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A survey of microfungi in the mountain areas of Uzbekistan revealed several specimens of cucurbitaria-like taxa. In this paper, one new species of Cucurbitaria is described based on a polyphasic approach, including morphological examination and molecular phylogeny. We compared the sexual morph (ascomata, asci, and ascospores) of the specimens collected with known species of Cucurbitaria and carried out multi loci (LSU, ITS, rpb2 and tef1-α) phylogenetic analyses. Cucurbitaria berberidicola sp. nov. is morphologically closely related to Cucurbitaria berberidis (the generic type) and C. oromediterranea. The sequence-based analyses verified a clear distinction, hence supporting the introduction of the new species.

A concatenated dataset of LSU, SSU, ITS and tef1 DNA sequence data was analysed to investigate the taxonomic position and phylogenetic relationships of the genus Camarosporium in Pleosporineae (Dothideomycetes). Newly generated sequences from camarosporium-like taxa collected from Europe (Italy) and Russia form a well-supported monophyletic clade within Pleosporineae. A new genus Camarosporidiella and a new family Camarosporidiellaceae are established to accommodate these taxa. Four new species, Neocamarosporium korfii, N. lamiacearum, N. salicorniicola and N. salsolae, constitute a strongly supported clade with several known taxa for which the new family, Neocamarosporiaceae, is introduced. The genus Staurosphaeria based on S. lycii is resurrected and epitypified, and shown to accommodate the recently introduced genus Hazslinszkyomyces in Coniothyriaceae with significant statistical support. Camarosporium quaternatum, the type species of Camarosporium and Camarosporomyces flavigena cluster together in a monophyletic clade with significant statistical support and sister to the Leptosphaeriaceae. To better resolve interfamilial/intergeneric level relationships and improve taxonomic understanding within Pleosporineae, we validate Camarosporiaceae to accommodate Camarosporium and Camarosporomyces. The latter taxa along with other species are described in this study.

Fresh collections and their ascospore and conidial isolates backed up by type studies and molecular phylogenetic analyses of a multigene matrix of partial nuSSU-, complete ITS, partial LSU rDNA, rpb2, tef1 and tub2 sequences were used to evaluate the boundaries and species composition of Fenestella and related genera of the Cucurbitariaceae. Eight species, of which five are new, are recognised in Fenestella s.str., 13 in Parafenestella with eight new species and two in the new genus Synfenestella with one new species. Cucurbitaria crataegi is combined in Fenestella, C. sorbi in Synfenestella, Fenestella faberi and Thyridium salicis in Parafenestella. Cucurbitaria subcaespitosa is distinct from C. sorbi and combined in Neocucurbitaria. Fenestella minor is a synonym of Valsa tetratrupha, which is combined in Parafenestella. Cucurbitaria marchica is synonymous with Parafenestella salicis, Fenestella bavarica with S. sorbi, F. macrospora with F. media, and P. mackenziei is synonymous with P. faberi, and the latter is lectotypified. Cucurbitaria sorbi, C. subcaespitosa and Fenestella macrospora are lecto- and epitypified, Cucurbitaria crataegi, Fenestella media, F. minor and Valsa tetratrupha are epitypified in order to stabilise the names in their phylogenetic positions. A neotype is proposed for Thyridium salicis. A determinative key to species is given. Asexual morphs of fenestelloid fungi are phoma-like and do not differ from those of other representatives of the Cucurbitariaceae. The phylogenetic structure of the fenestelloid clades is complex and can only be resolved at the species level by protein-coding genes, such as rpb2, tef1 and tub2. All fungal species studied here occur, as far as has been possible to determine, on members of Diaporthales, most frequently on asexual and sexual morphs of Cytospora.

A multigene analysis of a combined ITS, LSU, SSU, rpb2 and tef1 sequence data matrix was applied to infer the phylogenetic position of the genus Teichospora in the Pleosporales, based on isolates from freshly collected material of the generic type T. trabicola and several additional species. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that Misturatosphaeria and Floricola are synonyms of Teichospora. All species of these genera and several species recently described in the genus Curreya belong to Teichospora and are thus combined in this genus. Also, Melanomma radicans and Ramusculicola thailandica are combined in Teichospora. The new name Teichospora parva is established for Misturatosphaeria minima. Three new species, T. melanommoides, T. pusilla and T. rubriostiolata, are described, and an expanded description of T. mariae is given. The family Teichosporaceae is currently confined to Teichospora, which can be phylogenetically clearly separated from Lophiostoma, the type genus of the Lophiostomataceae. The family name Floricolaceae is a synonym of Teichosporaceae. All species described here form apically free paraphyses among immature asci. This finding contradicts the current general dogma that apically free paraphyses are absent in the Pleosporales and questions the wide use of the term pseudoparaphysis.

