Minutisphaera and Natipusilla: two new genera of freshwater Dothideomycetes

Two new genera are established in the Dothideomycetes based on morphological and molecular data (SSU and LSU nuclear ribosomal sequences) to accommodate four ascomycete species collected from woody debris submerged in freshwater habitats. The genus Minutisphaera is represented by a single species, M. fimbriatispora, which was collected from freshwater habitats in temperate forests in North America. It has small, superficial, brown, subglobose, papillate pseudothecia with dark, irregularly twisted hairs around the papillae, fissitunicate asci, septate pseudoparaphyses, and hyaline, one-septate ascospores surrounded by a gelatinous sheath and having spine-like appendages radiating around the ascospore at the septum. Minutisphaera formed a strongly supported clade with Farlowiella carmichaeliana. The second genus, Natipusilla, contains three new species, N. decorospora, N. limonensis and N. naponensis, which were collected from Central and South America. Natipusilla is characterized by small, superficial, light-colored, globose pseudothecia, fissitunicate asci, few or no pseudoparaphyses, and hyaline, one-septate to tardily two- or three-septate ascospores with or without a gelatinous sheath. The three Natipusilla species form a well supported clade, but their relationship to other members of the Dothideomycetes remains unclear.     

Three new genera representing novel lineages of Sordariomycetidae (Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota) from tropical freshwater habitats in Costa Rica

Three new genera are established in the Sordariomycetidae based on morphological and molecular data (SSU and LSU nrDNA) to accommodate five ascomycete species collected from submerged woody debris in freshwater habitats from Costa Rica. The genus Bullimyces contains three new species, B. communis, B. costaricensis and B. aurisporus. Bullimyces is characterized by globose to subglobose, membranous, black, ostiolate ascomata; deliquescent, hyaline, globose cells that fill the center of the centrum; unitunicate asci that deliquesce early in some species; and septate, thick-walled ascospores with or without gelatinous sheaths or appendages. Bullimyces species form a well supported clade with 100% bootstrap support, but the position of the genus in the Sordariomycetidae remains unclear. The second genus, Riomyces, is represented by a single species, R. rotundus. Riomyces is characterized by globose to subglobose, membranous, black, ostiolate ascomata, unitunicate, cylindrical asci, hyaline, globose cells that fill the hamathecium and septate, thick-walled ascospores with a gelatinous sheath. Although Riomyces is morphologically similar to Bullimyces, the two genera did not group together with support in any analysis. The third genus, Hydromelitis, is represented by a single species, H. pulchella. Hydromelitis is characterized by pyriform, membranous, black, ostiolate ascomata, unitunicate asci lacking an apical structure, simple, thin-walled, septate paraphyses and hyaline to golden yellow, multiseptate, thick-walled ascospores with a gelatinous sheath. Bullimyces, Riomyces and Hydromelitis were nested within an unsupported clade consisting of members of the Ophiostomatales, Magnaporthales and freshwater Annulatacaceae sensu lato and sensu stricto.     

Nematococcomyces rhododendri, a new species in a new genus of the Rhytismatales from China

A fungus belonging to the Rhytismatales found on twigs of Rhododendron lutescens in Yunnan, southwestern China, is described as a new species in a new genus. It is characterized by Coccomyces-like ascomata but differs in having elliptical ascospores with filiform, hyaline appendages. The ascospores of this new taxon are somewhat similar to those of species of Parvacoccum, but the latter has symmetrical, fusiform ascospores with funnel-shaped appendages. The new genus also is distinct from Hypoderma, Hypodermella, Myriophacidium, Ploioderma, Neococcomyces and Therrya.     

Saccharicola, a new genus for two Leptosphaeria species on sugar cane

Leptosphaeria bicolor, causal agent of a leaf scorch disease of sugar cane, is referred to the new genus Saccharicola. The ascospores are 1-3 transseptate and hyaline at first but become melanized and rough after release, as is the case in some members of Massarina and Lophiostoma. SSU rDNA data indicate that it is closely related to M. eburnea but is biotrophic in leaves of sugar cane and not corticolous, the ascomata are less melanized, and it has Stagonospora- and Phoma-like synanamorphs, not a Ceratophoma-like anamorph. A second species, Leptosphaeria taiwanensis, is transferred to Saccharicola. It differs in slightly larger, normally 1-septate, hyaline spores with more attenuated ends. The family Massarinaceae is resurrected to accommodate Massarina s. str., Keissleriella, Saccharicola and Helminthosporium. These genera formed a clade with 100% bootstrap support in a parsimony analysis of SSU rDNA sequences from 38 ascomycetes, 30 of them members of Pleosporales (including Melanommatales).     

