Orbilia tianmushanensis sp. nov., a new member of the O. luteorubella group with an unusual asexual morph

A new species of Orbilia related to O. luteorubella is described mainly based on morphological characters of its asexual morph and molecular data. The sexual morph does not significantly differ from O. luteorubella, whereas the asexual morph obtained from its ascospore isolate resembles members of the non-predacious genus Dactylella, because it has fusiform phragmoconidia borne singly at the apex of conidiophores. Phylogenetic analysis showed that this strain clustered with a clade that included available strains of the O. luteorubella aggregate and was distant from all analysed Dactylella species. Within this clade, the new strain fell between species with filiform conidia and those of a Pseudotripoconidium anamorph. By combining morphological and phylogenetic analyses, we conclude that our isolate belongs to a new taxon. Pleomorphism of the new taxon is described and discussed.     

Phylogenetic characterization of two novel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Kamalomyces</Emphasis> species in Tubeufiaceae (Tubeufiales)

Two novel species of bambusicolous fungi in the genus Kamalomyces, collected from northern Thailand, are described and illustrated herein. Kamalomyces bambusicola and K. thailandicus spp. nov. are typical of the genus Kamalomyces (Tubeufiaceae, Tubeufiales) and are morphologically distinct from known species with respect to their size of ascomata, asci and ascospores, ascospore septation and peridium structure, including the subiculum comprising hyphae on the host surface. Morphological examination reveals that the asexual morph of K. bambusicola is associated with its sexual morph in a subiculum forming dictyochlamydosporous conidia, which are similar to the asexual morph of Chlamydotubeufia. Phylogenetic analyses of combined LSU, ITS and TEF1-α sequence data also support these two species as distinct and confirm their phylogenetic affinities within the Tubeufiaceae. In particular, Kamalomyces shares a close phylogenetic relationship to Helicoma.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Talaromyces heiheensis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">T. mangshanicus</Emphasis>, two new species from China

Two new species, Talaromyces heiheensis from rotten wood and T. mangshanicus isolated from soil, are illustrated and described as new to science in sections Trachyspermi and Talaromyces. The phylogenetic positions of the two new species inferred from the internal transcribed spacer, beta-tubulin, calmodulin and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit regions were carried out. Talaromyces heiheensis is phylogenetically closely related to T. albobiverticillius, T. rubrifaciens, T. solicola and T. erythromellis, and characterised by slow growth on Czapek yeast autolysate agar at 25 °C, orange conidia en masse on malt extract agar at 25 °C, biverticillate and terverticillate conidiophores, acerose phialides and subglobose to ellipsoidal, smooth-walled conidia. Talaromyces mangshanicus is related to T. kendrickii, T. qii and T. thailandensis, and characterised by slow-growing colonies with absent or sparse sporulation on CYA agar at 25 °C, conidia en masse greyish purple, purplish red soluble pigment on yeast extract agar (YES) at 25 °C, biverticillate conidiophores, ampulliform phialides and subglobose to ellipsoidal conidia with echinulate walls. They are distinguished from the known species in culture characteristics on four standard media, microscopic features and sequence data.     

Molecular taxonomy and morphological characterization reveal new species and new host records of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Torula</Emphasis> species (Torulaceae,Pleosporales)

Four new species and two new host records of Torula (Torulaceae, Pleosporales) are described and illustrated from herbaceous litter collected in Italy and Thailand. The new species possess colony, conidiophore and conidial characteristics that fit within the generic concept of Torula. Detailed morphological observations clearly demarcate four of these from extant species and are hence described as new (Torula chiangmaiensis sp. nov., Torula pluriseptata sp. nov., Torula chromolaenae sp. nov., Torula mackenziei sp. nov.). Details of asexual morphs are described, and justifications for establishing these new species are provided. The nuclear are sequenced ribosomal RNA genes as well as protein coding genes to infer phylogenetic relationships and discuss phylogenetic affinities with morphologically similar species. Our morphological distinction is further supported by phylogenetic discrimination. In particular, phylogenies depict a close relationship of Torula chiangmaiensis and T. pluriseptata to T. hollandica, while T. chromolaenae and T. mackenziei constitute an independent phylogenetic lineage basal to T. herbarum and T. ficus. Torula ficus and T. masonii are also described and their phylogeny investigated as new host records from Bidens pilosa and Iris germanica, respectively.     

