Hyaloscyphaceae in Japan (6): the genus Hyphodiscus in Japan and its anamorph Catenulifera gen. nov.

Three Hyphodiscus species are described and illustrated: Hyphodiscus otanii sp. nov., Hyphodiscus hymeniophilus, and H. theiodeus, which is new to Japan. Culture studies revealed Phialophora-like anamorphs. Catenulifera gen. nov. is proposed for the anamorph of Hyphodiscus. The history of the genus is reviewed. Hyphodiscus can be delimited to members with gelatinized excipulum, Cistella-like hairs with more coarse granulation, small asci, ascospores with conspicuous globules, cylindrical, flexuous paraphyses, and a Catenulifera anamorph. Received: September 6, 2001 / Accepted: October 4, 2001     

Two Ophiostoma species associated with bark beetles in wave-regenerated Abies veitchii forests in Japan

Two species of Ophiostoma were isolated from four bark beetles (i.e., Cryphalus montatus, C. piceae, Dryocoetes hectographus, and Polygraphus proximus) infesting Abies veitchii and from their galleries in the wave-regenerated forests in the central part of the main island (Honshu) of Japan. One of them is described here as a new species, Ophiostoma subalpinum, and the other is identified as O. davidsonii, newly reported in Japan. Ophiostoma subalpinum is characterized by short ostiolar hyphae, oblong or allantoid ascospores enclosed in a thin, hyaline sheath, and a Pesotum anamorph. Received: June 4, 2001 / Accepted: December 25, 2001     

A new fungal genus, Teracosphaeria, with a phialophora-like anamorph (Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota)

The new genus and species Teracosphaeria petroica is described for a perithecial ascomycete and its anamorph occurring on decayed wood collected in New Zealand. The fungus produces immersed, non-stromatic ceratosphaeria-like perithecia in nature, with hyaline, septate ascospores produced in unitunicate, non-amyloid asci. The anamorph produced in vitro is phialophora-like with lightly pigmented phialides terminating in flaring, deep collarettes that are often noticeably brown with conspicuous periclinal thickening. Phylogenetic analysis of LSU rDNA sequence data indicates that this fungus is distinct from morphologically similar fungi classified in the Chaetosphaeriales, the Trichosphaeriales or the Magnaporthaceae. It forms a monophyletic group with recently described, chaetosphaeria-like ascomycetes, such as the pyrenomycete genus Mirannulata, and shows affinity with the anamorphic species Dictyochaeta cylindrospora. The usefulness of describing anamorph genera for morphologically reduced anamorphs, when anamorph characteristics are actually part of the holomorph diagnosis, is discussed. An apparently contradictory example of the so-called Cordana and Pseudobotrytis anamorphs of Porosphaerella spp. is also discussed.     

Neocarpenteles: a new ascomycete genus to accommodate Hemicarpenteles acanthosporus

A new genus, Neocarpenteles, the Trichocomaceae (Eurotiales), and a new combination, N. acanthosporum, are proposed to accommodate Hemicarpenteles acanthosporus Udagawa et Takada. The fungus is characterized by sclerotioid, nonostiolate, unilocular stromata in which asci gradually produce, outward from the center, lenticular ascospores with two equatorial crests and convex surfaces ornamented by triangular ridges and microtubercles, and an Aspergillus anamorph with uniseriate aspergilla. It has the Q-10 system as the major ubiquinone. Received: May 1, 2001 / Accepted: July 4, 2001     

Pleospora drummondii spec. nov. und ihr Anamorph Stemphylium drummondii spec. nov.

Pleospora drammondii spec. nov. and its anamorph Stemphylium drammondii spec. nov. The causal organism of a leaf spot disease on Phlox drummondii is described as Pleospora drummondii spec. nov. and its anamorph Stempbylium drummondii spec, nov. — in contrast to earlier reports from the USA, in which the fungus was identified as S. botryosum.     

Mycosphaerella buna sp. nov. with aPseudocercospora anamorph isolated from the leaves of Japanese beech

A species ofMycosphaerella with aPseudocercospora anamorph was collected on overwintered fallen leaves of Japanese beech,Fagus crenata. Based on comparison of morphology withMycosphaerella species on Fagaceae, the fungus was newly described asMycosphaerella buna. ThePseudocercospora anamorph derived from a single ascospore of the fungus was morphologically identical to an endophytic anamorph isolated from asymptomatic living leaves of Japanese beech. Contribution No. 150, Laboratory of Plant Parasitic Mycology, Institute of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Tsukuba     

Isolation ofRoumegueriella rufula as a new record from East Asia

Roumegueriella rufula (Ascomycota; Hypocreales) isolated from a soil sample collected in Taiwan is described as a new record from East Asia. Some observations are recorded, particularly on cultural characteristics of aGliocladium anamorph of this fungus, which has scarcely been reported since Bainier described both ascosporic and conidial forms as species ofGliocladium.     

