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     

Sawadaea nankinensis comb. nov.: a powdery mildew fungus of Acer buergerianum

The anamorphic state of a powdery mildew on trident maple (Acer buergerianum, Aceraceae), belonging to Sawadaea, has been observed since 1980 in Tokyo and other areas of Japan. Since the autumn of 2003, this fungus has begun to produce chasmothecia in various areas of Japan, which were consistent with Erysiphe nankinensis (= Uncinula nankinensis), but apparently contradictory to the characteristics of the anamorph. Based on a molecular phylogenetic analysis using DNA separately extracted from the anamorph and teleomorph of the fungus on A. buergerianum, it could be demonstrated that sequences of this fungus are sister to Sawadaea. As the anamorph belongs to Oidium subgen. Octagoidium and because of the phylogenetic position within the Sawadaea clade, the new combination Sawadaea nankinensis is proposed for this species. The genus Sawadaea is emended to comprise species with consistently unbranched appendages.     

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).     

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.     

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.     

Cordyceps owariensis f. viridescens and its new Nomuraea anamorph

Cordyceps owariensis f. viridescens forma nov. (Nom. Jap., Amami-yarinohosemitake) is described from an underground nymph of Platypleura kuroiwae collected in Amami-oshima Island, southwestern Japan. Cultural isolations were made from ascospores of the fresh material of this fungus, and consequently a new hyphomycete was developed as its anamorph. Nomuraea owariensis is described to accommodate this anamorphic state. This is the first report on the association of a Nomuraea anamorph with cicadicolous Cordyceps species. Received: June 6, 2001 / Accepted: December 18, 2001     

Diaporthe kyushuensis sp. nov., the teleomorph of the causal fungus of grapevine swelling arm in Japan, and its anamorphPhomopsis vitimegaspora

Diaporthe kyushuensis sp. nov. is described and named as the teleomorph of causal fungus of grapevine swelling arm. The anamorph of the fungus isPhomopsis vitimegaspora.     

A New Report of Fruit Rot of Lemon Caused by Ceratocystis radicicola from Iran

In the year 2000, a fungus was isolated from rotting lemon (Citrus limon) fruit in the Kahnouj region, south‐eastern Iran and subsequently identified as Ceratocystis radicicola (anamorph: Chalara sp.). A pathogenicity test was carried out to fulfil Koch's postulates. The pathogen could only enter the ripen lemon fruit and cause the rot disease through the wounds and cracks. The fungus was also pathogenic on fruit of other citrus species as well as date palm (Phoenix dactylifera). Symptom development was slow on fruits on the tree but accelerated after fruit harvest.     

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.     

Molecular phylogenetic and morphological analyses of Oidium heveae, a powdery mildew of rubber tree

Powdery mildew of rubber tree caused by Oidium heveae is an important disease of rubber plantations worldwide. Identification and classification of this fungus is still uncertain because there is no authoritative report of its morphology and no record of its teleomorphic stage. In this study, we compared five specimens of the rubber powdery mildew fungus collected in Malaysia, Thailand, and Brazil based on morphological and molecular characteristics. Morphological results showed that the fungus on rubber tree belongs to Oidium subgen. Pseudoidium. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the large subunit rRNA gene (28S rDNA) were conducted to determine the relationships of the rubber powdery mildew fungus and to link this anamorphic fungus with its allied teleomorph. The results showed that the rDNA sequences of the two specimens from Malaysia were identical to a specimen from Thailand, whereas they differed by three bases from the two Brazilian isolates: one nucleotide position in the ITS2 and two positions in the 28S sequences. The ITS sequences of the two Brazilian isolates were identical to sequences of Erysiphe sp. on Quercus phillyraeoides collected in Japan, although the 28S sequences differed at one base from sequences of this fungus. Phylogenetic trees of both rDNA regions constructed by the distance and parsimony methods showed that the rubber powdery mildew fungus grouped with Erysiphe sp. on Q. phillyraeoides with 100% bootstrap support. Comparisons of the anamorph of two isolates of Erysiphe sp. from Q. phillyraeoides with the rubber mildew did not reveal any obvious differences between the two powdery mildew taxa, which suggests that O. heveae may be an anamorph of Erysiphe sp. on Q. phillyraeoides. Cross-inoculation tests are required to substantiate this conclusion.     