Novel palmicolous taxa within Pleosporales: multigene phylogeny and taxonomic circumscription

Palm fungi are highly diverse in the tropical regions of Asia. Recent investigations on these palmicolous fungi have led to the collection of astrosphaeriella-like taxa from Calamus, Caryota, and Licuala species in Thailand (Chiang Rai and Narathiwat provinces) and southwest China (Yunnan Province). This study characterizes fungal taxa, which are new to science, based on morphological examination and concatenated DNA sequence data, to infer their familial relationships. Morphological comparisons reveal six new species, viz. Astrosphaeriellopsis caryotae, Fissuroma calami, F. caryotae, Neoastrosphaeriella sribooniensis, Pithomyces caryotae, and P. licualae.Their similarities and differences to other extant species are discussed. The phylogenetic results indicate that all of these new taxa belong to Aigialaceae and Astrosphaeriellaceae (Pleosporales) and support their establishment. Astrosphaeriellopsis is assigned to Astrosphaeriellaceae and the family is amended in order to accommodate both coelomycetous and hyphomycetous asexual morphs. A generic key is presented for Astrosphaeriellaceae to delimit Astrosphaeriella, Astrosphaeriellopsis, Pteridiospora, and Pithomyces. Asexual morph connections of Pithomyces caryotae and P. licualae are established from axenic cultures derived from single ascospores. DNA-based sequence data supports the establishment of our new species; however, the affinities of Astrosphaeriella tornata to other Astrosphaeriella and Pithomyces species are unclear and warrant further investigations with increased taxon sampling.     

Two new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trouessartia</Emphasis> Canestrini, 1899 (Astigmata: Trouessartiidae) from passeriform birds in Brazil

Two new feather mite species of the genus Trouessartia Canestrini, 1899 (Analgoidea: Trouessartiidae) are described from passerines (Aves: Passeriformes) in Brazil: T. calcealgiana n. sp. from Philydor atricapillus (Wied) (Furnariidae), and T. gigaphallus n. sp. from Tyrannus melancholicus Vieillot (Tyrannidae). Both species have unique features, such as the large hook-like seta sR on trochanters III in T. calcealgiana, and the large male genitalia in T. gigaphallus, which are at least twice as long as normally found in most species of Trouessartia.     

A review of the subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carpelimus</Emphasis> s. str. (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae) from tropical Africa

A review of the subgenus Carpelimus (s. str.) from tropical Africa is given. The subgenus includes 10 species. A new species C. uhligi sp. n. is described, neotype of Trogophloeus insularis, Kraatz 1858 is designated. T. aequithorax Bernhauer, 1932 is placed in synonymy with C. dieganus (Fauvel, 1904); T. oculatus Wollaston, 1865 and T. meridioafricanus Scheerpeltz, 1974, with C. insularis (Kraatz, 1858), T. rudebecki Scheerpeltz, 1974 with C. memnonius (Erichson, 1840); T. yemenicus Coiffait, 1981 with C. niloticus (Erichson, 1840); T. nigerrimus Coiffait, 1935 and T. mimus Cameron, 1945, with C. rufitarsis (Fauvel, 1907); and T. bredoi Bernhauer, 1943, with C. transmarinus (Fauvel, 1907). Lectotypes of T. aequithorax, T. calidus, T. nigerrimus, and T. bredoi are designated. Twenty species are transferred from the genus Carpelimus, and the following new combinations are formed: Thinodromus brincki Scheerpeltz, 1972; Th. montiumdraconis Scheerpeltz, 1974; Th. rhodesianus Scheerpeltz, 1974; and Th. sudanensis Scheerpeltz, 1974 comb. nn.). The initial generic placement of Carpelimus luzidus Cameron, 1944 is restored.     

