Schizonella caricis-atratae (Ustilaginomycetes): a new cryptic species on Carex atrata from Austria

Based on DNA-fingerprinting, ITS-DNA sequencing and physiological characteristics, a new species of Schizonella, Sch. caricis-atratae, is described. Sch. caricis-atratae is a so-called cryptic species, i.e. morphologically it is identical to Sch. melanogramma, but differs in physiological and molecular phylogenetic characters. Sch. caricis-atratae can be distinguished by the following tests: growth on myo-inositol, D,L-lactate, salicine, maltose, αmethyl-D-glucoside, butane-2,3-diol, and D-turanose, at 30°C; no growth on galactose. Sch. caricis-atratae can be isolated from Carex atrata. The type strain is HB 3, CBS 123477.