The rust fungi (Uredinales) on ferns in South Africa

The rust fungi (Uredinales, basidiomycota) occuring on ferns (Pteridophyta) in South Africa are described, illustrated and keyed out. All species belong to the pucciniastraceous genera Milesina (M. blechni), Uredinopsis (U. pteridis) or to the related uredinial anamorph genus Milesia (M. nervisequa, M. cf. magellanica, M. silvae-knysnae). Milesia silvae-knysnae on Polystichum pungens is new to science; it probably belongs to the teleomorph genus Milesina. Milesina blechni is reported from South Africa for the first time on the new hosts Blechnum punctulatum and Rumohra adiantoides; it has hitherto been known only from the Northern Hemisphere on Blechnum spicant. Rust specimens collected on Asplenium aethiopicum and A. rutifolium were tentatively assigned to Milesia magellanica which has been known so far only from southern Chile. Hyalopsora neocheilanthis, Milesina neoexigua and M. neovogesiaca are proposed as new names for Hyalopsora cheilanthis, Milesia exigua and M. vogesiaca. It is discussed that the pucciniastraceous fern rusts could have reached South Africa either by migration (M. blechni) or by long-distance air dispersal. In the absence of their gametophyte hosts, species of Abies (Pinaceae), the rusts have to propagate in South Africa by urediniospores infecting fern to fern. Taxonomical novelties Milesia silvae-knysnae R. Berndt Milesina neoexigua R. Berndt Milesina neovogesiaca R. Berndt Hyalopsora neocheilanthis R. Berndt     

Three species of rust fungi (Uredinales) from Okinawa,Japan

Three species of rust fungi were reported based on the specimens collected in the islands of the Yaeyama group and Okinawa, Japan.Puccinia tarennicola onTarenna gracilipes andUredo daphniphylli onDaphniphyllum teijsmannii were described as new species.Villebrunea frutescens was added to the host plants ofUredo pipturi. Contribution No. 115, Laboratories of Plant Pathology and Mycology, Institute of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Tsukuba.     

Chaconia hennenii, a new holomorph species for Uredo maclurae and Uredo celtidis (Uredinales)

Chaconia hennenii is proposed as a new holomorph species for Uredo maclurae (= Physopella maclurae) on Maclura tinctoria (Moraceae) after the discovery of teliospores. Uredo celtidis described on Celtis (Ulmaceae) is synonymous with U. maclurae and belongs to the same holomorph species, as revealed by morphologically indistinguishable urediniospores and newly discovered teliospores. The host genus of U. celtidis is not Celtis, but most probably Maclura, too. Chaconia hennenii is unique among known Chaconia species by the apical wall thickening of the teliospores.     

Toward resolving family-level relationships in rust fungi (Uredinales)

Rust fungi (Basidiomycota, Uredinales) consist of more than 7000 species of obligate plant pathogens that possess some of the most complex life cycles in the Eumycota. Traditionally, a limited number of synapomorphic characters and incomplete life-cycle and host-specificity data have hampered phylogenetic inference within the Uredinales. The application of modern molecular characters to rust systematics has been limited, and current contradictions, especially in the deeper nodes, have not yet been resolved. In this study, two nuclear rDNA genes (18S and 28S) were examined across the breadth of the Uredinales to resolve some systematic conflicts and provide a framework for further studies of the group. Three suborders of rusts are recovered. Of the 13 rust families most widely accepted, 8 are supported in full or in part (Coleosporiaceae, Melampsoraceae, Mikronegeriaceae, Phakopsoraceae p.p., Phragmidiaceae, Pileolariaceae, Pucciniaceae, Raveneliaceae), 3 are redundant (Cronartiaceae, Pucciniastraceae, Pucciniosiraceae), and the status of 2 (Chaconiaceae, Uropyxidaceae) could not be resolved. The Mikronegeriaceae and Caeoma torreyae are the most basal rusts sampled. It is concluded that morphology alone is a poor predictor of rust relationships at most levels. Host selection, on the other hand, has played a significant role in rust evolution. Mention of trade names or commercial products in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific information and does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the US Department of Agriculture.     

New species and reports of rust fungi (Basidiomycota,Uredinales) of South America

Four new species of rust fungi (Basidiomycota, Uredinales) are proposed: Edythea soratensis on Berberis phyllacantha (Berberidaceae), Prospodium bicristatum on Mansoa sp. (Bignoniaceae), Uromyces cearensis on Ipomoea sp. (Convolvulaceae) and Uredo cavernula on Ribes weberbaueri (Grossulariaceae). U. cavernula most probably belongs to the genus Goplana. Phakopsora phyllanthi and Phakopsora vernoniae are newly reported for Brazil and the New World. The uredinial stage of the latter is the same as Uredo toroiana, known so far from Hispaniola in the Caribbean. The parasitic mycelium of Esalque holwayi was studied. It is strictly intracellular but comprises well-defined haustoria and intracellular hyphae. Taxonomical novelties Edythea soratensis Ritschel Prospodium bicristatum R. Berndt and F. Freire Uredo cavernula R. Berndt and R.S. Peterson Uromyces cearensis R. Berndt and F. Freire     

