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Abstract: Anamorphic powdery mildew fungi on introduced taxa of Senecio and Pericallis × hybrida in Australia have previously been identified as Neoerysiphe cumminsiana on the basis of a combination of Euoidium-type conidiophores and lobed mycelial and germ tube appressoria. But, two specimens with chasmothecia on the indigenous Senecio glossanthus did not agree with published descriptions of N. cumminsiana. The teleomorph of the S. glossanthus mildew differed from that of N. cumminsiana in the morphology of its peridial cells, the pigmentation of its appendages, and the morphology and pigmentation of some secondary hyphae. Ribosomal DNA ITS sequences from the two S. glossanthus mildew specimens and five other specimens of Senecio mildews from south-eastern Australia demonstrated that all Australian Senecio mildews are conspecific and distinct from the northern hemisphere Senecio mildew (N. cumminsiana) and from other Neoerysiphe taxa. Based on morphological characters and rDNA sequence data, the Australian Senecio mildew is described as a new species, Neoerysiphe kerribeeensis. This is the first native teleomorphic powdery mildew described from Australia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A 33.4-kb fragment of the mitochondrial genome of Fusarium oxysporum has been sequenced. The fragment contains the complete gene sequences for 13 of the 14 proteins typically encoded by the mitochondrial genome of filamentous ascomycetes. Similarity searching revealed all encoded proteins to be most similar to those from other members of the Hypocreales. The fragment contains the complete small subunit rRNA gene, partial large rRNA subunit gene, and 12 tRNAs. Two introns were present, one in the nad5 gene and one in the large rRNA subunit gene, the latter containing a ribosomal protein gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A previous morphological study of Oidium anamorphs responsible for the recent tomato (Lycopersicon escuienrum) powdery mildew outbreaks worldwide suggested that, despite controversial data in the literature, the North American epidemics were caused solely by a newly erected species, O. neolycopersici. We report here the first molecular evidence that the North American anamorphs do belong to 0. neolycopersici. The internal transcribed spacer sequences of the North American anamorphs of this study were identical with those of three Japanese and four European specimens of O. neolycopersici. A morphological study confirmed that all the North American Oidium anamorphs included in this study produced conidia singly, similar to O. neolvcopersici. These fungi were readily distinguished from O. lycopersici, which produces conidia in chains and is known to infect tomato only in Australia. The phylogenetic analysis showed that O. neolycopersici is a distinct powdery mildew species, and it is neither identical nor closely related to any known polyphagous species of the Erysiphaceae. Apparently, it was introduced into the United States and Canada only in the l990s, but its origin is still unknown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A non-papillate, heterothallic Phytophthora species first isolated in 2001 and subsequently from symptomatic roots, crowns and stems of 33 plant species in 25 unrelated botanical families from 13 countries is formally described here as a new species. Symptoms on various hosts included crown and stem rot, chlorosis, wilting, leaf blight, cankers and gumming. This species was isolated from Australia, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey, the United Kingdom and United States in association with shrubs and herbaceous ornamentals grown mainly in greenhouses. The most prevalent hosts are English ivy (Hedera helix) and Cistus (Cistus salvifolius). The association of the species with acorn banksia (Banksia prionotes) plants in natural ecosystems in Australia, in affected vineyards (Vitis vinifera) in South Africa and almond (Prunus dulcis) trees in Spain and Turkey in addition to infection of shrubs and herbaceous ornamentals in a broad range of unrelated families are a sign of a wide ecological adaptation of the species and its potential threat to agricultural and natural ecosystems. The morphology of the persistent non-papillate ellipsoid sporangia, unique toruloid lobate hyphal swellings and amphigynous antheridia does not match any of the described species. Phylogenetic analysis based on sequences of the ITS rDNA, EF-1α, and β-tub supported that this organism is a hitherto unknown species. It is closely related to species in ITS clade 7b with the most closely related species being P. sojae. The name Phytophthora niederhauserii has been used in previous studies without the formal description of the holotype. This name is validated in this manuscript with the formal description of Phytophthora niederhauserii Z.G. Abad et J.A. Abad, sp. nov. The name is coined to honor Dr John S. Niederhauser, a notable plant pathologist and the 1990 World Food Prize laureate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Despite their economic importance, the knowledge of the biodiversity of many plant pathogens is still fragmentary. In this study we show that this is true also for the white blister rust genus Pustula that is parasitic on several genera in the asterids, including sunflower and the gentian, Eustoma. It is revealed that several distinct species exist in Pustula, suggesting that species are mostly host genus specific. No geographic patterns were observed in the occurrence of Pustula, the host range of which includes the Araliaceae, Asteraceae, Gentianaceae, and Goodeniaceae. Evidence points to these becoming hosts as a result of jumps from the Asteraceae, with subsequent host-specific adaptation and speciation. Among the undescribed species are pathogens of economic importance, e.g. the white blister rusts of sunflower, or with still restricted geographical ranges, e.g. Pustula centaurii, which could potentially spread with international seed trade, if no quarantine restrictions are implemented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Phylogenetic analyses of Erysiphe alphitoides s. lat. using sequences of the rDNA ITS region and the D1/D2 domains of the 28S rDNA revealed a complex consisting of several genetically and morphologically distinguished taxa, including the already described Erysiphe alphitoides s. str. and E. hypophylla. The ascomata (chasmothecia) of E. hypophylla are morphologically very similar to those of E. alphitoides, but the two species are easily distinguishable by their symptoms, as well as the shape and size of the conidia. The fungus on Quercus phillyraeoides, distributed in warmer regions in southern Japan, is genetically clearly separated from E. alphitoides s. str., and morphologically characterized by having chasmothecia with appendages consistently shorter than the chasmothecial diameter. This fungus, named Erysiphe quercicola in this paper, is also able to infect some other oak species, and it is genetically identical with anamorphs on some tropical trees of other host genera. Collections of E. alphitoides s. lat. on Quercus acutissima and Q. variabilis, both belonging to Quercus sect. Cerris, are genetically distinct from E. alphitoides s. str., E. hypophylla and E. quercicola. They form two genetically and morphologically differentiated groups. The hypophyllous taxon on Q. acutissima and Q. variabilis, named Erysiphe hypogena in this paper, is characterized by forming distinctive persistent hypophyllous mycelial patches, causing necrotic discolouration of the host tissue. The epiphyllous taxon on these hosts, for which the name E. epigena is proposed, differs in having epiphyllous mycelium, smaller chasmothecia with fewer appendages, and does not cause leaf discolouration. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]