Two new species of Thyronectria growing in Mediterranean vegetation are described from southern Spain; they are T. giennensis from Quercus ilex ssp. rotundifolia and T. pistaciae from Pistacia lentiscus. Both species are characterized by morphology of sexual and asexual morphs and by DNA data. They have olivaceous to green-brown muriform ascospores and are closely related to T. asturiensis and T. roseovirens, as determined by multigene phylogenetic analyses of a matrix containing six loci (ITS and 28S regions of nuc rDNA, ACT1, RPB1, RPB2, TEF1 and TUB2 genes). We also report that Cucurbitaria bicolor is a synonym of Thyronectria rhodochlora, the type species of Thyronectria.

A description is provided for Cucurbitaria rosae . Some information on its dispersal and transmission and conservation status is given, along with details of its geographical distribution (USA (New Mexico, New York and Utah), Republic of Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Norway, Romania and Ukraine) and hosts ( Rosa canina, Rosa sp., Spiraea hypericifolia and Spiraea sp.).

A description is provided for Cucurbitaria ephedricola . Some information on its dispersal and transmission and conservation status is given, along with details of its geographical distribution (Georgia, Iran, and Ukraine) and hosts ( Ephedra distachya , Ephedra procera , and Ephedra sp.).

Three coelomycete species with muriform conidia were collected in Italy and subjected to morpho-molecular analyses. In morphology, all species are similar to Camarosporium sensu stricto. Based on morphology, one was identified as C. spartii and the other two taxa are introduced as new species, viz. C. clematidis and C. robiniicola. Maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses of the combined LSU, SSU and ITS dataset show that the three taxa cluster with C. quaternatum, the type species of Camarosporium, with high bootstrap and PP values. All four species can be considered as Camarosporium sensu stricto. Cucurbitaria elongata groups in the Camarosporium clade near to Camarosporium robiniicola and is considered that it is not congeneric with Cucurbitaria sensu stricto (Cucurbitariaceae).

A description is provided for Cucurbitaria laburni . Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution, and hosts. HOSTS: Laburnum anagyroides, L. alpinum, Cytisus capitatus, C. pungens, C. radiatus . DISEASE: not researched, but its presence as a primary colonizer of recently dead bark suggests that it is most probably a weak pathogen affecting moribund twigs and branches, possibly following an endophytic phase. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Temperate Europe and North America. Recorded from the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, UK, Ukraine and USA (New York, Ohio). TRANSMISSION: not studied, but the ascospores must be air-dispersed and the conidia are probably transmitted primarily through water-splash.

Summary 1. Cucurbitaria Laburni produces perithecia and two types of pycnidia, viz.: A. Pycnidia with large, brown, muriform pycnospores occur on the twigs and in a few cultures. First year pycnidia of this type contain brown and colourless spores of various kinds. B. Pycnidia with small, ovate, colourless spores are particularly characteristic of cultures, but sometimes occur on twigs. These probably represent an incompletely developed form of A. The spores are capable of germination. 2. Previous records of various pycnidial types are recorded and discussed. 3. Dead twigs bearing Cucurbitaria frequently bear Phomopsis rudis also. This was described by Tubeuf as a spore stage of Cucurbitaria , but evidence is given here for its being a distinct fungus. 4. Cucurbitaria Laburni occurs on the dead branches of laburnum trees in Cambridge, but from the results of inoculations it cannot be regarded as a wound parasite on normal vigorous trees. It fructifies on dead snags, but does not spread unless the tree is seriously weakened by some other cause. 5. The fungus is usually confined to laburnum trees, but inoculations show that it is at least capable of growing on the dead wood of elm and black currant

During a study of saprobic fungi from Bagno di Cetica Province, Italy, we collected a pleosporoid ascomycete on stems of Cytisus sp. In morphology, our collection is similar to Cucurbitaria species, but molecular analysis of SSU, LSU and ITS genes reveals it can be referred to Camarosporium. In this study we compare all other Cucurbitaria species from Cytisus sp. and based on both morphology and molecular data, we introduce our collection as a new species in Camarosporium viz. C. arezzoensis.

Fresh collections, type studies and molecular phylogenetic analyses of a multigene matrix of partial nuSSU-ITS-LSU rDNA, rpb2, tef1 and tub2 sequences were used to evaluate the boundaries of Cucurbitaria in a strict sense and of several related genera of the Cucurbitariaceae. Two species are recognised in Cucurbitaria and 19 in Neocucurbitaria. The monotypic genera Astragalicola, Cucitella, Parafenestella, Protofenestella, and Seltsamia are described as new. Fenestella is here included as its generic type F. fenestrata (= F. princeps), which is lecto- and epitypified. Fenestella mackenzei and F. ostryae are combined in Parafenestella. Asexual morphs of Cucurbitariaceae, where known, are all pyrenochaeta- or phoma-like. Comparison of the phylogenetic analyses of the ITS-LSU and combined matrices demonstrate that at least rpb2 sequences should be added whenever possible to improve phylogenetic resolution of the tree backbone; in addition, the tef1 introns should be added as well to improve delimitation of closely related species.

(1960). Cucurbitaria Staphula on Populus and its Association with Macrophoma Tumefaciens. Mycologia: Vol. 52, No. 3, pp. 499-512.