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The introduction, spread, and impact of fungal plant pathogens is a critical concern in ecological systems. In this study, we were motivated by the rather sudden appearance of Acer macrophyllum heavily infected with powdery mildew. We used morphological and genetic analyses to confirm the pathogen causing the epidemic was Sawadaea bicornis. In subsequent field studies, this pathogen was found in several locations in western North America, and in greenhouse studies, A. macrophyllum was found to be significantly more susceptible to S. bicornis than nine other Acer species tested. A genetic analysis of 178 specimens of powdery mildew from freshly collected and old herbarium specimens from 15 countries revealed seven different haplotypes. The high diversity of haplotypes found in Europe coupled with sequence results from a specimen from 1864 provides evidence that S. bicornis has a European origin. Furthermore, sequence data from a specimen from 1938 in Canada show that the pathogen has been present in North America for at least 82 years revealing a considerable lag time between the introduction and current epidemic. This study used old herbarium specimens to genetically hypothesize the origin, the native host, and the invasion time of a detrimental fungal plant pathogen.

The phylogeny and taxonomy of powdery mildews, belonging to the genus Erysiphe, on Lonicera species throughout the world are examined and discussed. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that sequences retrieved from Erysiphe lonicerae, a widespread powdery mildew species distributed in the Northern Hemisphere on a wide range of Lonicera spp., constitutes a complex of two separate species, viz., E. lonicerae (s. str.) and Erysiphe ehrenbergii comb. nov. Erysiphe lonicerae occurs on Lonicera spp. belonging to Lonicera subgen. Lonicera (= subgen. Caprifolium and subgen. Periclymenum ), as well as L. japonica. Erysiphe ehrenbergii comb. nov. occurs on Lonicera spp. of Lonicera subgen. Chamaecerasus. Phylogenetic and morphological analyses have also revealed that Microsphaera caprifoliacearum (≡ Erysiphe caprifoliacearum) should be reduced to synonymy with E. lonicerae (s. str.). Additionally, Erysiphe lonicerina sp. nov. on Lonicera japonica in Japan is described and the new name Erysiphe flexibilis, based on Microsphaera lonicerae var. flexuosa, is introduced. The phylogeny of Erysiphe ehrenbergii and E. lonicerae as well as other Erysiphe species on honeysuckle is discussed, and a survey of all species, including a key to the species concerned, is provided.

Erysiphe adunca s. lat. is a common powdery mildew species, distributed almost worldwide, on hosts of Populus and Salix species. Based on its wide host range and distribution as well as its strong morphological variations, E. adunca s. lat. was previously divided into several species or, alternatively, into varieties. However, comprehensive phylogenetic examinations on the putative monophyly of this species or the existence of a possible E. adunca species complex have not been conducted based on combined morphological and molecular approaches. In this study, we retrieved rDNA (ITS and LSU) sequences of 22 powdery mildew specimens on Populus and Salix spp. collected in China, Germany, Iran, Japan, Russia, and the United States and conducted morphological examinations of these and additional specimens. The morphological and molecular data obtained clearly indicate that E. adunca is a species complex comprised of at least four species., viz., E. adunca s. str. (on Populus spp. in Asia, Europe, and North America), E. capreae, including E. pseudoregularis as a new synonym (on Salix spp., particularly on species in Salix subgen. Vetrix sect. Vetrix in Asia, Europe, and North America), the reinstated E. salicis (on Salix spp. belonging to various subgenera of Salix in Asia and Europe), and E. mandshurica (which has been confirmed as a species of its own on Populus spp., in Asia). In addition to the clear phylogenetic differentiation, the morphology of the asexual and sexual morphs of E. adunca s. str., E. capreae and E. salicis is easily distinguishable. Sequences retrieved from collections on Salix gracilistyla (Uncinula salicis-gracilistylae), a species that was previously considered a variety of Uncinula adunca and Erysiphe adunca, formed a small subclade within the E. salicis clade and are now referred to as Erysiphe salicis var. salicis-gracilistylae comb. nov. Alphitomorpha adunca; Erysiphe capreae and E. salicis are epitypified, and a neotype is designated for Alphitomorpha obtusata, with ex-epitype sequences and, in the latter case, an ex-neotype sequence.

Erysiphe species (powdery mildews) on Corylus and Ostrya hosts (Betulaceae subfam. Coryloideae) in Asia and North America are widespread pathogens on these economically and ecologically valuable nu...

Digitopodium hemileiae was described originally in 1930 as Cladosporium hemileiae; growing as a mycoparasite of the coffee leaf rust (CLR), Hemileia vastatrix, in a sample of diseased leaves of Coffea canephora collected in the Democratic Republic of Congo. No cultures from this material exist. More recently, the type material was re-examined and, based on morphological features, considered to be incorrectly placed in Cladosporium. The new genus Digitopodium was erected to accommodate this species. Interest in fungal antagonists of H. vastarix, as potential biocontrol agents of CLR, led to comprehensive surveys for mycoparasites, both in the African centre of origin of the rust, as well as in its South American exotic range. Among the rust specimens from Ethiopia, one was found to be colonized by a fungus congeneric with, and similar to, D. hemileiae. Pure cultures obtained from the Ethiopian material enabled a molecular study and for its phylogenetic position to be elucidated, based on DNA sequence data from the ITS and LSU regions. Molecular data showed that two members of the recently erected genus Hyalocladosporiella (Herpotrichiellaceae: Chaetothyriales) are congeneric with Digitopodium from Ethiopia and morphologically similar to both D. hemileiae and the two Ethiopian isolates. These isolates were found to be morphologically and genetically identical to H. tectonae, described previously from Brazil. Thus, species of Hyalocladosporiella are re-allocated to Digitopodium here; including D. tectonae, and a novel species, D. canescens, recently found in Brazil growing as a mycoparasite of Puccinia thaliae. The potential use of D. hemileiae and D. tectonae for classical biological control of CLR is discussed.

A worldwide survey of cercosporoid ascomycete species on hosts of the genus Diospyros (persimmon) with key to the species based on characters in vivo is provided. Special emphasis is placed on species of the genus Pseudocercospora, which are in part also phylogenetically analysed, using a multilocus approach. Species of the latter genus proved to be very diverse, with a remarkable degree of cryptic speciation. Seven new species are described (Pseudocercospora diospyri-japonicae, P. diospyriphila, P. ershadii, P. kakiicola, P. kobayashiana, and P. tesselata), and two new names are introduced [P. kakiigena (≡ Cylindrosporium kaki, non Pseudocercospora kaki), and Zasmidium diospyri-hispidae (≡ Passalora diospyri, non Zasmidium diospyri)]. Six taxa are lectotypified (Cercospora atra, C. diospyri, C. diospyri var. ferruginea, C. flexuosa, C. fuliginosa, C. kaki), and Pseudocercospora kaki is epitypified.

