos of the Cape Floral Kingdom of South Africa. Parasarcopodium ceratocaryi gen. et sp. nov. on Ceratocaryum decipiens produces aseptate, cylindrical conidia with amorphous mucoid appendages at both ends in rows or whorls of phialides on verruculose, mononematous conidiophores. Rhexodenticula elegiae sp. nov. on Elegia capensis produces pale brown, fusiform or broadly fusiform, 3-septate conidia on denticles located in the upper part of smooth, geniculate conidiophores. The morphological characteristics of both taxa are described, illustrated, and contrasted to other morphologically similar fungi. To elucidate the phylogenetic relationships of Parasarcopodium, partial large subunit rRNA (28S) gene sequence was generated from the ex-type strain, which revealed it to be a member of the Bionectriaceae (Hypocreales).     

Growth and sporulation of the fungus Claviceps purpurea in batch fermentation

Summary The sporulation of the fungus Claviceps purpurea is connected with the change in its respiration rate which is effected by deficiency of dissolved oxygen tension. It stops the vegetative growth of the fungus and induces the formation of conidiophores with conidia production until glucose is exhausted. With exhaustion of glucose the conidiophores continue to produce conidia by transforming vegetative cell material into conidia. Therefore final conidial concentration in batch fermentation depends on these two processes which can be regulated by oxygen input.     

Consecutive monitoring of lifelong production of conidia by individual conidiophores of Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei on barley leaves by digital microscopic techniques with electrostatic micromanipulation

Conidial formation and secession by living conidiophores of Blumeria graminis f. sp. hordei on barley leaves were consecutively monitored using a high-fidelity digital microscopic technique combined with electrostatic micromanipulation to trap the released conidia. Conidial chains formed on conidiophores through a series of septum-mediated division and growth of generative cells. Apical conidial cells on the conidiophores were abstricted after the conidial chains developed ten conidial cells. The conidia were electrically conductive, and a positive charge was induced in the cells by a negatively polarized insulator probe (ebonite). The electrostatic force between the conidia and the insulator was used to attract the abstricted conidia from the conidiophores on leaves. This conidium movement from the targeted conidiophore to the rod was directly viewed under the digital microscope, and the length of the interval between conidial septation and secession, the total number of the conidia produced by a single conidiophore, and the modes of conidiogenesis were clarified. During the stage of conidial secession, the generative cells pushed new conidial cells upwards by repeated division and growth. The successive release of two apical conidia was synchronized with the successive septation and growth of a generative cell. The release ceased after 4-5 conidia were released without division and growth of the generative cell. Thus, the life of an individual conidiophore (from the erection of the conidiophore to the release of the final conidium) was shown to be 107 h and to produce an average of 33 conidia. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the direct estimation of life-long conidial production by a powdery mildew on host leaves.     

Germination of sclerotia of Botrytis tulipae, the cause of tulip fire

Sclerotia of Botrytis tulipae (Lib) Lind. buried in field soil germinated mainly in winter and early spring to produce conidiophores and conidia and then decayed. Except when buried very late in the year sclerotia germinated and decayed in the season following burial. In the laboratory, sclerotia from pure culture germinated in two ways. On sterile water-agar they formed colourless mycelium but no conidiophores; the rate of germination was greatest at 25 d?C. On unsterile filter paper and on soil they produced mainly conidiophores and conidia; the rate of germination was greatest at 5 d?C and was enhanced by previous cold treatment. It was unaffected by soil-moisture or pH. Primary infections of tulips arose from sclerotia placed in the soil but only when they were close to the shoot tip or developing stem. It is suggested that, because of their limited survival, soil-borne sclerotia are of importance only when tulips are planted in annual succession.     

Production of TMC-151, TMC-154 and TMC-171, a new class of antibiotics, is specific to ‘Gliocladium roseum’ group

A novel class of fungal metabolites, TMC-151, TMC-154, and TMC-171 series compounds, was found exclusively inGliocladium catenulatum, Clonostachys rosea and closely related strains. These compounds were not detected in any other fungi examined. The production spectrum of each component was correlated to the morphology of the secondary conidiophores and the conidia. TMC-151 was limited toClonostachys rosea (formerlyG. roseum) forming navicular or reniform conidia orG. catenulatum with gray-green conidial masses, whereas TMC-154 and 171 were limited to the strains closely related toGliocladium roseum, which grew more slowly and formed more symmetrical conidia.     

