Rinodina turfaceoides,a new corticolous,blastidiate species from the Iberian Peninsula

Abstract:A new corticolous lichen, Rinodina turfaceoides, is described from the Serra de Estrela (Portugal). It is characterized mainly by the blastidiate thallus, large apothecia covered by a thick, yellow-orange pruina, large Physcia -type ascospores and chemistry. The new species is compared with the closely related but mainly muscicolous, R. turfacea, as well as with other corticolous Rinodina species with vegetative propagules, including R. colobinoides and R. disjuncta. Habit photographs of the new species and illustrations of its ascospores are also provided.     

Aspergillus osmophilus sp. nov., and a new teleomorph for A. proliferans

A new species of Aspergillus and a new teleomorph for A. proliferans, both isolated from cereals in Iran, are described using morphological and molecular data. A combined sequence dataset of the ITS region, partial β-tubulin and partial calmodulin genes resolved the relationships of members of section Aspergillus largely in concordance with morphological traits of ascospores. Aspergillus osmophilus sp. nov. is differentiated from the closest species, A. xerophilus by possessing larger ascospores, conidia and associated fruiting bodies. Both species are strongly xerophilic and possess ascospores with lobate-reticulate convex surfaces. The newly discovered teleomorph for A. proliferans is characterized by delicately roughened ascospores with a shallow or distinct furrow and finely roughened to irregular equatorial crests.     

Obolarina persica sp. nov., associated with dying Quercus in Iran

A new species, Obolarina persica, is described from Iran. It is widely associated with dying Quercus brantii, on which it produces charcoal-like stromata. The fungus described herein differs from the other described species, Ob. dryophila, primarily in its much larger ascospores.     

Erysiphe corylopsidis sp. nov., a new powdery mildew fungus found on Corylopsis spicata and C. pauciflora

A powdery mildew fungus occurring on leaves of Corylopsis pauciflora and C. spicata in Japan is described as a new species, Erysiphe corylopsidis. This species is characterized by fewer than 15 appendages on a chasmothecium, primary branches of the appendages occasionally elongated, and a relatively small number (2–5) of ascospores per ascus. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on rDNA ITS and 28S rDNA sequences indicate that this fungus forms an independent lineage in the genus Erysiphe.     

A new species of the genus Chlorencoelia (Helotiales) from China

Chlorencoelia collections from different regions of China were examined. A new species is discovered and named as C. macrospora. The most significant features to distinguish the new species from any other known species of the genus are its very large acsi and ascospores. Three of the five known species of the genus are found from China.     

Effects of temperature on germination and hyphal growth from ascospores of A-group and B-group Leptosphaeria maculans (phoma stem canker of oilseed rape)

Ascospores of both A‐group and B‐group Leptosphaeria maculans germinated at temperatures from 5–20°C on distilled water agar or detached oilseed rape leaves. After 2 h of incubation on water agar, some A‐group ascospores had germinated at 10–20°C and some B‐group ascospores had germinated at 5–20°C. The percentages of both A‐group and B‐group ascospores that had germinated after 24 h of incubation increased with increasing temperature from 5–20°C. The observed time (Vo₅₀) which elapsed from inoculation until 50% of the spores had germinated was shorter for B‐group than for A‐group ascospores. Germ tube length increased with increasing temperature from 5–20°C for both ascospore groups. Germ tubes from B‐group ascospores were longer than germ tubes from A‐group ascospores at all temperatures tested, but the mean diameter of germ tubes from A‐group ascospores (1.8 μm) was greater than that of those from B‐group ascospores (1.2μm) at 15°C and 20°C. The average number of germ tubes produced from A‐group ascospores (3.8) was greater than that from B‐group ascospores (3.1) after 24 h of incubation at 20°C, on both water agar and leaf surfaces. Germ tubes originated predominantly from interstitial cells or terminal cells of A‐group or B‐group ascospores, respectively, on both water agar and leaf surfaces. Hyphae from A‐group ascospores grew tortuously with extensive branching, whilst those from B‐group ascospores were predominantly long and straight with little branching, whether the ascospores were produced from oilseed rape debris or from crosses between single ascospore isolates, and whether ascospores were germinating on water agar or leaf surfaces.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cosmospora</Emphasis> and the first record of sexual state of <Emphasis Type="Italic">C. lavitskiae</Emphasis>

A new fungicolous species, Cosmospora inonoticola, is described and illustrated based on a specimen collected from northeast China. It is characterized by the occurrence of fruitbodies of Inonotus sp.; perithecia nonstromatic, subglobose to pyriform, not collapsing when dry; clavate asci containing (3–)6(?8) spores; ascospores ellipsoidal to broadly ellipsoidal, pale brown, finely warted, bicellular, conspicuously constricted at septum; and producing a verticillium-like asexual state. A multi-locus analysis of the combined ITS, rpb1 and tub sequences confirmed its taxonomic position, and revealed the distinction from its morphologically similar species including the type species, C. coccinea, which occurs also on Inonotus. A specimen with sexual state of C. lavitskiae is reported for the first time, and a reference specimen is indicated.     

