A NEW BASIDIOMYCETOUS SEPTAL TYPE: THE MULTIPERFORATE SEPTUM IN KRIEGERIA ERIOPHORI

Septa from metabasidia and clamp connections of the heterobasidiomycetous sedge parasite Kriegeria eriophori were studied with light and electron microscopy. Septa from clamp connections subtending probasidia were reconstructed from serial sections. Septa at clamp connections are perforated by multiple, simple pores, while metabasidial septa possess single, central swellings which probably represent pores occluded by wall material. The occurrence of multiperforate septa in the fungi is reviewed. The septal morphology of K. eriophori is compared to that of simple-septate heterobasidiomycetes, and the systematic and functional implications are discussed.     

Ochropsora staphyleae,a new rust pathogen of Japanese bladdernut,found in central Japan

Japanese bladdernut shrub, Staphylea bumalda (Staphyleaceae), was found infected by a fungus in Prefectures of Ibaraki and Tochigi, central Japan. The fungus produced telia beneath the host epidermis and basidiospores on metabasidia emerging from the sori on the abaxial leaf surface. Probasidia were single-celled, sessile, short-cylindrical, thin-walled, and laterally free. A four-celled metabasidium arose from a probasidium by apical elongation. Apparent biotrophic nature and the basidium morphology of the Staphylea fungus suggested its taxonomic affinity to the rust genus Ochropsora. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of D1/D2 region of LSU rDNA showed that two collections of the fungus were grouped with Ochropsora ariae (type species of the genus) and O. nambuana but formed an independent clade. The fungus under consideration was, therefore, classified in Ochropsora, and a new name, O. staphyleae, was proposed for it.     

Fulvifomes hainanensis sp. nov. and F. indicus comb. nov. (Hymenochaetales,Basidiomycota) evidenced by a combination of morphology and phylogeny

Fulvifomes hainanensis sp. nov. is described from tropical China. The new species resembles Fulvifomes rimosus, but differs by uncracked pileal surface, the presence of a black cuticle between tomentum and lower context, and ellipsoid basidiospores. In nuclear large subunit rDNA (nLSU) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) based phylogenies, F. hainanensis formed a distinct lineage from other sequenced taxa in the Fulvifomes clade. Aurificaria indica, the type of Aurificaria, has typical morphological characters for Fulvifomes, such as lack of setae and production of colored basidiospores. It was transferred to Fulvifomes based on additional evidence from molecular phylogeny, and F. indicus was redescribed according to Chinese collections. Aurificaria, posterior to Fulvifomes, was thus treated as a taxonomic synonym of Fulvifomes, and the concept of Fulvifomes was accordingly emended to include Aurificaria species. Inonotus luteoumbrinus and I. porrectus are similar to F. indicus in morphology, and they were also supported as lineages in the Fulvifomes clade. However, taxonomical adjustments for the two species were not proposed as the specimens yielding their nLSU and ITS sequences were not reexamined in morphology in this study.     

Taxonomic study of Asian species of poroid Auriculariales

A taxonomic study of poroid Asian species in the Auriculariales was conducted using phylogenetic and morphological methods. Phylogenetic analyses based on the LSU and ITS regions reveal that Elmerina was a polyphyletic genus. Moreover, E. hexagonoides collected from Malaysia and “E. hexagonoides” from Japan formed two distinct clades within a well-supported larger clade with Protomerulius caryae. These taxa comprise a different lineage from the type species of both Protomerulius and Protodaedalea, and we conclude that they are members of the genus Aporpium. The phylogenetic position of E. cladophora (type species of Elmerina) is still unclear, and we retain Aporpium and Protodaedalea as genera distinct from Elmerina. Aporpium strigosum sp. nov. is described to represent Japanese specimens misidentified as E. hexagonoides. Aporpium is characterized by resupinate to sessile basidiocarps, tough-fleshy to leathery context, poroid hymenophore, dimitic hyphal systems with unbranched skeletal hyphae, clavate to pyriform probasidia, and ellipsoid to cylindrical or allantoid basidiospores. Aporpium strigosum is similar to A. hexagonoides, but can be differentiated by the ochraceous to straw-colored basidiocarps, strigose pileus surface with long and stiff hairs, and the larger pores, basidia, and basidiospores.     