The phylogeny and taxonomy of powdery mildew on Viburnum species is evaluated and discussed. Morphological and phylogenetic analyses revealed two new species and demonstrated that Erysiphe hedwigii and E. viburni should be reduced to synonymy and are referred to herein as E. viburni. The two new species, E. viburniphila and E. pseudoviburni, previously hidden under E. viburni (including E. hedwigii), is described on the basis of European, North American, and East Asian powdery mildew collections on Viburnum edule, V. tinus, V. odoratissimum var. awabuki, and V. sieboldii. The sexual morph of E. viburniphila is similar to that of E. viburni; however, morphological differences exist in their asexual morphs. Analyses of sequences from the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and 28S genomic regions of Erysiphe species obtained on Viburnum species (and other closely allied Eryisphe species) throughout the world reveled that E. viburniphila and E. pseudoviburni are in two different monophyletic groups that are separate from all other Erysiphe species. Erysiphe hedwigii and E. viburni on Viburnum species have often been recognized as separate species based on morphological differences in the size of their chasmothecia and the number of chasmothecial appendages. Taxonomic conclusions based on these morphological distinctions within these species are unreliable (these characters are rather variable and often have overlapping ranges). The present phylogenetic analyses suggest that E. hedwigii has to be reduced to synonymy with E. viburni. To fix the application of the species names E. hedwigii and E. viburni, epitypes have been designated for these taxa with ex-epitype sequences. Additionally, the Asian species E. miranda is phylogenetically confirmed as a species of its own, described in detail and discussed.

Background Previous phylogenetic analyses of species within the genus Golovinomyces (Ascomycota, Erysiphales), based on ITS and 28S rDNA sequence data, revealed a co-evolutionary relationship between powdery mildew species and hosts of certain tribes of the plant family Asteraceae. Golovinomyces growing on host plants belonging to the Heliantheae formed a single lineage, comprised of a morphologically differentiated complex of species, which included G. ambrosiae, G. circumfusus, and G. spadiceus. However, the lineage also encompassed sequences retrieved from Golovinomyces specimens on other Asteraceae tribes as well as other plant families, suggesting the involvement of a plurivorous species. A multilocus phylogenetic examination of this complex, using ITS, 28S, IGS (intergenic spacer), TUB2 (beta-tubulin), and CHS1 (chitin synthase I) sequence data was carried out to clarify the discrepancies between ITS and 28S rDNA sequence data and morphological differences. Furthermore, the circumscription of species and their host ranges were emended. Results The phylogenetic and morphological analyses conducted in this study revealed three distinct species named, viz., (1) G. ambrosiae emend. (including G. spadiceus), a plurivorous species that occurs on a multitude of hosts including, Ambrosia spp., multiple species of the Heliantheae and plant species of other tribes of Asteraceae including the Asian species of Eupatorium; (2) G. latisporus comb. nov. (≡ Oidium latisporum), the closely related, but morphologically distinct species confined to hosts of the Heliantheae genera Helianthus, Zinnia, and most likely Rudbeckia; and (3) G. circumfusus confined to Eupatorium cannabinum in Europe. Conclusions The present results provide strong evidence that the combination of multi-locus phylogeny and morphological analysis is an effective way to identify species in the genus Golovinomyces.

Podosphaera tridactyla (s. lat.) is a powdery mildew species occurring on a wide range of Prunus spp. almost worldwide. We have investigated the phylogeny of the Po. tridactyla complex, with special emphasis on potential aspects of cryptic speciation. The results suggested that Po. tridactyla represents a species complex consisting of at least 12 different species. Based on detailed morphological examinations and molecular sequence analyses, we propose dividing Po. tridactyla s. lat. into 10 species, encompassing 7 new species (Po. ampla, Po. pruni-avium, Po. pruni-cerasoidis, Po. prunigena, Po. pruni-lusitanicae, Po. prunina, and Po. pruni-japonicae) and 3 known species (Po. longiseta, Po. salatai, and Po. tridactyla s. str.). Oidium passerinii on Pr. laurocerasus is confirmed as a synonym of Po. tridactyla s. str. Epitypes are designated for Po. tridactyla and Oidium passerinii.

Recently published phylogenetic analyses of the Golovinomyces orontii complex revealed that three different species of the genus Golovinomyces may occur on cucurbitaceous hosts, viz., G. bolayi, G. orontii s. str., and G. tabaci. Owing to its morphological characteristics, Erysiphe cucurbitacearum (≡ G. cucurbitacearum) was tentatively reduced to synonym with G. tabaci. However, final conclusions on the identity and status of E. cucurbitacearum, described from China on Cucumis sativus, as putative synonym of G. tabaci required a phylogenetic confirmation and epitypification with ex-epitype sequences. Therefore, a sample of G. cucurbitacearum collected on C. sativus in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China, in 2014 (HMJAU-PM91862) has been sequenced and is designated as epitype of the latter species, since its holotype material (HMAS 40016, collected in 1954) turned out to be too old for molecular examinations. As a result of morphological examinations and phylogenetic analyses based on ex-epitype ITS and 28S rDNA sequences, the recently assumed synonymy of G. cucurbitacearum, found on C. sativus in China, with G. tabaci could be confirmed. In addition, two new host species of G. tabaci, viz., Trigonotis peduncularis (Boraginaceae) and Rubia cordifolia (Rubiaceae), were concurrently identified. Trigonotis peduncularis is the first verified boraginaceous host for G. tabaci.

A phylogenetic analysis of combined rDNA LSU and ITS sequence data was carried out to determine the phylogenetic placement of specimens identified as Pseudotryblidium neesii. The species forms a distinct clade within Dermateaceae (Helotiales, Leotiomycetes) with Rhizodermea veluwiensis and two Dermea species. The geographical distribution of this species, previously known only from Europe on Abies alba, is extended to north-western North America where it grows exclusively on A. grandis. The name P. neesii is lectotypified in order to disentangle the complicated nomenclature of the species. A new, detailed description of P. neesii with illustrations is provided after comparison of sequenced specimens with the type material. Furthermore, the new combination Pseudographis rufonigra (basionym Peziza rufonigra) is made for a fungus previously known as Pseudographis pinicola.