A new Ophiostoma species isolated from the ambrosia beetle Xyleborus dryographus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)

An undescribed ophiostomatoid fungus was isolated from the scolytid beetle Xyleborus dryographus in south-west Germany. The fungus is described as Ophiostoma verrucosum sp. nov. with a Hyalorhinocladiella anamorph. The teleomorph is characterized by thick-sheathed ascospores, numerous divergent ostiolar hyphae and an ornamented perithecial base.     

Extensive host range of an endophytic fungus, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Guignardia endophyllicola</Emphasis> (anamorph: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phyllosticta capitalensis</Emphasis>)

Isolation of endophytic species of Guignardia (anamorph: Phyllosticta) from healthy leaves of 94 plants (91 species and 3 varieties) in 69 genera, 42 families, was carried out in a test site (Kyoto Herbal Garden) to investigate the host range of Guignardia endophyllicola (anamorph: Phyllosticta capitalensis). Species of Guignardia and Phyllosticta were isolated from the leaves of 67 plants (66 species and 1 variety) belonging to 54 genera, 38 families. Among them, 53 isolates from different plants belonging to 43 genera in 36 families were similar in morphology, and sequence analysis of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of ribosome DNA revealed these isolates to be conspecific with G. endophyllicola. In addition, this fungus was isolated from leaves of various plants collected in different places in Japan and Thailand. Thus, this endophytic fungus has been revealed to live within various vascular plants, angiosperms, gymnosperms, and pteridophytes.     

Effects of prior decomposition of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Camellia japonica</Emphasis> leaf litter by an endophytic fungus on the subsequent decomposition by fungal colonizers

Effects of prior decomposition of Camellia japonica leaf litter by an endophytic phyllosphere fungus Coccomyces sp. on the subsequent decomposition of the litter by Coccomyces sp. and two succeeding fungi Dermateaceae sp. and Xylaria sp. (anamorph) were examined in a pureculture decomposition test. The prior decomposition of litter by Coccomyces sp. stimulated the subsequent decomposition by the three fungi. Dermateaceae sp. caused negligible weight loss on litter previously partly decomposed by Coccomyces sp. and then by Dermateaceae sp. and on litter decomposed singly by Dermateaceae sp. Xylaria sp. (anamorph) caused greater weight loss in these litters than control, uninoculated litter.     

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.     

Pleoanamorphic life cycle ofExophiala (Wangiella) dermatitidis

The anamorph life cycle of the black yeastExophiala (Wangiella) dermatitidis is described. The fungus is dimorphic, yeast cells being the prevalent form of propagation. The fungus is strongly hydrophilic, probably completing its anamorph life cycle in submersion. Adaptation to dry conditions is slow. Types of conidiogenesis comprise annellidic, phialidic and sympodial reproduction, in addition to isotropic development. Phialoconidia fail to germinate under the conditions tested, and thus may have a function other than dispersal. Sterile, multicellular bodies resembling aCapronia teleomorph are described.     

Rosellinia aquila Among Fungi on Branches of Sessile Oak with Symptoms of Decline

Rosellinia aquila was found for the first time in crowns of sessile oaks, Quercus robur (Mattuschka) Liebl., with symptoms of decline. The fungus occurred mostly on diseased branches but also colonized twigs with healthy appearance. Its anamorph and teleomorph stages were produced abundantly on dead branches after long incubation in moist conditions. Colonization of oak trees by R. aquila was likely to have been facilitated by higher humidity and temperature in the oak stands.     

Aecidium dispori is the aecial anamorph ofPuccinia albispora, sp. nov. (Uredinales)

Aecidium dispori forms spermogonium and aecium onDisporum sessile andD. smilacinum, which are distributed in East Asia. TheAecidium species is found to be an aecial anamorph of aPuccinia fungus, with its uredinial-telial stage being formed onCarex conica, C. dolichostachya subsp.multifolia, C. pisiformis subsp.alterniflora andC. rugata. Urediniospores of this fungus are large, colorless, thick-walled with 4–5 equatorial germ pores. The morphological characteristics of urediniospores and the spermogonial-aecial host do not fit to any set of circumscribing characters of previously described species. We consider the fungus to be a new species and propose a new name,Puccinia albispora, for the fungus.     

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.     

Thielavia aurantiaca, a new species from Japanese soil

A new species ofThielavia (T. aurantiaca) isolated from field soil collected from Osaka is described and illustrated. The fungus is distinguished from other known species by having ascomata covered with yellowish orange mycelium and smaller size of ascomata and ascospores. A chlamydospore-like anamorph is formed.