Two new lineages of aquatic ascomycetes: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Atractospora</Emphasis> gen. nov. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rubellisphaeria</Emphasis> gen. et sp. nov., and a sexual morph of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Myrmecridium montsegurinum</Emphasis> sp. nov.

Two new genera, Atractospora and Rubellisphaeria, are described for perithecial ascomycetes occurring on decaying wood submerged in freshwater habitats. Their relationships with other morphologically similar fungi were investigated utilising four nuclear ribosomal and protein-coding loci. They are nested together with members of five orders and families and numerous genera incertae sedis in the Sordariomycetidae in a clade supported by Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian inference methods. Their closest relative is Lentomitella. Atractospora includes species characterised by dark, immersed to semi-immersed beaked ascomata lying horizontally to the host, stipitate asci with a pronounced non-amyloid apical annulus and hyaline, fusiform, septate, thick-walled ascospores with smooth or ornamented wall. Three novel species are introduced (A. decumbens, A. reticulata and A. verruculosa). A new combination for Aquaticola ellipsoidea is proposed in Atractospora based on molecular data and morphological characters. Rubellisphaeria, with a new species R. abscondita, is distinct by subhyaline to reddish brown, immersed ascomata with a lateral neck, short-stipitate asci and ellipsoidal smooth ascospores with a delayed formation of a middle septum. The sexual morph of the dematiaceous hyphomycete genus Myrmecridium was encountered for the first time on decaying wood submerged in a stream. It is nested in a strongly supported monophyletic clade of the Myrmecridiales. The novel species M. montsegurinum is described; it possesses papillate ascomata immersed beneath a clypeus with subhyaline to weakly pigmented ascomatal wall, long-stipitate asci with a non-amyloid apical annulus and three-septate, hyaline, ellipsoidal, delicately verruculose ascospores. A morphology-based key is provided to facilitate identification of species of Atractospora.     

Two new <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cordyceps</Emphasis> species from a community forest in Thailand

Two new species found in northern Thailand, Cordyceps chiangdaoensis and Cordyceps morakotii, pathogenic to Coleoptera larvae and Odontomachus ant pupae, respectively, are described using morphological and molecular phylogenetic data. Both species produce narrowly ovoid superficial perithecia at the end of a cylindrical stroma, bola ascospores, Evlachovaea-like conidial morph, and cylindrical conidia with rounded ends. These two species differ from other bola ascospore-producing species in the genus Cordyceps in the sizes of the ascospores and perithecia, as well as the host. Phylogenetic analyses based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of the rDNA and partial sequences of translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1) data strongly support these two fungi as two distinct new species in the Cordycipitaceae.     

<Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Barrmaelia</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Entosordaria</Emphasis> in Barrmaeliaceae (fam. nov., Xylariales) and critical notes on <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Anthostomella</Emphasis>-like genera based on multigene phylogenies

Phylogenetic analyses of a combined DNA data matrix containing ITS, LSU, rpb2 and tub2 sequences of representative Xylariales revealed that the genus Barrmaelia is a well-defined monophylum, as based on four of its described species (B. macrospora, B. moravica, B. oxyacanthae, B. rhamnicola) and the new species B. rappazii. The generic type of Entosordaria, E. perfidiosa, is revealed as the closest relative of Barrmaelia, being phylogenetically distant from the generic type of Clypeosphaeria, C. mamillana, which belongs to Xylariaceae sensu stricto. Entosordaria and Barrmaelia are highly supported and form a distinct lineage, which is recognised as the new family Barrmaeliaceae. The new species E. quercina is described. Barrmaelia macrospora, B. moravica and B. rhamnicola are epitypified and E. perfidiosa is lecto- and epitypified. Published sequences of Anthostomella and several Anthostomella-like species from the genera Alloanthostomella, Anthostomelloides, Neoanthostomella, Pseudoanthostomella and Pyriformiascoma are evaluated, demonstrating the necessity of critical inspection of published sequence data before inclusion in phylogenies. Verified isolates of several species from these genera should be re-sequenced to affirm their phylogenetic affinities. In addition, the generic type of Anthostomella should be sequenced before additional generic re-arrangements are proposed.     