Powdery mildew of Prunus spp. is a significant disease in most cherry growing regions of Washington, USA. Powdery mildews on Prunus virginiana and Pr. avium were previously assigned to Podosphaera clandestina s. lat. (= Po. oxyacanthae) or Po. prunicola. In this report, we confirm the presence of two distinct Podosphaera species on these hosts. Phylogenetic analyses of nuc rDNA sequences from the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS) and 28S subunit confirmed the presence of two distinct species. A morphological comparison with type material of Po. prunicola and additional collections demonstrated that the powdery mildew on Pr. virginiana (including var. demissa and var. melanocarpa) is in fact Po. prunicola. The powdery mildew on Pr. avium is genetically, morphologically, and biologically distinct from Po. prunicola and is described here as the new species Po. cerasi. Cross-inoculation experiments confirmed that these two species are host specific. Podosphaera prunicola was unable to colonize Pr. avium, whereas Po. cerasi was unable to colonize Pr. virginiana. Morphological reexamination of numerous specimens identified as Po. prunicola on a broad range of Prunus species suggests that Po. prunicola is probably confined to species in Prunus subgen.Padus (= Prunus subgen. Cerasus sect. Laurocerasus, including sect. Padus), with Pr. virginiana as the principal host. Podosphaera cerasi occurs on hosts in Prunus subgen. Cerasus, and our work confirms a newly described species of powdery mildew on Pr. avium. This work also includes the first documented and genetically proven European record of Po. prunicola on Pr. serotina and its widespread occurrence in the United States.

Golovinomyces orontii is a common plurivorous powdery mildew species with wide host range and worldwide distribution, usually occurring as asexual morph. Ascomata (chasmothecia) are rarely formed on most hosts. Phylogenetic analyses based on rDNA ITS and 28S rDNA data of a wide range of powdery mildew collections of G. orontii s. lat. suggested a high degree of genetic heterogeneity of this species, which is undoubtedly not monophyletic. This study revealed that sequences retrieved from numerous collections referred to as G. orontii (s. lat.) split into three distinct main clusters, previously classified as groups 1 to 3. These groups have been genetically and morphologically analyzed, circumscribed, and named. One cluster (group 2), including a sequence retrieved from powdery mildew on the type host of Erysiphe orontii, Misopates orontium, constitutes G. orontii s. str. G. tabaci comb. nov. (≡ E. tabaci) is introduced for the second cluster in group 1 that is genetically and morphologically clearly distinct from G. orontii s. str. The third assemblage of sequences (group 3) comprises powdery mildews on hosts of the composite tribe Cichorieae, including Cichorium and Lactuca spp., and a wide range of hosts belonging to various other plant families for which the name G. bolayi sp. nov. is proposed. Euoidium longipes and Euoidium lycopersici, two additional powdery mildew species on solanaceous hosts, are briefly discussed and, based on previous phylogenetic analyses, reallocated to Golovinomyces. Oidium lactucae-debilis on Ixeris japonica in Asia is tentatively reduced to synonymy with G. sonchicola, i.e., it does not pertain to the G. orontii s. lat. complex. G. orontii s. lat. on Vinca spp. (Apocynaceae), mostly known as asexual morph, represents a separate species only distantly related to G. orontii s. str., which is described herein as Golovinomyces vincae sp. nov. Some re-examined collections on Vinca major from Germany misidentified as G. orontii turned out to belong to Ramularia vincae and represent first records of this species for Germany. Golovinomyces spadiceus is a further plurivorous Golovinomyces species discussed in this work, which, however, does not belong to the G. orontii complex.

Species of Passalora s. lat. are eminent phytopathogenic fungi that cause generally leaf spot diseases on a broad variety of plants throughout the world. During our investigations exploring cercosporoid fungi associated with leaf spot symptoms of fruit and forest trees in northern and north-western Iran, several passalora-like infections were isolated from symptomatic leaves of different trees belonging to the Fabaceae, Malvaceae, Rosaceae and Ulmaceae. A polyphasic taxonomic approach by applying molecular data, morphological features and host data, was employed to identify the isolates. In a multi-gene phylogenetic analysis (LSU, ITS and RPB2), these isolates clustered in four clades in the Mycosphaerellaceae. The revealed taxa encompass Paracercosporidium microsorum on Tilia platyphyllos, Prathigadoides gleditsiae-caspicae gen. et. sp. nov. on Gleditsia caspica, Pruniphilomyces circumscissus on Prunus avium and Prunus cerasus, and Sirosporium celtidis on Celtis australis. The new genus Prathigadoides and its type species Prathigadoides gleditsiae-caspicae are molecularly distinct from all phylogenetically related genera, and some characteristics of the conidiophores and conidia differs from those of the morphologically similar species Prathigada condensata on the North America Gleditsia triacanthos.

The taxonomy of Oculimacula, Rhynchosporium and Spermospora is re-evaluated, along with that of phylogenetically related genera. Isolates are identified using comparisons of DNA sequences of the internal transcribed spacer ribosomal RNA locus (ITS), partial translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1), actin (act), DNA-directed RNA polymerase II largest (rpb1) and second largest subunit (rpb2) genes, and the nuclear ribosomal large subunit (LSU), combined with their morphological characteristics. Oculimacula is restricted to two species, O. acuformis and O. yallundae, with O. aestiva placed in Cyphellophora, and O. anguioides accommodated in a new genus, Helgardiomyces. Rhynchosporium s. str. is restricted to species with 1-septate conidia and hooked apical beaks, while Rhynchobrunnera is introduced for species with 1-3-septate, straight conidia, lacking any apical beak. Rhynchosporium graminicola is proposed to replace the name R. commune applied to the barley scald pathogen based on nomenclatural priority. Spermospora is shown to be paraphyletic, representing Spermospora (type: S. subulata), with three new species, S. arrhenatheri, S. loliiphila and S. zeae, and Neospermospora gen. nov. (type: N. avenae). Ypsilina (type: Y. graminea), is shown to be monophyletic, but appears to be of minor importance on cereals. Finally, Vanderaaea gen. nov. (type: V. ammophilae), is introduced as a new coelomycetous fungus occurring on dead leaves of Ammophila arenaria., Fungal Systematics and Evolution, 7 (1)