Fusarium nisikadoi, a new species from Japan

A new species ofFusarium, F. nisikadoi, isolated fromPhyllostachys nigra var.henonis (bamboo) andTriticum aestivum (wheat) in Japan, is described, illustrated and discussed. This species is differentiated from other known species of the genus by the following characteristics: whitish colony color, long zigzag-like chains of 0–3(-5)-septate clavate conidia, intermixed with pyriform conidia, produced mostly from monophialides and rarely from polyphialides in the aerial mycelium, very long and slender sporodochial conidia, and no chlamydospores. The long chains of septate conidia are known only in this species of the genusFusarium. The conidiophores on the aerial mycelium sometimes proliferate sympodially. The species is tentatively placed in the form-sectionLiseola.     

Temperature-dependent actinomycin D effect on RNA synthesis during synchronous development in Neurospora crassa

Actinomycin D at a concentration of 5 g/ml of medium inhibited DNA-dependent RNA synthesis by 92% at 35 C, 42% at 30 C, and 28% at 25 C in Neurospora crassa. This concentration also inhibited the development of conidiophores and conidia at 35 C, but not at 30 or 25 C. Mycelia which were induced to synchronous development formed conidiophores in 2.5 hr and conidia in 4.5 hr at 35 C in the absence of drug additives. Addition of actinomycin D to synchronously developing mycelia at zero time and at 0.5-hr intervals thereafter at 35 C indicated that RNA synthesis required for conidiophores occurred before 0.5 hr and for conidia before 2 hr. Addition of cycloheximide at the same times to another synchronous mycelial series at 35 C indicated that protein synthesis required for conidiophores occurred before 2 hr and for conidia before 3.5–4 hr.This work was supported in part by U.S. Public Health Service Training Grant 1 TO1 GM 01968 01.     

‘Vrikshopama’, a new genus of Stilbaceae

Summary In this paperVrikshopama a new genus of Stilbaceae withV. swetasakha as type is described, which is characterised by the production of ramosely branched conidiophores, the ultimate branches of which are fertile, cutting off one-celled, subhyaline, cylindrical conidia acropleurogenously.     

Colonization byCladosporium spp. of painted metal surfaces associated with heating and air conditioning systems

Summary Cladosporium cladosporioides andC. hebarum colonized painted metal surfaces of covering panels and register vents of heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems. Hyphae penetrated the paint film and developed characteristic conidiophores and conidia. The colonies were tightly appressed to the metal surface and conidia were not readily detectable via standard air sampling procedures.     

Microascus cinereus (Émile-Weil & Gaudin) Curzi — a human pathogen?

Microascus cinereus is described accompanying Aspergillus fumigatus in human lung tissue. The tissue contained A. fumigatus conidiophores and conidia and M. cinereus perithecia, ascospores, annellophores and conidia. The pathogenicity of M. cinereus is discussed.     

Aspergillus salviicola,a new species from imported spice

A new species ofAspergillus, A. salviicola, has been isolated from Turkish sage, an imported spice in Japan. The species, characterized by white to rosy buff conidial heads, pinkish smooth-walled conidiophores, large biseriate aspergilla, globose smooth-walled conidia, absence of sclerotia and thermotolerant growth, is considered to represent an interface species in the subgenusCircumdati.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sativumoides</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cladosporiopsis</Emphasis>, two new genera of hyphomycetes from China

Sativumoides punicae gen. et sp. nov. and Cladosporiopsis ovata gen. et sp. nov. are described and illustrated. Sativumoides is characterized by macronematous, individual, percurrently extending conidiophores, integrated, monoblastic, apical, lageniform conidiogenous cells, and single, apical, pale brown to brown, garlic-bulb-shaped dictyosporous conidia with predominantly longitudinal septa. Cladosporiopsis is unique in possessing pigmented, apiosporous conidia seceding schizolytically from integrated, monoblastic, determinate conidiogenous cells; the conidia, arising from the sides or ends of ramoconidia, form short, acropetal chains. Sativumoides is compared with similar anamorphic genera including Triposporium, Iyengarina, Acrodictys, Actinocladium, Piricaudiopsis, Cheiroidea, Stephanoma, Domingoella, Acrogenospora and Shrungabeeja. The distinctions between Cladosporiopsis and similar genera including Cladosporium, Ochrocladosporium, Rachicladosporium, Rhizacladosporium, Toxicocladosporium, Ramularia, Bispora, Lylea and Devriesia are also discussed. Keys to these two novel genera and their morphologically similar genera are provided.     