Orbilia blumenaviensis and its Arthrobotrys anamorph

A member of the nematophagous anamorph genus Arthrobotrys was isolated from its teleomorph Orbilia blumenaviensis comb. nov. (= Orbilia fici), a species closely related to O. auricolor but deviating in having lanceolate paraphyses. In the presence of nematodes, the anamorph forms three-dimensional adhesive networks. A trimorphism in its conidia was observed which vary in shape and number of septa. In the first isolate, two types of heteropolar conidia were obtained. These differ markedly from the type strain of A. vermicola, which forms mainly homopolar (fusoid) conidia. In a further ascospore isolate of O. blumenaviensis, however, mainly fusoid conidia referable to A. vermicola occurred. Combining morphological and phylogenetic analysis, we conclude that these isolates with differently shaped conidia and/or differences in the ITS rDNA (ca. 2–4%) belong to a single anamorph species, A. vermicola. Both teleomorph and anamorph are illustrated and described.     

Two new species ofTalaromyces from Taiwan and Japan

Two new species ofTalaromyces, isolated from soils in Taiwan and Japan, are described and illustrated.Talaromyces eburneus, associated with aGeosmithia anamorph, is characterized by off-white colony on oatmeal agar, small pale yellow ascomata, and subglobose to ovoid ascospores with a smooth wall.Talaromyces muroii is characterized by restricted growth on Czapek agar, luteous ascomata, which are initiated by paired gametangia like those seen in members of the seriesFlavi, ellipsoidal and nearly smooth ascospores, and the absence of an anamorph.     

Materials for the fungus flora of Japan (53)

Two interesting ascomycetes are described as new to Japan:Ascotricha amesii (Xylariaceae), isolated from garden soil in Osaka; andAuxarthron reticulatum, isolated from forest soil in Tokyo. ADicyma anamorph is associated with the former species. (52): Tubaki, K., Tokumasu, S. and Konno, M., Nippon Kingakukai Kaiho38: 249–250. 1997.     

Neonectria amamiensis and Cylindrocarpon amamiense, a new nectrioid fungus and its sporodochial anamorph on Pinus luchuensis from Japan

A new nectrioid fungus with its sporodochial Cylindrocarpon anamorph, collected on dead bark of Luchu pines (Pinus luchuensis) in the southern part of Japan (Kagoshima and Okinawa), having perithecia slightly constricted just below the papilla and conidia with a strongly hooked and acute apical cell, belongs to the genus Neonectria according to the recent concept of the Nectriaceae (Hypocreales). Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on the tub2 region of β-tubulin genes also supports the morphological consideration. This fungus is described as Neonectria amamiensis (anamorph: Cylindrocarpon amamiense).     

Surculiseries rugispora gen. et sp. nov., a new endophytic mitosporic fungus from leaves ofBruguiera gymnorrhiza

Surculiseries rugispora gen. et sp. nov. is described as an endophytic fungus from leaves ofBruguiera gymnorrhiza in mangrove forests in the Iriomote Is., Okinawa, Japan. This fungus develops peculiar conditiongenous cells that resemble octopus legs with obvious sucker-like scars, and produces lentiform conidia with lines on surface. Sequence analysis of 18S rDNA places this new fungus in the family Xylariaceae and shows its close affinity to the genusAscotricha (anamorph:Dicyma).     

Taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships of two species of Hypocrea with Trichoderma anamorphs

Hypocrea patella is reevaluated. Its Trichoderma anamorph is described and the phylogenetic position of the species is determined through sequences of the ITS regions of rDNA. It is sister to a clade that includes Trichoderma longibrachiatum/H. schweinitzii. Hypocrea patella f. tropica is accepted for a Costa Rican collection. Hypocrea neorufa and its Trichoderma anamorph are described. Its phylogenetic position is determined by sequences of the ITS region of rDNA and the protein-coding translation-elongation factor (EF-1α). It is derived from within a clade that includes T. viride/H. rufa, T. atroviride/H. atroviridis, T. koningii/H. koningii and T. asperellum. Deceased August 2002.     

New and interesting species ofNeosartorya from Brazilian soil

Neosartorya udagawae, a new heterothallic species isolated from Brazilian soil, is described and illustrated. It is characterized by dull green colony on malt extract agar, light yellow large ascomata, broadly lenticular ascospores with two equatorial or several irregular crests and tuberculate convex surfaces, and with anAspergillus anamorph.Neosartorya aureola is also described as a new record from Brazilian soil.     