In contrast to Eurasia and North America, powdery mildews (Ascomycota, Erysiphales) are understudied in Australia. There are over 900 species known globally, with fewer than currently 60 recorded from Australia. Some of the Australian records are doubtful as the identifications were presumptive, being based on host plant-pathogen lists from overseas. The goal of this study was to provide the first comprehensive catalog of all powdery mildew species present in Australia. The project resulted in (i) an up-to-date list of all the taxa that have been identified in Australia based on published DNA barcode sequences prior to this study; (ii) the precise identification of 117 specimens freshly collected from across the country; and (iii) the precise identification of 30 herbarium specimens collected between 1975 and 2013. This study confirmed 42 species representing 10 genera, including two genera and 13 species recorded for the first time in Australia. In Eurasia and North America, the number of powdery mildew species is much higher. Phylogenetic analyses of powdery mildews collected from Acalypha spp. resulted in the transfer of Erysiphe acalyphae to Salmonomyces, a resurrected genus. Salmonomyces acalyphae comb. nov. represents a newly discovered lineage of the Erysiphales. Another taxonomic change is the transfer of Oidium ixodiae to Golovinomyces. Powdery mildew infections have been confirmed on 13 native Australian plant species in the genera Acacia, Acalypha, Cephalotus, Convolvulus, Eucalyptus, Hardenbergia, Ixodia, Jagera, Senecio, and Trema. Most of the causal agents were polyphagous species that infect many other host plants both overseas and in Australia. All powdery mildews infecting native plants in Australia were phylogenetically closely related to species known overseas. The data indicate that Australia is a continent without native powdery mildews, and most, if not all, species have been introduced since the European colonization of the continent.

The name Golovinomyces cynoglossi s. lat. is traditionally applied to a complex of morphologically similar powdery mildews on hosts of the plant family Boraginaceae. The current species-level taxonomy within this complex is ambiguous due to the lack of phylogenetic examinations. The present study applied phylogenetic methods to clarify the taxonomy of G. cynoglossi s. lat. Phylogenetic analysis of rDNA ITS sequences retrieved from Asian, European and North American specimens revealed that G. cynoglossi s. lat. collections from different hosts involved several species in five clearly separated lineages. Clade I consists primarily of Golovinomyces cynoglossi s. str. on Cynoglossum. Clade III consists of Golovinomyces sequences retrieved from the host genera Symphytum and Pulmonaria. The taxa within clade III are now assigned to G. asperifoliorum comb. nov. Clade V encompasses G. cynoglossi s. lat. on the host genera Bothriospermum, Buglossoides, Echium, Myosotis, and Trigonotis. The taxa within clade V are now assigned to G. asperifolii comb. nov. The species concerned in this study were lecto- and epitypified to stabilize their nomenclature.

Collections of Pseudoidium pedaliacearum on Sesamum indicum from Japan, Korea, and Nepal have been morphologically examined and subjected to molecular sequence analyses in order to clarify the taxonomic status and phylogenetic affinity of this powdery mildew. Pseudoidium pedaliacearum pertains to the Erysiphe aquilegiae clade, which encompasses several closely allied, morphologically similar powdery mildew species. The close affinity to Erysiphe sedi, Pseudoidium hortensiae (≡ Oidium hortensiae), P. neolycopersici (≡ Oidium neolycopersici), and some other taxa involved in the Erysiphe aquilegiae complex is discussed. The reexamination of P. pedaliacearum and the results of phylogenetic analyses [5′-end of the 28S rRNA gene (including the domains D1 and D2) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions] led to a reassessment of this species and its reallocation to Erysiphe on the basis of the provisions of ICN Art. F.8.

The genus Tubakia is revised on the basis of morphological and phylogenetic data. The phylogenetic affinity of Tubakia to the family Melanconiellaceae (Diaporthales) was recently postulated, but new analyses based on sequences retrieved from material of the type species of Tubakia, T. dryina, support a family of its own, viz. Tubakiaceae fam. nov. Our phylogenetic analyses revealed the heterogeneity of Tubakia s. lat. which is divided into several genera, viz., Tubakia s. str., Apiognomonioides gen. nov. (type species: Apiognomonioides supraseptata), Involutiscutellula gen. nov. (type species: Involutiscutellula rubra), Oblongisporothyrium gen. nov. (type species: Oblongisporothyrium castanopsidis), Paratubakia gen. nov. (type species: Paratubakia subglobosa), Racheliella gen. nov. (type species: Racheliella wingfieldiana sp. nov.), Saprothyrium gen. nov. (type species: Saprothyrium thailandense) and Sphaerosporithyrium gen. nov. (type species: Sphaerosporithyrium mexicanum sp. nov.). Greeneria saprophytica is phylogenetically closely allied to Racheliella wingfieldiana and is therefore reallocated to Racheliella. Particular emphasis is laid on a revision and phylogenetic analyses of Tubakia species described from Japan and North America. Almost all North American collections of this genus were previously referred to as T. dryina s. lat., which is, however, a heterogeneous complex. Several new North American species have recently been described. The new species Sphaerosporithyrium mexicanum, Tubakia melnikiana and T. sierrafriensis, causing leaf spots on several oak species found in the North-Central Mexican state Aguascalientes and the North-Eastern Mexican state Nuevo León, are described, illustrated, and compared with similar species. Several additional new species are introduced, including Tubakia californica based on Californian collections on various species of the genera Chrysolepis, Notholithocarpus and Quercus, and T. dryinoides, T. oblongispora, T. paradryinoides, and Paratubakia subglobosoides described on the basis of Japanese collections. Tubakia suttoniana nom. nov., based on Dicarpella dryina, is a species closely allied to T. californica and currently only known from Europe. Tubakia dryina, type species of Tubakia, is epitypified, and the phylogenetic position and circumscription of Tubakia are clarified. A revised, supplemented key to the species of Tubakia and allied genera on the basis of conidiomata is provided.

An asexual morph of a powdery mildew was found on Buddleja asiatica (Scrophulariaceae) in Nepal. The morphological traits of this powdery mildew strongly resemble those of Phyllactinia species (including Ovulariopsis) belonging to a phylogenetically basal group closely related to Leveillula species, but phylogenetic examinations and analyses clearly showed that this fungus pertains to Leveillula. Within the latter genus, it seems to be allied to L. duriaei, but clearly differs from this species in having conidiophores arising from superficial hyphae and narrower conidia with different length/width ratios. Therefore, the powdery mildew on B. asiatica is described as Leveillula buddlejae sp. nov.

Since the mid-nineties Phyllactinia fraxini has become frequent in Germany. This species has hitherto been characterized by having straight conidiophore foot cells. However, we found that recent collections from Germany have conidiophores with sinuated and twisted foot cells. So far sinuated foot cells were only known from the related P. fraxinicola, another species with Eastern Asian origin. We thus hypothesized that recent collections from Germany belong to P. fraxinicola which might have been introduced to Europe. Using morphological and molecular rDNA data we found that no introduction took place and that there is only P. fraxini in Germany.