Apocricetus barrierei (Rodentia,Mammalia) from La Bullana 2B and La Bullana 3 (Cabriel Basin,Valencia, Spain). Revision of the Late Miocene–Early Pliocene forms of the genus Apocricetus

Apocricetus Freudenthal et al. (Treballs del Museu de Geologia de Barcelona 7: 11–93, 1998) is a medium to large Cricetinae, practically without mesolophids in the m1 and m2, with long third molars; anterior and posterior protolophule are present and the posterior metalophule is reduced or absent. Apocricetus barrierei (Mein and Michaux Comptes Rendus Academie de Sciences de Paris D 270: 2780–2783, 1970) was defined on the basis of three specimens from the French locality Chabrier. Apart from this site, several French and Spanish localities of Early Pliocene age contain remains of this species. Despite this extra material, the species is poorly characterized, and none of the localities contains material of all six dental elements. In this paper, two new assemblages from La Bullana 2B and La Bullana 3 (Cabriel Basin, Spain) are described. The rich assemblage from La Bullana 2B provides a better insight in the metrical and morphological variability of this species.     

Fungi on grasses: new species of Ascotaiwania,Diaporthe and Oxydothis (Ascomycetes)

Four new species of ascomycetes, Ascotaiwania pennisetarum sp. nov., Diaporthe appendiculata sp. now., Diaporthe minutis sp. nov., and Oxydothis miscanthiecola sp. nov., are described from senescent culms of grasses in Hong Kong. Ascotaiwania pennisetarum is distinctive from other species in the genus as ascospores are narrower. Diaporthe minutis differs from the most similar Diaporthe species in having ascospores with bipolar mucilaginous pads, while Diaporthe appendiculata differs from other species in having ascospores with both a mucilaginous pad and appendages at both ends. Oxydothis miscanthicola differs from other species in the genus in having long fusiform ascospores, which taper to rounded apices or otherwise differ in shape and size. These new species are compared with existing species and illustrated with interference light micrographs. The Diaporthe species known to posses mucilaginous ascospore appendages are listed.     

Two new species of Aspergillus section Fumigati isolated from caatinga soil in the State of Pernambuco,Brazil

Aspergillus caatingaensis and A. pernambucoensis, isolated from semi-desert soil in caatinga area, the State of Pernambuco, Brazil, are described and illustrated. Aspergillus caatingaensis is characterized by its white cleistothecia, broadly lenticular ascospores with four equatorial crests and irregularly ribbed to slightly reticulate with aculeate convex surfaces, and ellipsoidal to broadly ellipsoidal conidia with a smooth wall. Aspergillus pernambucoensis is characterized by its, white cleistothecia, lenticular ascospores with two equatorial crests and irregularly ribbed with tuberculate to verrucate convex surfaces, and ovoid to broadly ellipsoidal conidia with a smooth wall. The validation of these new species is supported further by analyses of the β-tubulin, calmodulin and actin gene sequences.     

Aspergillus siamensis sp. nov. from soil in Thailand

A new species of Aspergillus section Fumigati, Aspergillus siamensis, isolated from coastal forest soil in Samaesarn island, Chonburi province, Eastern Thailand, is described and illustrated. This species is characterized by its broadly lenticular ascospores with two wide equatorial crests and finely spinulose and rugose convex surfaces and produced pale pinkish exudates after 14 d incubation on Czapek agar. The validation of this new species was supported further by analyses of the β-tubulin, calmodulin and actin gene sequences.     