Dyrithiopsis lakefuxianensis gen. et sp. nov. from Fuxian Lake, Yunnan, China, and notes on the taxonomic confusion surrounding Dyrithium

A new taxon with Dyrithium-like characteristics was collected from Lake Fuxian in China. The taxon is typical of the Amphisphaeriaceae in that it has relatively large, ostiolate, immersed ascomata, unitunicate asci with a J+ subapical ring, and brown ascospores. It is similar to Dyrithium in that it has muriform ascospores, but considerable confusion surrounds this genus. In Dyrithium asci are bitunicate and lack a J+ subapical ring, while this was not true of our species. A new genus, Dyrithiopsis, therefore is established to accommodate this new taxon. Details of its anamorph also are provided, based on cultural studies. Parsimony analyses of part of the large-subunit rDNA provide further evidence to support the familial placement of this new genus in the Amphisphaeriaceae. The taxonomic position of Dyrithium also is discussed.     

Two new species ofHeleococcum withAcremonium anamorphs

Two new species ofHeleococcum (a cleistothecial nectrioid genus in the Hypocreaceae) are described and illustrated.Heleococcum alatosporum, isolated from Indonesian soil, is recognized by the production of salmon-colored ascomata, cylindrical asci, and hyaline, small, bicellular ascospores with walls that are verruculose and ornamented with longitudinal ridges.Heleococcum inapertum, isolated from Philippine soil, is characterized by yellow ascomata, clavate asci, and pale yellow, middle-sized, bicellular, verruculose to weakly striate ascospores surrounded with a hyaline sheath. Anamorphs of the new species are included inAcremonium. A key to the accepted species of the genus is provided.     

Stromatonectria gen. nov. and notes on Myrmaeciella

Myrmaeciella caraganae was recollected in and around Vienna, Austria and found to be morphologically different generically from the type species of Myrmaeciella, M. endoleuca. We redescribe M. caraganae in the new genus Stromatonectria. Phylogenetic analyses of LSU sequences place the genus in the Bionectriaceae, Hypocreales. S. caraganae occurs on branches of Caragana spp., Colutea arborescens and Laburnum anagyroides of the Fabaceae. It is characterized by spheroid perithecia partly or entirely immersed in a Hypocrea-like stroma, a Nectria-like centrum and bicellular hyaline ascospores. Conidia of S. caraganae are produced in compound pycnidia that are formed prior to or in association with perithecia. Sporodochia but no pycnidia are formed in culture. We discuss the genus Myrmaeciella and compare S. caraganae with species of the Nectriaceae, including Nectria balansae, N. eustromatica and N. paraguayensis.     

Tortulomyces thailandicus gen. et sp. nov. and Nitschkia siamensis sp. nov. (Coronophorales,Ascomycota) from northern Thailand

Two new species collected in northern Thailand are herein described and discussed. Tortulomyces thailandicus is the type of a new genus characterized by a combination of such features as a dense subiculum, non-ostiolate ascomata, two kinds of paraphyses (filiform and bead-like), and 1-septate, brown ascospores. Nitschkia siamensis has non-ostiolate, turbinate and stalked ascomata and hyaline, often slightly curved, 1-septate ascospores.     

Barbatosphaeria gen. et comb. nov., a new genus for Calosphaeria barbirostris

The new genus Barbatosphaeria is described for a perithecial ascomycete known as Calosphaeria barbirostris occurring on decayed wood of deciduous trees under the periderm. The fungus produces nonstromatic perithecia with hyaline, 1-septate ascospores formed in unitunicate, nonamyloid asci. Anamorphs produced in vitro belong to Sporothrix and Ramichloridium with holoblastic-denticulate conidiogenesis; conidiophores of the two types were formed in succession during the development of the colony. Phylogenetic analyses of nuLSU rDNA sequences indicate that this fungus is distinct from morphologically similar Lentomitella, tentatively placed in the Trichosphaeriales. It groups with freshwater Aquaticola and Cataractispora and terrestrial Cryptadelphia in maximum parsimony analysis; the same grouping but without Cryptadelphia was inferred from Bayesian analysis. Cultivation, morphology and phylogenetic studies of the nuLSU rDNA support the erection of a new genus for C. barbirostris.     

Interspecific Interactions among Tropical and Subtropical Freshwater Fungi

Abstract Twenty-seven species of tropical and subtropical fungi isolated from freshwater were examined for evidence of interspecific interactions, which are important in determining the ecological roles of fungi. Evidence for interspecific interactions was examined by inoculating paired fungi 25 mm apart on the surface of agar plates. The antagonistic activities were different among different isolates and even between isolates of the same species, for example, Ophioceras dolichostomum isolated from different origins. Pseudohalonectria longirostrum and Kirschsteiniothelia elaterascus, which produced pigment in culture, were strongly inhibitory species. Several aquatic hyphomycetes seems to be less competitive and less likely to produce antagonistic substances. Competitive abilities were also influenced by the range of enzymes that a fungus produced. For example, Verticillium sp. and Diaporthe sp., which produced only one or two kinds of enzyme, were found to exhibit weak competitive abilities and were easily replaced. The results of competition experiments also showed that slow-extending fungi (e.g., Pseudohalonectria longirostrum and Kirschsteiniothelia elaterascus) were more competitive than early fast-extending fungi (e.g., Ophioceras dolichostomum and Nectria haematococca). Received: 13 October 1998; Accepted: 3 March 1999     