Pollen morphology of Hosta Tratt. in China and its taxonomic significance

In this study, pollen morphology of 11 taxa of Hosta in China, three Chinese species, five introduced species, and three cultivars, was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and compared with that of related genera (Hemerocallis, Agave, and Yucca). Pollen grains of Hosta were long-ellipsoidal or ellipsoidal, 20?C65?×?52.5?C142.5???m in size, bilaterally symmetrical, and monosulcate on the distal face. Reticulate and rugulate exine ornamentation was observed in different taxa, and the rugulate type can be further divided into rugulate, rugulate?Cbaculate, and rugulate?Cgranulate subtypes. The exine ornamentation may have evolved in the order: reticulate????rugulate????rugulate?Cbaculate????rugulate?Cgranulate. Furthermore, the rugulate exine ornamentation was the predominant ornamental type in Hosta except for one species with the reticulate type; this is markedly different from that of Hemerocallis, Agave and Yucca. Thus, our data support the proposal by Dahlgren and Clifford (The Monocotyledons: a comparative study. Academic Press, London, 1982) that these Hosta species constitute an independent family?CHostaceae.     

Molecular characterization and morphology of Cochlodinium strangulatum,the type species of Cochlodinium,and Margalefidinium gen. nov. for C. polykrikoides and allied species (Gymnodiniales,Dinophyceae)

Photosynthetic species of the dinoflagellate genus Cochlodinium such as C. polykrikoides, one of the most harmful bloom-forming dinoflagellates, have been extensively investigated. Little is known about the heterotrophic forms of Cochlodinium, such as its type species, Cochlodinium strangulatum. This is an uncommon, large (∼200 μm long), solitary, and phagotrophic species, with numerous refractile bodies, a central nucleus enclosed in a distinct perinuclear capsule, and a cell surface with fine longitudinal striae and a circular apical groove. The morphology of C. polykrikoides and allied species is different from the generic type. It is a bloom-forming species with single, two or four-celled chains, small cell size (25–40 μm long) with elongated chloroplasts arranged longitudinally and in parallel, anterior nucleus, eye-spot in the anterior dorsal side, and a cell surface smooth with U-shaped apical groove. Phylogenetic analysis based on LSU rDNA sequences revealed that C. strangulatum and C. polykrikoides/C. fulvescens formed two distally related, independent lineages. Based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses, the diagnosis of Cochlodinium is emended and C. miniatum is proposed as synonym of C. strangulatum. The new genus Margalefidinium gen. nov., and new combinations for C. catenatum, C. citron, C. flavum, C. fulvescens and C. polykrikoides are proposed.     

Comparative pollen morphology of the Iberian species of Pulicaria (Asteraceae, Inuleae, Inulinae) and its taxonomic significance

To better understand the taxonomy of Pulicaria, the pollen wall architecture of the six Iberian species were investigated using light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The exine structure of Pulicaria odora was also investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Statistical analysis was performed to distinguish taxonomically significant morphometric information from all the measured parameters of pollen grains. It was found that the exine sculpture characters, with special importance paid to the spines, were the most useful of all characters to define Pulicaria pollen types and separate the species. Three pollen types distinguishable through the spines morphology and the inter-spinular sculpture are described: P. microcephala pollen type (incl. P. microcephala), P. vulgaris pollen type (incl. P. vulgaris), and P. dysenterica pollen type (incl. P. dysenterica, P. odora, P. paludosa and P. sicula). A dichotomous key to these Pulicaria pollen types is proposed. The distribution of P. dysenterica, P. odora, P. paludosa and P. sicula in more than one leaf node in the classification tree reveals that the pollen grains of these species are difficult to segregate. Therefore, the construction of a satisfactory dichotomous key to the P. dysenterica pollen type species is not feasible. Yet, the different spines apex morphology between P. microcephala and P. paludosa and the existence of significant differences in five of the eight studied quantitative pollen characters of these two taxa, supports the opinion that the Berlengas Islands endemic P. microcephala should be accepted as a separate species. In addition, the differences among the spines morphology of P. vulgaris, P. microcephala, and the other four Iberian (and European) species, strengthen the conclusion that the section Pulicaria is non-monophyletic.     