Four novel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Talaromyces</Emphasis> species isolated from leaf litter from Colombian Amazon rain forests

Various Talaromyces strains were isolated during a survey of fungi involved in leaf litter decomposition in tropical lowland forests in the Caquetá and Amacayacu areas of the Colombian Amazon. Four new Talaromyces species are described using a polyphasic approach, which includes phenotypic characters, extrolite profiles and phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) barcode, and beta-tubulin (BenA) and calmodulin (CaM) gene regions. Talaromyces amazonensis sp. nov., T. francoae sp. nov. and T. purgamentorum sp. nov. belong to Talaromyces section Talaromyces, and T. columbiensis sp. nov. is located in section Bacillispori. The new species produce several bioactive compounds: T. amazonensis produces the potential anticancer agents duclauxin, berkelic acid and vermicillin, and T. columbiensis produces the effective anticancer agent wortmannin (together with duclauxin). In addition to the new species, T. aculeatus and T. macrosporus were isolated during this study on leaf litter decomposition.     

Relationships between the gall-midge genera <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trotteria</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Verbasciola</Emphasis> (Diptera,Cecidomyiidae), with description of new species from the Middle Volga River Area

Gall midges of the genera Trotteria and Verbasciola of the supertribe Lasiopteridi are inquilines. The widespread genus Trotteria includes 28 species developing in galls of 30 species of gall midges; 24 species develop in galls of Asphondyliidi. Gall midges-hosts and inquilines were found on 57 plant species of 17 families. The Palaearctic genus Verbasciola comprises three species that have been recorded in galls of three gall-midge species damaging three plant species. Seven new species are described, Trotteria coronillacola, T. perkovskii, T. cytisiphila, T. kalininae, T. jigulensis, Schizomyia samaralukensis, and Verbasciola volgensis. The diagnoses of the genera were corrected. Trotteria spinosa Kovalev is restored from the synonyms of T. umbelliferarum Kieffer. Data on the distribution of all the species examined and their associations with host gall midges and taxonomic groups of plants are given.     

Morphological and molecular evidence support a new truffle, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tuber lannaense</Emphasis>, from Thailand

A new truffle species, Tuber lannaense, is described based on collections from northern Thailand. This species is characterized by yellow-brown to brown ascomata with dark brown gleba and ellipsoid to narrow ellipsoid spores with spiny reticulum. It grows in mycorrhizal association with Betula alnoides and Carpinus poilanei. Tuber lannaense is similar to T. huidongense, but differs in the thinner outer peridium layer. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS1?+?ITS2) and large subunit of nuclear ribosomal DNA, as well as genetic distance analysis of ITS1?+?ITS2, support T. lannaense as being distinct from other Tuber species. Moreover, based on genetic distance analysis, we consider that T. furfuraceum and T. huidongense, which have previously been synonymized, are different species.     