Uromyces umiamensis, a new rust species on Momordica cochinchinensis in India

Uromyces umiamensis is described as a new rust fungus (Basidiomycota, Uredinales) of Momordica cochinchinensis (Cucurbitaceae) from Meghalaya, in northeastern India. The species differs from the known Uromyces species on members of Cucurbitaceae in terms of the character of the teliospores and aeciospores and its apparently demicyclic life cycle. Besides U. yakushimensis and the present species, all Uromyces species known from cucurbits occur in the New World. A key to known Uromyces species on Cucurbitaceae is provided.     

New species, reports, observations and taxonomical changes of southern African rust fungi (Uredinales)

This work presents research on the diversity of the southern African rust mycobiota (Uredinales). It describes new species, lists new reports and adds new information on several rust fungi. Puccinia cornurediata, Puccinia dioscoreae-mundtii, Puccinia horti-kirstenboschi, Puccinia othonnoides, Puccinia rapipes, Puccinia subindumentana, Uredo otholobii and Uromyces lotononidicola are described as new; Puccinia verwoerdiana is assigned to Puccinia lycii as a synonym, and Uredo lotononi to U. lotononidicola. Comprehensive accounts and keys are presented for Puccinia species on Lycium (Solanaceae), Helichrysum and Othonna (Asteraceae). Puccinia butleri and Uromyces bidenticola are new reports for South Africa, and Puccinia spinulosa is new for Namibia. So far, the latter species has only been known from Madagascar, and P. butleri from the Indian subcontinent. Taxonomical novelties are P. cornurediata R. Berndt; P. dioscoreae-mundtii R. Berndt, A.R. Wood & E. Uhlmann; P. horti-kirstenboschi R. Berndt & E. Uhlmann; P. othonnoides R. Berndt, A.R. Wood & E. Uhlmann; P. rapipes R. Berndt & E. Uhlmann; P. subindumentana R. Berndt; U. otholobii R. Berndt, A.R. Wood & E. Uhlmann and U. lotononidicola R. Berndt     

Puccinia kraussiana (Uredinales) onHeterosmilax gaudichaudiana,A new record of rust in Eastern Asia

Puccinia kraussiana, a rust fungus of Africa, was found in Taiwan for the first time in eastern Asia. It was parasiting on leaves ofHeterosmilax gaudichaudiana, on which all four stages were characteristically found. The host species,H. gaudichaudiana, newly added to the host range ofP. kraussiana, constitutes also a new entry to the phanerogamic flora of Taiwan.     

Rust fungi (Uredinales) found in Marshall Islands and Pohnpei

Uromyces wedeliae, Coleosporium plumeriae, andUredo guettardae are reported for the first time from Kwajalein Atoll, Republic of Marshall Islands, and Pohnpei, Federal States of Micronesia.     

New geographical distribution and host records of rust fungi from northern Thailand

Ten species of rust fungi (Crossopsora 2, Maravalia 1, Pileolaria 1, Puccinia 1, Ravenelia 1, Sphaerophragmium 1, Uredo 2, and Uromyces 1) are newly recorded together with six new host plants in Thailand.Contribution no. 194, Laboratory of Plant Parasitic Mycology, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Japan     

Doxomysis algoaensis, a new mysid species (Crustacea: Mysidacea) from Algoa Bay (South Africa)

Doxomysis algoaensis sp.nov. is described from Algoa Bay, South Africa where it is common in nearshore marine waters just beyond the breaker line. D. algoaensis sp.nov. is morphologically similar to D. australiensis, but can readily be distinguished by the shape and armature of the telson and the length of the exopod of the fourth male pleopod. The apical cleft is one fifth the telson length in the former species and one third the length in D. australiensis. The telson apex on each side of the cleft is also armed with five and four stout spines in the two species, respectively. In D. australiensis, the exopod of the fourth male pleopod is almost three times the length of the endopod; in D. algoaensis sp.nov., the exopod is only slightly longer than the endopod. Other distinctive features of D. algoaensis sp.nov. include the maxillary palp, which is only slightly broader than long and the greater number of spines on the endopod of the uropod.     

Three new species ofGalium (Rubiaceae) from Pakistan

Three new species ofGalium from the NW. Himalaya in Pakistan are described and illustrated.Dedicated to Prof.K. H. Rechinger on the occasion of his 80th birthday.     