Aplopsora corni sp. nov. onCornus controversa from Hokkaido,Japan

Aplopsora corni sp. nov. is proposed for a rust fungus whose uredinial and basidial stage occurs onCornus controversa (Cornaceae) in Hokkaido. This new species is separated by its larger urediniospores and probasidia from the morphologically closely relatedA. nyssae onNyssa aquatica andN. sylvatica (Cornaceae) distributed in southern North America.     

Multigene phylogenetic analysis reveals non-monophyly of Anisakis s.l. and Pseudoterranova (Nematoda: Anisakidae)

The nematode genera Anisakis s.l. and Pseudoterranova (Anisakidae) include causative agents of anisakiasis and pseudoterranovosis, parasitic diseases resulting from eating undercooked or raw fish or squid. Species in both genera have thus attracted considerable attention especially in public health and taxonomic studies. The phylogenetic relationships of these genera within the subfamily Anisakinae, however, remain to be investigated with dense taxonomic sampling. In this study, we collected an anisakid third-stage larva, and identified it morphologically and molecularly as Pseudoterranova ceticola. Phylogeny of 15 anisakine species, including the newly collected specimen of Ps. ceticola, was reconstructed based on sequences of three mitochondrial (cox1, cox2, and 12S rRNA) and two nuclear (ITS and 28S rRNA) regions. The obtained tree suggested the non-monophyly of Anisakis s.l. and Pseudoterranova. Anisakis s.l. was divided into two groups, which are distinguished from each other by the shape of the ventriculus. Based on phylogenetic relationships and morphology, three species with a shorter ventriculus (“A.” brevispiculata, “A.” paggiae, and “A.” physeteris) were assigned to the genus Skrjabinisakis, as recently proposed. Pseudoterranova ceticola was distantly related to the monophyletic Ps. decipiens species complex. Although the phylogenetic position of the type species Ps. kogiae has not been investigated due to a lack of sequence data, this species may morphologically and ecologically resemble Ps. ceticola, inferring a close kinship between the two species.     

A Morphological and Molecular Perspective of Trichoderma viride: Is It One or Two Species?

Trichoderma (Ascomycetes, Hypocreales) strains that have warted conidia are traditionally identified as T. viride, the type species of Trichoderma. However, two morphologically distinct types of conidial warts (I and II) have been found. Because each type corresponds to a unique mitochondrial DNA pattern, it has been questioned whether T. viride comprises more than one species. Combined molecular data (sequences of the internal transcribed spacer 1 [ITS-1] and ITS-2 regions and of part of the 28S rRNA gene along with results of restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the endochitinase gene and PCR fingerprinting), morphology, physiology, and colony characteristics distinguish type I and type II as different species. Type I corresponds to “true” T. viride, the anamorph of Hypocrea rufa. Type II represents a new species, T. asperellum, which is, in terms of molecular characteristics, close to the neotype of T. hamatum.     

New insights into pollen morphology and its implications in the phylogeny of Sanguisorba L. (Rosaceae; Sanguisorbeae)

Pollen morphology of 13 species of the genus Sanguisorba (Rosaceae) was examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. The pollen morphology divided the genus into two main groups: (A) tricolporate with tapered colpus tips, and (B) either tricolporate with opened colpus tip or hexacolporate. The former group was further subdivided into those without vestibulum (A1: S.?alpina, S.?dodecandra, and S.?filiformis) and those with vestibulum (A2: S.?agrimonoides, S.?ancestroides, S.?annua, S.?cretica, S.?minor, and S.?verrucosa), whereas the latter group was subdivided into those with colpus narrow and similar to the A1 type (B1: S.?canadensis and S.?diandra), those with colpus and mesocolpus somewhat equally wide and forming hexacolporate aperture (B3: S.?albiflora, S.?armena, S.?media, S.?menziesii, S.?parviflora, S.?stipulata, and S.?tenuifolia), and those with colpus intermediate between the B1 and B3 types (B2: S.?hakusanensis, S.?microcephala, S.?obtusa, S.?officinalis, S.?polygama, and S.?sitchensis). It is suggested that the A1 type aperture would have evolved to the A2 type as a specialized form and the B types (B1 to B3) in a direction in which the hexacolporate aperture was derived. Implications of pollen morphology for infrageneric classification of Sanguisorba are discussed and the results are compared with molecular phylogenetic studies.     