Cystotheca lanestris on the new host Quercus canbyi, Microidium bauhiniicola on the new host Bauhinia macranthera and an undescribed species of Phyllactinia on Mimosa aculeaticarpa have recently been collected in Mexico. Analyses of morphological traits and molecular sequence data led to identifications of the causal agents of the powdery mildew diseases involved. Microidium bauhiniicola, hitherto only known from Argentina and Brazil, is new to Mexico. The phylogenetic analysis revealed an isolated position distant from Microidium indicating an undescribed genus, which is introduced as Bulbomicroidium gen. nov. Sequences derived from a Mexican specimen of C. lanestris on Quercus canbyi agree completely with other North American sequences, but differ from sequences retrieved from Asian collections, suggesting that C. lanestris in Asia is not conspecific with C. lanestris s. str. in North America. A new species of Phyllactinia on Mimosa malacophylla is morphologically similar to P. dalbergiae but readily distinguishable by differences in the asexual morph. Based on morphological peculiarities and results of molecular sequence analyses, this species is described as Phyllactinia mimosae sp. nov.

Ramularia ranunculicola sp. nov. (Mycosphaerellaceae) is described from Iran on Ranunculus muricatus and compared with other species reported on Ranunculus spp. Ramularia carletonii on Lactuca tuberosa and R. nagornyi on Centaurea solstitialis are newly reported from Iran, and Picris strigosa is a new host for R. picridis (= R. inaequalis s. lat.).

Diederich, P., Lucking, R., Aptroot, A., Sipman, H. J. M., Braun, U., Ahti, T. & Ertz, D. 2017. New species and new records of lichens and lichenicolous fungi from the Seychelles. — Herzogia 30: 182–236. Sixteen species of lichens and lichenicolous fungi from the Seychelles are described as new: Abrothallus ramalinae (on Ramalina), Coenogonium beaverae, Fissurina seychellensis, Fulvophyton macrosporum, Graphis lindsayana, Nigrovothelium inspersotropicum, Opegrapha salmonea, Porina morelii, Pseudopyrenula media, Ramichloridium tropicum (on sterile lichen with Trentepohlia), Sarcographa praslinensis, S. subglobosa, Stictographa dirinariicola (on Dirinaria picta), Stirtonia epiphylla, Talpapellis mahensis (on sterile lichen with Trentepohlia) and Trimmatothele petri; Abrothallus ramalinae is also reported from Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, and Nigrovothelium inspersotropicum from Guyana. The following 29 species are new to Africa: Acanthothecis asprocarpa, Amandinea diorista var. hyp...

Genera of Phytopathogenic Fungi (GOPHY) is introduced as a new series of publications in order to provide a stable platform for the taxonomy of phytopathogenic fungi. This first paper focuses on 21 genera of phytopathogenic fungi: Bipolaris, Boeremia, Calonectria, Ceratocystis, Cladosporium, Colletotrichum, Coniella, Curvularia, Monilinia, Neofabraea, Neofusicoccum, Pilidium, Pleiochaeta, Plenodomus, Protostegia, Pseudopyricularia, Puccinia, Saccharata, Thyrostroma, Venturia and Wilsonomyces. For each genus, a morphological description and information about its pathology, distribution, hosts and disease symptoms are provided. In addition, this information is linked to primary and secondary DNA barcodes of the presently accepted species, and relevant literature. Moreover, several novelties are introduced, i.e. new genera, species and combinations, and neo-, lecto- and epitypes designated to provide a stable taxonomy. This first paper includes one new genus, 26 new species, ten new combinations, and four typifications of older names.

Asexual and sexual morphs of powdery mildews on Fontanesia phillyreoides and Jasminum fruticans, two hitherto unknown host species, have recently been collected in Turkey. Analyses of morphological traits and molecular sequence data led to identifications of the causal agents of the powdery mildew diseases involved. Fontanesia phillyreoides was infected by Phyllactinia fraxini, and the powdery mildew on Jasminum fruticans can be classified as Erysiphe cf. aquilegiae. The latter host showed traces of a co-infection with a second powdery mildew (only asexual morph) belonging to the genus Phyllactinia (= Ovulariopsis) and morphologically well agreeing with P. fraxini.

A powdery mildew (Erysiphales) has recently been collected on leaves of an ornamental shrub Deutziaparviflora in Baihua Mountain, Beijing, China. Microscopic examination of the chasmothecia suggested a species belonging to Erysiphesect.Erysiphe, above all due to mycelioid chasmothecial appendages, although circinate apices of the appendages were rather in favour of Erysiphesect.Uncinula, which is a fairly rare combination of appendage characteristics in Erysiphe. Phylogenetic analyses of ITS and 28S rDNA sequences demonstrated that the two examined powdery mildew collections on D.parviflora clustered together as an independent lineage within Erysiphe with 100% bootstrap support, representing a species of its own, which is phylogenetically allied to, but clearly distinct from Erysiphedeutziae and, in addition, morphologically quite different from all known Erysiphe species on hosts belonging to the Hydrangeaceae. The new species on D.parviflora is described as Erysiphedeutziicola.

Of the 17 genera of the Erysiphaceae, only four genera (viz. Leveillula, Phyllactinia, Pleochaeta and Queirozia) exhibit (partly) endoparasitism. To investigate early evolution of this endoparasitic nature, we performed molecular phylogenetic analyses of powdery mildews belonging to the tribe Phyllactinieae collected in North and South America. The most ancestral taxa in the tribe Phyllactinieae belong to the Pleochaeta/Queirozia group, from which the genus Phyllactinia was derived. Finally, the truly endoparasitic genus Leveillula emerged from a part of Phyllactinia The present study showed clear evolutional polarity in the powdery mildews concerned (that is, partly endoparasitic group evolved from ectoparasitic group) and then a truly endoparasitic group emerged from a partly endoparasitic group. In addition, a group with distinctly dimorphic conidia proved to be basal in the Phyllactinieae, and a group without distinctly dimorphic conidia was derived from that group. The present analyses clearly showed that Leveillula derived from a part of the "Basal Phyllactinia group". However, all sister taxa to Leveillula were distributed in North and South America. Because the putative geographic origin of Leveillula is assumed to be Central and Western Asia or the Mediterranean region, we postulate a missing link during the evolution of Leveillula from Phyllactinia Based on the present phylogenetic studies and the new rules of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (McNeill et al. 2012), the following new species and taxonomic re-allocations are proposed: Phyllactinia bougainvilleae sp. nov., Ph. caricae comb. nov., Ph. caricicola comb. nov., Ph. durantae comb. nov., Ph. leveilluloides sp. nov., Ph. obclavata comb. nov., and Ph. papayae comb. nov.