Survival of A-group and B-group Leptosphaeria maculans (phoma stem canker) ascospores in air and mycelium on oilseed rape stem debris

Mycelium of Leptosphaeria maculans survived on oilseed rape stem base debris buried in sand for 2,4, 6, 8,10 or 12 months and produced pseudothecia after subsequent exposure on the surface of the ground under natural conditions for 2–4 months, but did not survive on upper stem debris buried for 2 months. Only A‐group L. maculans ascospores were produced on the stem base debris which had been buried; no B‐group ascospores were produced. Mycelium of L. maculans survived on both stem base and upper stem debris exposed on the sand surface for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 months and pseudothecia with viable ascospores were observed at the time of sampling. Both A‐group L. maculans (predominant on stem bases) and B‐group L. maculans (predominant on upper stems) ascospores were produced on unburied stem base and upper stem debris. Thus B‐group L. maculans survived longer on unburied debris than on buried debris. A‐group ascospores which were exposed in dry air in darkness at 5–20°C survived longer than B‐group ascospores; 10–37% of A‐group ascospores, compared with 2–31% of B‐group ascospores, survived after 35 days.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Byssoloma rubromarginatum</Emphasis> (Pilocarpaceae: Ascomycota), a new corticolous species from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Nothofagus</Emphasis> forests in Argentina

A new corticolous species of Byssoloma, B. rubromarginatum Messuti and de la Rosa from Nothofagus dombeyi forests is described and illustrated. The new species is characterized by the morphology of the thallus and apothecia, the 3–5 (7)-septate ascospores, the presence of an anthraquinone in the exciple, and its ecology. It is the first species within the genus known to have gyrophoric acid in the apothecial margin. A key to Byssoloma species known from Nothofagus temperate forests in South America is provided.     

The correlation among molecular phylogenetics, morphological data, and growth temperature of the genus Emericella, and a new species

The species of the genus Emericella have been classified and identified on the basis of morphological features. However, the phylogenetic relationships in this genus have not been investigated. To clarify the relationships according to molecular phylogenetics, morphological characteristics, and growth temperature regimens in Emericella, multilocus sequencing analysis based on recent Aspergillus taxonomy was carried out. Various characteristic species formed individual clades, and maximum growth temperature reflected the phylogenetics. Emericella species exhibit various ascospore characteristics, although some species do not have distinct ascospore ornamentation. Species that have smooth-walled ascospores with two equatorial crests are polyphyletic. Here, Emericella pachycristata is described and illustrated as a new species. Its ascospores are similar to those of E. nidulans. These species produce smooth-walled ascospores, but the equatorial crests of E. pachycristata are thicker than those of E. nidulans. On the phylogenetic trees, E. pachycristata is closely related to E. rugulosa, which produces ascospores with ribbed convex surfaces. Thus, E. pachycristata is considered to be a new species both morphologically and phylogenetically.     

New and interesting species ofEmericella from Brazilian soil

Among the ascomycete isolates from soil and armadillo dung collected in São Paulo State, Brazil, a new species ofEmericella, E. montenegroi and a new variety ofE. rugulosa, E. rugulosa var.Iazulina are described and illustrated.Emericella montenegroi differs from the other known species of the genus in having ascospores with an incompletely reticulate or ribbed ornamentation on the convex walls.Emericella rugulosa var.Iazulina differs from the type variety in having blue to violet color of ascospores. Isolations ofE. corrugata andE. foveolata are also reported as a South American record. A synoptic key to all accepted species of the genus is provided.     

New foliicolous lichens from New Zealand 3

Podotara gen. nov. (incertae sedis) is described. It is based on the foliicolous taxonP. pilophoriformis sp.nov., which is described and illustrated. Characteristic of the new genus and species are globose and stipitate apothecia and 3-septate, hyaline, thin-walled ascospores with annular thickening of the septa.Scoliciosporum lividum sp. nov. (Scoliciosporaceae) differs from all species of its genus known to date by its leprose grey thallus, its livid, globose, dull apothecia, and its 3-septate ascosoores spirally contorted in the ascus.     

A new species of the genus Trematosphaeria from China

A new species of the genus Trematosphaeria was isolated and identified from the soil in Jiuzhaigou Nature Reserve, southwestern China. The new taxon was studied based on morphological characters and phylogenetic analyses of three nuclear loci, i.e., the internal transcribed spacer rDNA operon (ITS), and large and small subunit nuclear ribosomal DNA (nuc28S rDNA, nuc18S rDNA). The analyzed Trematosphaeria species were clustered in several clades within the Pleosporales and the genus was shown to be polyphyletic. The new species is introduced as Trematosphaeria terricola, and it is characterized by short-papillate ascomata with suborbicular ostiolum, 3-septate, cinnamon-brown, fusiform ascospores with narrowly rounded ends, verruculose at maturity. Trematosphaeria terricola is compared with morphologically similar species T. confusa, T. mangrovis, and T. pertusa, which differ from the former species in the number of septa, and the shape and size of the ascospores with or without a sheath. This is the first report of a Trematosphaeria isolate from alpine soil in China.