Seed Rot,a New Disease of Beech Tree Caused by Neonectria ramulariae (anamorph: Cylindrocarpon obtusiusculum)

During a survey of seed diseases of Fagus crenata, a new fungal disease of the seeds was found with high frequency in Akita, northern Japan. Main symptoms are often expressed as browning of the cracked parts from exposed cotyledons and complete loss of viability of infected seeds. Reddish perithecia and whitish yellow sporodochia were occasionally observed symptoms and determined that they were anamorph–telemorph relationship on the basis of both cultural observations. Inoculation studies confirmed that this fungus was the cause of seed rot. The fungus is morphologically identical with Neonectria ramulariae (anamorph: Cylindrocarpon obtusiusculum) that is well known as the soil‐born fungi around the world. Sequences between the authentic isolate of Neo. ramulariae (CBS 151.29) and the pathogenic fungus based on ITS, LSU and tub showed high similarity. Thus, ‘seed rot’, the new disease of beech seeds caused by Neo. ramulariae (anamorph: Cyl. obtusiusculum) was proposed in this study.     

New and interesting species ofEmericella from Chinese soil

Emericella miyajii, a new species isolated from Chinese soil, is described and illustrated. It is characterized by pale orange to brownish orange colonies on malt extract agar, subglobose to broadly elliptical ascospores with defective four equatorial crests and smooth convex walls, and with anAspergillus anamorph.Emericella undulata is also described as an uncommon species from Chinese soil.     

Two new <Emphasis Type="Italic">Corollospora</Emphasis> species and one new anamorph based on morphological and molecular data

Two new species of the genus Corollospora, namely, C. anglusa sp. nov. with its anamorph Varicosporina anglusa sp. nov. and C. portsaidica sp. nov., which were isolated from the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt, are described in this article based on morphological and molecular evidence. The two new species have one-septate ascospores. Corollospora anglusa resembles C. gracilis by having narrow one-septate hyaline ascospores; however, they differ in ascomata and ascospore dimensions and in pure culture characteristics. Single-ascospore culture of C. anglusa produces the conidia of its anamorph, whereas an anamorph has not been reported for C. gracilis. Varicosporina anglusa differs from the other two known Varicosporina species by having conidial branches that are filamentous, rectangularly branched, hypha like, and disarticulated into two- or one-celled fragments. Corollospora portsaidica is morphologically similar to C. cinnamomea, but the two species differ in the dimensions, shape, and ornamentation of the ascospores. The new Corollospora species were confirmed to be divergent from other similar Corollospora species based on phylogenetic analyses of partial sequences of the LSU rDNA region.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Erysiphe catalpae</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Erysiphe elevata</Emphasis> in Europe

The recent epidemic spread of the North American powdery mildew Erysiphe elevata in Europe is described and discussed. Since 2002, this plant pathogenic fungus has been collected on Catalpa bignonioides, C. erubescens and C. speciosa in the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and Switzerland. The diagnostically important anamorph of E. elevata, so far unknown, is described and illustrated in detail. Type material of Erysiphe catalpae and two specimens of E. catalpae recently collected in Poland have been examined and compared with E. elevata. The anamorph as well as the teleomorph of E. catalpae proved to be easily distinguishable from E. elevata. The supposition that E. catalpae, introduced in Armenia, was based on immature ascomata of E. elevata proved to be wrong. The origin and distribution of E. catalpae are discussed, and a key to powdery mildew fungi on Catalpa spp. in Europe is provided.     

The First Record and Characterization of Powdery Mildew (Erysiphe pachypodiae sp. nov.) on Pachypodium lamerei (Apocynaceae)

During the summer and autumn of 1999, symptoms of powdery mildew disease were first observed on Pachypodium lamerei in the Czech Republic. White lesions of irregular shape appeared on leaf margins and spread towards the central vein of the leaf, often followed by necrosis of leaf tissue. In the spring of 2000, the sexual stage (cleistothecia) also appeared on infected leaves. Based on the observations of the morphology of its anamorph and teleomorph stage as well as on results from inoculation experiments, the identity and origin of this powdery mildew species are discussed. Based on the pseudoidium anamorph, this fungus may be clearly assigned to Erysiphe emendation, probably to section Uncinula, since the cleistothecial appendages are non‐mycelioid and occassionally circinate at the apex. The fungus is described as a new species Erysiphe pachypodiae sp. nov.