Capsalid monogeneans of fishes from the Seto Inland Sea,Japan: Description of Benedenia kobudai n. sp. parasitic on Semicossyphus reticulatus (Perciformes: Labridae)

The Seto Inland Sea, the largest inland sea in Japan, is a rich fishery with high biodiversity and productivity. Monogeneans have been studied for more than 120 years, and 58 nominal species have been recorded in the Seto inland Sea. This study provided DNA information on five species of Benedenia sensu lato (Capsalidae) from marine fishes from the sea, and one of them, Benedenia kobudai n. sp., is described from Semicossyphus reticulatus (Perciformes: Labridae). This new species differs from the other congeners by the hooded appearance between the anterior attachment organs, the morphology of the penis, the absence of the lobe near the vaginal pore and the common genital pore, the position of the vaginal pore, the germarium lying near the slightly hexagonal testes, the morphology of the haptor, and the shape and position of the hamuli. Phylogenetic analysis showed B. kobudai n. sp. in a separate clade from the other Benedenia species, B. epinepheli, B. hoshinai, B. sekii, and B. seriolae collected from the sea. Each of the newly provided DNA sequences (28S rDNA, ITS1‐5.8S-ITS2, cox1) of the above four species are based on specimens obtained from the type hosts and/or type localities and are considered important for future taxonomic re-examination and confirmation of the reliability of the registered sequences. Furthermore, these four species are important causes of fish diseases in aquaculture, and it is expected that information on the distribution, host range, and occurrence of fish diseases for each capsalid secured by molecular identification will be accumulated.The Life Science Identifier (LSID): urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:26C15D17-CFD1-450D-9FCE-EFFF692D2133.     

Mycoplasma tauri sp. nov. isolated from the bovine genital tract

Since 2006, a Mycoplasma species unidentifiable to the species level has been regularly isolated from the semen and prepuce of apparently healthy bulls, and occasionally from cattle displaying inflammatory disease of the genital tract. Seven of these Mycoplasma isolates were subjected to a comprehensive taxonomic study. The strains investigated grew well in modified Hayflick’s medium and colonies on agar exhibited typical fried egg morphology and produced ‘film and spots’. Transmission electron microscopy revealed a cell morphology characteristic of mycoplasmas with spherically shaped cells bounded by a bi-layered cell membrane. The strains studied neither produced acid from sugar carbon sources nor did hydrolyse arginine or urea, and genome annotation indicated that organic acids (pyruvate, lactate) are used as energy sources. Phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences, the 16S-23S intergenic spacer region, and partial rpoB gene and protein sequences placed the strains within the Mycoplasma (M.) bovis cluster of the Hominis group with M. primatum, M. agalactiae, and M. bovis being their closest relatives. Genomic information including whole-genome similarity metrics (ANIb, ANIm, TETRA, dDDH, AAI) and phylogenomics, proteomic features revealed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight (MALDI-ToF) mass spectrometry as well as serological reactions and polar lipid profiling strongly indicated that the strains examined were representatives of a hitherto unclassified species of genus Mycoplasma, for which the name Mycoplasma tauri sp. nov. with type strain Zaradi2^T (=ATCC BAA-1891^T = DSM 22451^T) is proposed.     