Collection of highly germinative pseudochain conidia of Oidium neolycopersici from conidiophores by electrostatic attraction

A population of simultaneously germinating conidia is an ideal inoculum of the powdery mildew pathogen, Oidium neolycopersici. In conditions of no or low wind velocity, O. neolycopersici successively stacks mature conidia on conidiophores in a chain formation (pseudochain), without releasing the precedent mature conidia. These pseudochain conidia represent a perfect inoculum, in which all conidia used for inoculation germinate simultaneously. However, we found that conidia must be collected before they fall to the leaf surface, because the germination rate was lower among conidia deposited on the leaf surface. We used an electrostatic spore collector to collect the pseudochain conidia, and their high germination rate was not affected by this treatment. The spore collector consisted of an electrified insulator probe, which created an electrostatic field around its pointed tip, and attracted conidia within its electric field. The attractive force created by the probe tip was directly proportional to voltage, and was inversely proportional to the distance between the tip and a target colony on a leaf. Pseudochain conidia were successfully collected by bringing the electrified probe tip close to target colonies on leaves. In this way, conidia were collected from colonies at 3-d intervals. This effectively collected all conidia from conidiophores before they dropped to the leaf surface. A high germination rate was observed among conidia attracted to the probe tip (95.5 ± 0.6 %). Conidia were easily suspended in water with added surfactant, and retained their germination ability. These conidia were infective and produced conidia in pseudochains on conidiophores after inoculation. The electrostatic spore collection method can be used to collect conidia as they form on conidiophores, thus obtaining an inoculum population in which all of the conidia germinate simultaneously.     

Scanning Electron Microscopy of Conidium Formation of Stemphylium vesicarium on Onion Leaves

Onion leaves were inoculated with conidia of Stemphylium vesicarium and the development and morphology of conidiophores and conidia on the leaf surface were examined using scanning electron microscopy. Solitary, but usually fasciculate conidiophores emerged through the epidermis. Hyphae growing on or above the leaf surface also differentiated into conidiophores. Conidiophores were straight or flexuous, simple, smooth or verrucose and cylindrical but enlarged apically at the site of conidiumproduction. Smooth, round, bud-like conidial initials were produced singly at the apex of the verrucose conidiophores. As conidia matured, they became oblong to ovoid and densely verrucose. Once the mature conidium seceded, a small pore was visible at the, apex of the conidiogenous cell. Conidiophores proliferated percurrently at the distal region, forming secondary conidiophores and conidia.     

Pleurovularia, a new genus of hyphomycetes proposed for a parasite on leaves of Microstegium sp. (Poaceae)

The hyphomycete Ovularia polliniae, formerly excluded from Ramularia and allied genera and tentatively considered as related to Beniowskia sphaeroidea, was recently collected on leaves of the grass Microstegium sp. in Taiwan. Based on studies with light and transmission electron microscopy, O. polliniae was redescribed. Using type specimens, the taxonomic status of both fungal species was reevaluated. In O. polliniae, the conidiophores emerge directly through the outer cell wall of the host epidermis. They are either sparsely branched at the base or simple and composed of verruculose intercalary and terminal conidiogenous cells that produce conidia through minute, slightly darkened scars. The conidia are solitary, one-celled, obovoid, hyaline, smooth, and often have a large vacuole. By the combination of these characteristics, this fungus differs from similar species of Beniowskia, Ramularia, and Ramulariopsis. The new genus Pleurovularia and the new combination Pleurovularia polliniae are proposed to accommodate this parasite on Microstegium. Received: May 24, 2001 / Accepted: September 3, 2001