Ramularia is a species-rich genus that harbours plant pathogens responsible for yield losses to many important crops, including barley, sugar beet and strawberry. Species of Ramularia are hyphomycetes with hyaline conidiophores and conidia with distinct, thickened, darkened, refractive conidiogenous loci and conidial hila, and Mycosphaerella sexual morphs. Because of its simple morphology and general lack of DNA data in public databases, several allied genera are frequently confused with Ramularia. In order to improve the delimitation of Ramularia from allied genera and the circumscription of species within the genus Ramularia, a polyphasic approach based on multilocus DNA sequences, morphological and cultural data were used in this study. A total of 420 isolates belonging to Ramularia and allied genera were targeted for the amplification and sequencing of six partial genes. Although Ramularia and Ramulariopsis proved to be monophyletic, Cercosporella and Pseudocercosporella were polyphyletic. Phacellium isolates clustered within the Ramularia clade and the genus is thus tentatively reduced to synonymy under Ramularia. Cercosporella and Pseudocercosporella isolates that were not congeneric with the ex-type strains of the type species of those genera were assigned to existing genera or to the newly introduced genera Teratoramularia and Xenoramularia, respectively. Teratoramularia is a genus with ramularia-like morphology belonging to the Teratosphaeriaceae, and Xenoramularia was introduced to accommodate hyphomycetous species closely related to Zymoseptoria. The genera Apseudocercosporella, Epicoleosporium, Filiella, Fusidiella, Neopseudocercosporella, and Mycosphaerelloides were also newly introduced to accommodate species non-congeneric with their purported types. A total of nine new combinations and 24 new species were introduced in this study.

Erysiphe bulbouncinula (≡ Bulbouncinula bulbosa) on Koelreuteria paniculata is a powdery mildew native and endemic in China. Fresh samples of this species were collected on K. paniculata in Sichuan Province, China, in 2018. This is the fourth confirmed identification of this species. The original description in 1932 was based on one specimen from Hangzhou and then was described in Nanjing in 1990 and in Taiwan in 1993. The morphology of the new collections of this species is described and illustrated in detail, and agrees well with the original description of the type specimen except for the number of asci (8–16 asci per chasmothecia versus 7–9 asci in the type specimen). To explore the phylogenetic position of this poorly known species, three separate phylogenetic analyses, using partial 28S rDNA and the combination of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and 28S rDNA sequences, were conducted. The results clearly showed that E. bulbouncinula form a monophyletic clade with strong bootstrap (BS) support (MP = 100%) constituting a sister clade to E. gracilis s. lat., form a subclade with Erysiphe sect. Californiomyces and then form a big group with sect. Typhulochaeta and sect. Uncinula. Phylogenetic results confirm that E. bulbouncinula is more closely allied to Erysiphe than to Phyllactinia. Thus, this species can be maintained in Erysiphe in its current circumscription, confirming Bulbouncinula as a synonym of Erysiphe.

Marcais, Benoit/0000-0002-8107-644X; Jung, Thomas/0000-0003-2034-0718; Jung, Marilia Horta/0000-0003-2219-8647; Corcobado, Tamara/0000-0001-5762-4728; Lyubenova, Aneta/0000-0001-7414-1808; Pastircak, Martin/0000-0001-5118-9518; Pastircakova, Katarina/0000-0003-0371-428X; Fort, Tomas/0000-0002-4186-0918; Oskay, Funda/0000-0002-8918-5595; Oliva, Jonas/0000-0003-2418-2542; FORT, Tania/0000-0001-6998-5985; Kiss, Levente/0000-0002-4785-4308; Iturritxa, Eugenia/0000-0002-6390-5873; Aday Kaya, Ayse Gulden/0000-0002-5631-6026; Nave, Corina/0000-0003-2290-8282 WOS:000452564900005 The spatial distribution and niche differentiation of three closely related species (Erysiphe alphitoides, Erysiphe quercicola and Erysiphe hypophylla) causing oak powdery mildew was studied at scales ranging from the European continent, where they are invasive, to a single leaf. While E. alphitoides was dominant at all scales, E. quercicola and E. hypophylla had restricted geographic, stand and leaf distributions. The large-scale distributions were likely explained by climatic factors and species environmental tolerances, with E. quercicola being more frequent in warmer climates and E. hypophylla in colder climates. The extensive sampling and molecular analyses revealed the cryptic invasion of E. quercicola in nine countries from which it had not previously been recorded. The presence of the three species was also strongly affected by host factors, such as oak species and developmental stage. Segregation patterns between Erysiphe species were observed at the leaf scale, between and within leaf surfaces, suggesting competitive effects. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd and British Mycological Society. All rights reserved. Conseil Regional d'AquitaineRegion Nouvelle-Aquitaine [20030304002FA, 20040305003FA]; European Union FEDEREuropean Commission [2003227]; Investissements d'AvenirFrench National Research Agency (ANR) [ANR-10-EQPX-16-01]; European BiodivERsA project "RESIPATH: Responses of European Forests and Society to Invasive Pathogens"; Portuguese Science and Technology FoundationPortuguese Foundation for Science and Technology [BIODIVERSA/0002/2012, ANR-13-EBID-0005-01]; ANR (France)French National Research Agency (ANR) [ANR-13-BSV7-0011]; Japan Society for the Promotion of ScienceMinistry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (MEXT)Japan Society for the Promotion of Science [16K07613, 16F16097]; Slovak Research and Development AgencySlovak Research and Development Agency [APVV-15 0210] We thank Adrien Bolay, Caroline Gordon, Banga Grigaliunaite, Gabriela Juhasova, Vasyl Heluta, Seyed Akbar Khodaparast, Eleni Topalidou, Gy-ongyver Nagy, and all other collectors, for providing samples. Part of the analyses were performed at the Genome Transcriptome Facility of Bordeaux (grants from the Conseil Regional d'Aquitaine no 20030304002FA and 20040305003FA, from the European Union FEDER no 2003227 and from Investissements d'Avenir ANR-10-EQPX-16-01). Funding was obtained through the European BiodivERsA project "RESIPATH: Responses of European Forests and Society to Invasive Pathogens" co-financed by national funds (ANR-13-EBID-0005-01 for France, Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation Ref. BIODIVERSA/0002/2012). Other grants came from the ANR (France) Funfit project (ANR-13-BSV7-0011), the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Nos. 16K07613 and16F16097), and the Slovak Research and Development Agency under the contract No. APVV-15 0210.