A new species of Gastrosaccus (Crustacea,Mysidacea) from Algoa Bay (South Africa)

The effect of temperature on growth rate, shell size and shell shape in Krithe praetexta praetexta (Sars) was studied in four thermocultures. From July 1995 to June 1996, the cultures were kept in a continuously flowing open system pumping water from the intermediate watermass of the Gullmarn fjord, west coast of Sweden. Three cultures were kept at constant temperatures of 5, 10 and 14 °C, respectively. The fourth (reference) culture largely followed the natural variation in temperature. At the termination of the experiment, all living ostracods from a 125 m sieve were sampled from the cultures. Population age structures were analysed for the various thermocultures of K. praetexta praetexta. These were more shifted towards later ontogenetic stages with higher temperature, i.e. the ontogenetic development was more rapid in the warmer cultures. An alternative explanation is due to diapause causing cohorts to accumulate in some ontogenetic stages only when the temperature is constant. The differences in shell size of K. praetexta praetexta among the thermoconstant cultures were not statistically significant.     

Taxonomic implications of life cycle and basidium morphology of Ochropsora ariae and O. nambuana (Uredinales)

Ochropsora ariae was found to host-alternate between Anemone pseudo-altaica and Aruncus dioicus var. tenuifolius and Ochropsora nambuana between Anemone flaccida and Elaeagnus multiflora var. hortensis in Japan. Both species produced a sessile, thin-walled, cylindrical probasidium (teliospore), which turned into a four-celled metabasidium by continuous apical elongation of the probasidium. Several probasidia of O. nambuana were produced from a basal basidiogenous cell in a sorus hymenium. Life cycle and probasidium/metabasidium morphology showed the taxonomic identity of Ceraceopsora elaeagni with O. nambuana. Developmental morphology of the basidium found in the two Ochropsora species raised a question against the taxonomic separation of Ochropsora and Aplopsora.     

Phylogenetic relationships among Puccinia hemerocallidis, P. funkiae, and P. patriniae (Uredinales) inferred from ITS sequence data

Puccinia hemerocallidis and P. funkiae resemble each other morphologically; however, they are biologically and taxonomically distinct, with telia of the former being restricted to species of Hemerocallis and the latter to Hosta species. However, both fungi share a macrocyclic and heteroecious life cycle with Patrinia villosa as the spermogonial and aecial host. An additional microcyclic rust fungus, P. patriniae, is also known on P. villosa. This microcyclic fungus is similar to the two macrocyclic fungi in its telial structure and teliospore morphology. These similarities in morphology and host relationships suggest the three fungi may also share a close evolutionary relationship. To determine the phylogenetic relationships of the three species, a portion of the nuclear ribosomal DNA repeat encoding the ITS and 5.8S subunit regions was amplified by PCR, sequenced, and analyzed. The resulting phylogenetic trees showed that P. hemerocallidis and P. funkiae share a recent common ancestor and that P. patriniae is closely allied with P. hemerocallidis. The results suggest a possible evolutionary derivation of microcyclic P. patriniae from macrocyclic heteroecious P. hemerocallidis, which fits the evolutionary interpretation of correlated species known as Tranzschel's law.     

Notes on new and noteworthy plant-inhabiting fungi from Japan (1)

Six fungi isolated from plant materials in Japan are described. The first isPseudohalonectria aomoriensis sp. nov. (Lasiosphaeriaceae). It differs from other known species of the genusPseudohalonectria in the dimensions of its asci and ascospores. The second,Monodictys abuensis, is newly added to the mycoflora of Japan. Its host,Zelkova serrata, is also newly recorded. Three others found on new host plants areDictyochaeta simplex onQuercus myrsinaefolia andBladhia crispa, Colletotrichum dematium onAucuba japonica var.borealis, andNectria mammoidea var.rubi onCercidiphyllum japonicum. The sixth,Trochophora fasciculata, aDaphniphyllum sooty leaf spot fungus renamed by Goos fromT. simplex, is reported with a full list of synonyms.     

New species and a new combination in Myrtaceae from northeastern South America

Three new species of Myrtaceae (Calyptranthes bracteata, Eugenia gonglycocarpa, andMyrcia rupta) from northeastern South America are described and illustrated, and a new combination (Eugenia tetramera) is proposed. The closed-calyx and the completely or partially fused cotyledons ofMyrcia rupta, unusual features for the genus, are discussed and compared with related species inMyrcia andMarlierea.     

New unicapitate species of Rhynchospora (Cyperaceae) from South America

Resolution of species delimitations in theRhynchospora globosa complex has revealed three species new to science from South America:R. bracteovillosa, R. leucoloma, andR. melanocarpa. Each species is described and illustrated and its geographical distribution discussed.     

Five new species of Heteropterys (Malpighiaceae) from Central and South America

Five-new taxa ofHeteropterys H. B. K. subsect.Aptychia Nied. are described, illustrated, and mapped:H. andina from Peru;H. minutiflora from Costa Rica; andH. bullata, H. capixaba, andH. oberdanii, from the Atlantic coastal forest of Brazil. The affinities and diagnostic characters of each species are discussed.