广西地衣新记录属——炭刺文衣属

该文报道了文字衣科(Graphidaceae)地衣一广西新记录属——炭刺文衣属(Carbacanthographis).该属主要特征是子囊盘面闭合,果壳炭化,盘唇具白色粉霜层,类缘丝具疣,子囊孢子砖壁型或横隔双透镜型,I-或微I+.枯炭刺文衣,标本采自广西金秀圣堂山,该种特征是线盘明显、盘被两侧炭化、子囊孢子无色砖壁型、孢子大小(12.5-20)×(5-7.5)μm、地衣体含有水杨嗪酸.该属是中国稀有属,迄今仅有1种报道.该种首次在内陆自然环境中发现,这对于炭刺文衣属及其类群的区系研究、物种保护和利用具有很重要的意义.     

Cuspidatispora xiphiago gen. et sp. nov. from an eastern North American creek

An interesting aquatic ascomycete was found that appeared to possess characteristics of some members of the Sordariales. Subsequent sequencing of the 28S large subunit rDNA and β-tubulin genes confirmed the morphological data by placing it in the Sordariales but failed to provide support for placing this species in any recognized genus. Therefore, a new genus, Cuspidatispora, is erected to accommodate Cuspidatispora xiphiago, which is described as a new species based on a combination of morphological and molecular data. Cuspidatispora xiphiago is unique in possessing a central, melanized ascomal wall layer and apiosporous ascospores with a pronounced apical wall extension.     

Stellatospora,a new genus of the Sordariaceae

In the course of study of fungi from soil, a new genus and species,Stellatospora terricola, was isolated. The fungus is distinguished from other known genera in having star- or comfit-shaped ascospores with a distinct germ pore. The morphological characters of the genus are considered to resemble those of the Sordariaceae in Ascomycotina.     

Microphallidae Travassos, 1920 (Trematoda). L. Testiculoporus cedarkeyensis n. g., n. sp. et Endocotyle bushi n. sp., parasites d'un Catoptrophorus (Aves) des Etats-Unis

The authors describe and illustrate three different species of microphallid trematodes parasitic in the intestine of an American willet Catoptrophorus semipalmatus (Aves). Testiculoporus cedarkeyensis n. g., n. sp. has morphological characters related to Odhneria and Pseudospelotrema, along with a genital pore drawn back to the level of the sinistral testis. Two species of Odhneria (minuta Ke, 1979 and papilloprocera Ke, 1980), which appear aberrant because of the atypical posterior position of their genital pore, are transferred to the new genus. Endocotyle bushi n. sp. differs from the two other species in the genus by the disposition of the posterior uterine loops, the extension of the vitellarium, egg size and geographical distribution. The evaginated cirrus of Odhneria odhneri is described.     

Lucidascocarpa pulchella, a new ascomycete genus and species from freshwater habitats in the American tropics

A new fungus collected from submerged wood in Costa Rica and Ecuador has ascostromatic ascomata with fissitunicate asci and lacks pseudoparaphyses, characters that place it in the Dothideaceae (Dothideales). It is unusual in the order because it has white ascomata. Based on other morphological characters however this fungus could not be accommodated in any existing genus in the Dothideaceae and it is described herein as a new genus and species, Lucidascocarpa pulchella. These morphological features are characteristic of L. pulchella: ascomata glistening, white, each with a long, periphysate neck; a membranous peridium composed of 5-7 thin-walled, hyaline cells; pseudoparaphyses absent; asci fissitunicate, clavate, eight-spored; ascospores seven-septate, hyaline, multiguttulate, verruculose, surrounded by a large, regular, gelatinous sheath.     

Studies on keratinophilic fungi. Ix: Neoarachnotheca gen. nov. and a new species of Nannizziopsis

Neoarachnotheca is proposed as a new genus of Onygenales. The outstanding generic characteristics are white, spherical ascomata with a wall formed by a network of hyphae and spherical, subhyaline ascospores with an irregular sheath. Nt. keratinophila, the type species, characterized by wavy peridial hyphae has been isolated from marine and river sediments and Myriodontium keratinophilum is its anamorph. Nannizziopsis tropicalis is proposed as a new species based on a strain isolated from soil in Burundi. RFLPs analysis of ITS and 5.8S rDNA support these proposals. The differences with related genera are discussed.     

Taiwanoporia, a new aphyllophoralean genus

A new genus, Taiwanoporia, is proposed to accommodate a new species, T. amylospora, recently collected in Taiwan. This species has a monomitic hyphal system with simple septa, and amyloid, hyaline, smooth, subglobose basidiospores.