Evolutionary Relationships between Rhynchosporium lolii sp. nov. and Other Rhynchosporium Species on Grasses

The fungal genus Rhynchosporium (causative agent of leaf blotch) contains several host-specialised species, including R. commune (colonising barley and brome-grass), R. agropyri (couch-grass), R. secalis (rye and triticale) and the more distantly related R. orthosporum (cocksfoot). This study used molecular fingerprinting, multilocus DNA sequence data, conidial morphology, host range tests and scanning electron microscopy to investigate the relationship between Rhynchosporium species on ryegrasses, both economically important forage grasses and common wild grasses in many cereal growing areas, and other plant species. Two different types of Rhynchosporium were found on ryegrasses in the UK. Firstly, there were isolates of R. commune that were pathogenic to both barley and Italian ryegrass. Secondly, there were isolates of a new species, here named R. lolii, that were pathogenic only to ryegrass species. R. lolii was most closely related to R. orthosporum, but exhibited clear molecular, morphological and host range differences. The species was estimated to have diverged from R. orthosporum ca. 5735 years before the present. The colonisation strategy of all of the different Rhynchosporium species involved extensive hyphal growth in the sub-cuticular regions of the leaves. Finally, new species-specific PCR diagnostic tests were developed that could distinguish between these five closely related Rhynchosporium species.     

Tomophagus cattienensis sp. nov., a new Ganodermataceae species from Vietnam: Evidence from morphology and ITS DNA barcodes

The polypore genus Tomophagus was created to segregate one peculiar species, Ganoderma colossum, from the genus Ganoderma. Recent molecular studies have established the validity of this monotypic genus. Here we report the discovery of a second species of Tomophagus, T. cattienensis sp. nov., from Cat Tien National Park in southern Vietnam, a lowland forest that has been designated as a Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Recognition of this new species is based on combined evidence from morphology, cultural characteristics, and ITS rDNA barcodes. The discovery of this new species may have implications for the discovery of novel bioactive compounds for pharmaceutical use and/or for the pulp industry.     

A novel Trichoderma species isolated from soil in Guizhou, T. guizhouense

A new species of Trichoderma, Trichoderma guizhouense, isolated from soil in Guizhou Province, is described based on morphology and phylogenetic analyses. This species exhibits characteristic Trichoderma morphology but is distinct from related species based on characters of phialides and conidia. Two DNA markers, the translation elongation factor 1 alpha (tef1) and RNA polymerase II subunit b (rpb2) were used for phylogenetic analyses. The correlation between morphological and molecular-based clustering demonstrated two studied isolates are a new species.     

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.     

Description of Globodera ellingtonae n. sp. (Nematoda: Heteroderidae) from Oregon

A new species of cyst nematode, Globodera ellingtonae, is described from soil collected from a field in Oregon. Second-stage juveniles (J2) of the species are characterized by body length of 365-515 μm, stylet length of 19-22.5 μm, basal knobs rounded posteriorly and pointed anteriorly, tail 39-55 μm, hyaline tail terminus 20-32.5 μm, and tail tapering uniformly but abruptly narrowing and constricted near the posterior third of the hyaline portion, ending with a peg-like, finely rounded to pointed terminus. Cysts are spherical to sub-spherical, dark to light brown and circumfenestrate and cyst wall pattern is ridge-like with heavy punctations. Males have a stylet length of 21-25 μm and spicule length of 30-37 μm with a pointed thorn-like tip. Females have a stylet length of 20-22.5 μm, one head annule and labial disc, heavy punctations on the cuticle, and short vulval slit 7.5-8 μm long. Morphologically this new, round-cyst species differs from the related species G. pallida, G. rostochiensis, G. tabacum complex and G. mexicana by its distinctive J2 tail, and by one or another of the following: shorter mean stylet length in J2, females and males; number of refractive bodies in the hyaline tail terminus of J2; cyst morphology including Granek’s ratio; number of cuticular ridges between the anus and vulva; and in the shape and length of spicules in males. Its relationship to these closely related species are discussed. Based upon analysis of ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences, G. ellingtonae n. sp. is distinct from G. pallida, G. rostochiensis, G. tabacum and G. mexicana. Bayesian and Maximum Parsimony analysis of cloned ITS rRNA gene sequences indicated three clades, with intraspecific variability as high as 2.8%. In silico analysis revealed ITS restriction fragment length polymorphisms for enzymes Bsh 1236I, Hinf I, and Rsa I that overlap patterns for other Globodera species.