Investigating species boundaries using DNA and morphology in the mite <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tyrophagus curvipenis</Emphasis> (Acari: Acaridae), an emerging invasive pest,with a molecular phylogeny of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tyrophagus</Emphasis>

Mites of the genus Tyrophagus (Acari: Acaridae) are among the most widespread and common mites, inhabiting diverse natural and anthropogenic habitats. Some species are pests of agricultural products and stored food and/or live in house dust, causing allergies to humans. We sequenced 1.2 kb of the mitochondrial COI gene for 38 individuals belonging to seven species of Tyrophagus, including T. curvipenis, T. putrescentiae, T. fanetzhangorum, T. longior, T. perniciosus, and T. cf. similis. Molecular phylogenetic analyses (1) recovered two major clades corresponding to the presence or absence of eyespots, and (2) separated all included morphological species. Tyrophagus curvipenis and T. putrescentiae had the lowest between-species genetic distances (range, mean?±?SD): 14.20–16.30, 15.17?±?0.40 (K2P). The highest within-species variation was found in T. putrescentiae 0.00–4.33, 1.78?±?1.44 (K2P). In this species, we recovered two distinct groups; however, no geographical or ecological dissimilarities were observed between them. Based on our analyses, we document important morphological differences between T. curvipenis and T. putrescentiae. For the first time, we record the occurrence of T. curvipenis in the New World and suggest that it may be an emerging pest as it is currently spreading in agricultural produce.     

Diversity of root-endophytic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichoderma</Emphasis> from Malaysian Borneo

Trichoderma species form endophytic associations with plant roots and may provide a range of benefits to their hosts. However, few studies have systematically examined the diversity of Trichoderma species associated with plant roots in tropical regions. During the evaluation of Trichoderma isolates for use as biocontrol agents, root samples were collected from more than 58 genera in 35 plant families from a range of habitats in Malaysian Borneo. Trichoderma species were isolated from surface-sterilised roots and identified following analysis of partial translation elongation factor-1α (tef1) sequences. Species present included Trichoderma afroharzianum, Trichoderma asperelloides, Trichoderma asperellum, Trichoderma guizhouense, Trichoderma reesei, Trichoderma strigosum and Trichoderma virens. Trichoderma asperellum/T. asperelloides, Trichoderma harzianum s.l. and T. virens were the most frequently isolated taxa. tef1 sequence data supported the recognition of undescribed species related to the T. harzianum complex. The results suggest that tropical plants may be a useful source of novel root-associated Trichoderma for biotechnological applications.     

Toward a Novel Multilocus Phylogenetic Taxonomy for the Dermatophytes

Type and reference strains of members of the onygenalean family Arthrodermataceae have been sequenced for rDNA ITS and partial LSU, the ribosomal 60S protein, and fragments of β-tubulin and translation elongation factor 3. The resulting phylogenetic trees showed a large degree of correspondence, and topologies matched those of earlier published phylogenies demonstrating that the phylogenetic representation of dermatophytes and dermatophyte-like fungi has reached an acceptable level of stability. All trees showed Trichophyton to be polyphyletic. In the present paper, Trichophyton is restricted to mainly the derived clade, resulting in classification of nearly all anthropophilic dermatophytes in Trichophyton and Epidermophyton, along with some zoophilic species that regularly infect humans. Microsporum is restricted to some species around M. canis, while the geophilic species and zoophilic species that are more remote from the human sphere are divided over Arthroderma, Lophophyton and Nannizzia. A new genus Guarromyces is proposed for Keratinomyces ceretanicus. Thirteen new combinations are proposed; in an overview of all described species it is noted that the largest number of novelties was introduced during the decades 1920–1940, when morphological characters were used in addition to clinical features. Species are neo- or epi-typified where necessary, which was the case in Arthroderma curreyi, Epidermophyton floccosum, Lophophyton gallinae, Trichophyton equinum, T. mentagrophytes, T. quinckeanum, T. schoenleinii, T. soudanense, and T. verrucosum. In the newly proposed taxonomy, Trichophyton contains 16 species, Epidermophyton one species, Nannizzia 9 species, Microsporum 3 species, Lophophyton 1 species, Arthroderma 21 species and Ctenomyces 1 species, but more detailed studies remain needed to establish species borderlines. Each species now has a single valid name. Two new genera are introduced: Guarromyces and Paraphyton. The number of genera has increased, but species that are relevant to routine diagnostics now belong to smaller groups, which enhances their identification.