This study introduces two new families, one new genus, 22 new species, 10 new combinations, four epitypes, and 16 interesting new host and / or geographical records. Cylindriaceae (based on Cylindrium elongatum) is introduced as new family, with three new combinations. Xyladictyochaetaceae (based on Xyladictyochaeta lusitanica) is introduced to accommodate Xyladictyochaeta. Pseudoanungitea gen. nov. (based on P. syzygii) is described on stems of Vaccinium myrtillus (Germany). New species include: Exophiala eucalypticola on Eucalyptus obliqua leaf litter, Phyllosticta hakeicola on leaves of Hakea sp., Setophaeosphaeria citricola on leaves of Citrus australasica, and Sirastachys cyperacearum on leaves of Cyperaceae (Australia); Polyscytalum chilense on leaves of Eucalyptus urophylla (Chile); Pseudoanungitea vaccinii on Vaccinium myrtillus (Germany); Teichospora quercus on branch tissue of Quercus sp. (France); Fusiconidium lycopodiellae on stems of Lycopodiella inundata, Monochaetia junipericola on twig of Juniperus communis, Myrmecridium sorbicola on branch tissues of Sorbus aucuparia, Parathyridaria philadelphi on twigs of Philadelphus coronarius, and Wettsteinina philadelphi on twigs of Philadelphus coronarius (Germany); Zygosporium pseudogibbum on leaves of Eucalyptus pellita (Malaysia); Pseudoanungitea variabilis on dead wood (Spain); Alfaria acaciae on leaves of Acacia propinqua, Dictyochaeta mimusopis on leaves of Mimusops caffra, and Pseudocercospora breonadiae on leaves of Breonadia microcephala (South Africa); Colletotrichum kniphofiae on leaves of Kniphofia uvaria, Subplenodomus iridicola on Iris sp., and Trochila viburnicola on twig cankers on Viburnum sp. (UK); Polyscytalum neofecundissimum on Quercus robur leaf litter, and Roussoella euonymi on fallen branches of Euonymus europaeus (Ukraine). New combinations include: Cylindrium algarvense on leaves of Eucalyptus sp. (Portugal), Cylindrium purgamentum on leaf litter (USA), Cylindrium syzygii on leaves of Syzygium sp. (Australia), Microdochium musae on leaves of Musa sp. (Malaysia), Polyscytalum eucalyptigenum on Eucalyptus grandis Å~ pellita (Malaysia), P. eucalyptorum on leaves of Eucalyptus (Australia), P. grevilleae on leaves of Grevillea (Australia), P. nullicananum on leaves of Eucalyptus (Australia), Pseudoanungitea syzygii on Syzygium cordatum leaf litter (South Africa), and Setophaeosphaeria sidae on leaves of Sida sp. (Brazil). New records include: Sphaerellopsis paraphysata on leaves of Phragmites sp., Vermiculariopsiella dichapetali on leaves of Melaleuca sp. and Eucalyptus regnans, and Xyladictyochaeta lusitanica on leaf litter of Eucalyptus sp. (Australia); Camarosporidiella mackenziei on twigs of Caragana sp. (Finland); Cyclothyriella rubronotata on twigs of Ailanthus altissima, Rhinocladiella quercus on Sorbus aucuparia branches (Germany); Cytospora viticola on stems of Vitis vinifera (Hungary); Echinocatena arthrinioides on leaves of Acacia crassicarpa (Malaysia); Varicosporellopsis aquatilis from garden soil (Netherlands); Pestalotiopsis hollandica on needles of Cupressus sempervirens (Spain), Pseudocamarosporium africanum on twigs of Erica sp. (South Africa), Pseudocamarosporium brabeji on branch of Platanus sp. (Switzerland); Neocucurbitaria cava on leaves of Quercus ilex (UK); Chaetosphaeria myriocarpa on decaying wood of Carpinus betulus, Haplograhium delicatum on decaying Carpinus betulus wood (Ukraine). Epitypes are designated for: Elsinoë mimosae on leaves of Mimosa diplotricha (Brazil), Neohendersonia kickxii on Fagus sylvatica twig bark (Italy), Caliciopsis maxima on fronds of Niphidium crassifolium (Brazil), Dictyochaeta septata on leaves of Eucalyptus grandis Å~ urophylla (Chile), and Microdochium musae on leaves of Musa sp. (Malaysia).

A taxonomic monograph of the ascomycete genus Taeniolella (asexual dematiaceous hyphomycetes, sexual morphs unknown) is provided. Recent phylogenetic analyses demonstrated the polyphyly of this genus. The type species of Taeniolella pertains to the Kirschsteiniotheliaceae within Dothideomycetes, while other saprobic species clustered far away within Sordariomycetes, Savoryellaceae s. lat., and Lindgomycetaceae, whereas lichenicolous species belong to a monophyletic clade that represents the order Asterotexiales, but for most species assigned to Taeniolella sequence data and phylogenetic analyses are not yet available. The main focus of the present taxonomic study was on a revision of the lichenicolous Taeniolella species. Since the currently available phylogenetic analyses do not allow final taxonomic conclusions at generic rank, the exclusion of lichenicolous species from Taeniolella s. lat. has been postponed pending a broader sampling and more phylogenetic data of allied ascomycete genera within the order Asterotexiales. For the interim, Taeniolella s. lat., including lichenicolous and saprobic species, is maintained. The taxonomic background, history, generic description and discrimination from morphologically confusable genera, phylogeny, biology, host range and distribution, and species concept of Taeniolella species are briefly outlined and discussed. Keys to the species of Taeniolella divided by ecological groups (lichenicolous taxa, saprobic taxa) are provided, supplemented by a tabular key to lichenicolous species based on host (lichen) families and genera. Twenty-nine lichenicolous species and a Taeniolella sp. (putative asexual morph of Sphaerellothecium thamnoliae) as well as 16 saprobic species are described in detail and illustrated by drawings, macroscopic photographs, light microscopic and SEM micrographs, including six new lichenicolous species (T. arctoparmeliae on Arctoparmelia separata, T. lecanoricola on Lecanora rupicola, T. thelotrematis on Thelotrema, T. umbilicariae and T. umbilicariicola on Umbilicaria, T. weberi on Thelotrema weberi), three new saprobic species (T. filamentosa on Salix, T. ravenelii on Quercus, T. stilbosporoides on Salix caprea), and one new combination, T. arthoniae. Most saprobic Taeniolella species are wood-inhabiting (on bark, decorticated trunks and twigs, rotten wood), whereas lichenicolous species grow on thalli and fruiting bodies (mostly apothecia) of lichens, mostly without causing any evident damage, but they are nevertheless confined to their host lichens, or they are obviously pathogenic and cause either disease of the thalli (e.g., Taeniolella chrysothricis and T. delicata) or at least thallus discolorations or necroses (e.g., T. christiansenii, T. chrysothricis, T. cladinicola, T. pseudocyphellariae, and T. strictae). Taeniolella atricerebrina and T. rolfii induce the formation of distinct galls. The range of micro-morphological traits for taxonomic purposes is limited in Taeniolella species, but size, shape and septation of conidiophores and conidia, including surface ornamentation, provided basic characters. Mycelium, stromata and arrangement of conidiophores are less important for the differentiation of species. Lichenicolous species are widespread on a wide range of lichens, with a focus in the northern hemisphere, mainly in northern temperate regions, including arctic-subartic habitats (18 species, i.e., 62 % of the lichenicolous species). Eleven lichenicolous species, e.g., T. pseudocyphellariae, T. santessonii, T. thelotrematis, T. umbilicariae, are also known from collections in non-temperate Asia, Australia and South America (38 % of the species). Most collections deposited in herbaria are from northern temperate to arctic-subarctic regions, which may reflect activities of lichenologists and mycologist dealing with lichenicolous fungi in general and Taeniolella in particular. Most lichenicolous Taeniolella species are confined to hosts of a single lichen genus or few closely allied genera (26 species, i.e., 97 % of the lichenicolous species), but only three species, T. delicata, T. punctata, and T. verrucosa, have wider hosts ranges. Excluded, doubtful and insufficiently known species assigned to Taeniolella are listed at the end, discussed, described and in some cases illustrated, including Talpapellis beschiana comb. nov. (≡ Taeniolella beschiana), Corynespora laevistipitata (≡ Taeniolella laevistipitata), Stanjehughesia lignicola comb. nov. (≡ Taeniolella lignicola), Sterigmatobotrys rudis (≡ Taeniolella rudis), and Taeniolina scripta (≡ Taeniolella scripta).

This paper provides recommendations of one name for use among pleomorphic genera in Dothideomycetes by the Working Group on Dothideomycetes established under the auspices of the International Commission on the Taxonomy of Fungi (ICTF). A number of these generic names are proposed for protection because they do not have priority and/or the generic name selected for use is asexually typified. These include: Acrogenospora over Farlowiella; Alternaria over Allewia, Lewia, and Crivellia; Botryosphaeria over Fusicoccum; Camarosporula over Anthracostroma; Capnodium over Polychaeton; Cladosporium over Davidiella; Corynespora over Corynesporasca; Curvularia over Pseudocochliobolus; Elsinoë over Sphaceloma; Excipulariopsis over Kentingia; Exosporiella over Anomalemma; Exserohilum over Setosphaeria; Gemmamyces over Megaloseptoria; Kellermania over Planistromella; Kirschsteiniothelia over Dendryphiopsis; Lecanosticta over Eruptio; Paranectriella over Araneomyces; Phaeosphaeria over Phaeoseptoria; Phyllosticta over Guignardia; Podonectria over Tetracrium; Polythrincium over Cymadothea; Prosthemium over Pleomassaria; Ramularia over Mycosphaerella; Sphaerellopsis over Eudarluca; Sphaeropsis over Phaeobotryosphaeria; Stemphylium over Pleospora; Teratosphaeria over Kirramyces and Colletogloeopsis; Tetraploa over Tetraplosphaeria; Venturia over Fusicladium and Pollaccia; and Zeloasperisporium over Neomicrothyrium. Twenty new combinations are made: Acrogenospora carmichaeliana (Berk.) Rossman & Crous, Alternaria scrophulariae (Desm.) Rossman & Crous, Pyrenophora catenaria (Drechsler) Rossman & K.D. Hyde, P. dematioidea (Bubák & Wróbl.) Rossman & K.D. Hyde, P. fugax (Wallr.) Rossman & K.D. Hyde, P. nobleae (McKenzie & D. Matthews) Rossman & K.D. Hyde, P. triseptata (Drechsler) Rossman & K.D. Hyde, Schizothyrium cryptogamum (Batzer & Crous) Crous & Batzer, S. cylindricum (G.Y. Sun et al.) Crous & Batzer, S. emperorae (G.Y. Sun & L. Gao) Crous & Batzer, S. inaequale (G.Y. Sun & L. Gao) Crous & Batzer, S. musae (G.Y. Sun & L. Gao) Crous & Batzer, S. qianense (G.Y. Sun & Y.Q. Ma) Crous & Batzer, S. tardecrescens (Batzer & Crous) Crous & Batzer, S. wisconsinense (Batzer & Crous) Crous & Batzer, Teratosphaeria epicoccoides (Cooke & Massee) Rossman & W.C. Allen, Venturia catenospora (Butin) Rossman & Crous, V. convolvularum (Ondrej) Rossman & Crous, V. oleaginea (Castagne) Rossman & Crous, and V. phillyreae (Nicolas & Aggéry) Rossman & Crous, combs. nov. Three replacement names are also proposed: Pyrenophora grahamii Rossman & K.D. Hyde, Schizothyrium sunii Crous & Batzer, and Venturia barriae Rossman & Crous noms. nov.

The present paper continues a series of comprehensive taxonomic treatments of cercosporoid fungi (formerly Cercospora s. lat.), belonging to the Mycosphaerellaceae (Ascomycota). The fourth contribution of this series initiates treatments of cercosporoid fungi on dicots and comprises species occurring on hosts belonging the the families Acanthaceae, Actinidiaceae, Adoxaceae, Aizoaceae, Altingiaceae, and Amaranthaceae. The species are described and illustrated in alphabetical order under the particular cercosporoid genera, supplemented by keys to the species concerned. A detailed introduction, a survey of currently recognised cercosporoid genera, a key to the genera concerned, and a discussion of taxonomically relevant characters were published in the first part of this series. The following taxonomic novelties are introduced: Cercospora blepharidicola nom. nov., C. celosiigena sp. nov., C. justiciae-adhatodae sp. nov., C. justiciigena nom. nov., C. sambucicola nom. nov., C. thunbergiigena nom. nov., Cercosporella pseudachyranthis comb. nov., Pseudocercospora cyathulae comb. nov., P. depazeoides comb. nov., P. varia var. viburni-sargentii var. nov., P. viburnicola sp. nov., P. viburni-erosi sp. nov., and P. viburni-nudi sp. nov.

Zhurbenko, M. P., Braun, U., Heuchert, B. & Kobzeva, A. A. 2015. New lichenicolous hyphomycetes from Eurasia. — Herzogia 28: 584–598. The new species Corynespora thorii growing on Lecanora sp., Endophragmiella stordeuriana on Cladonia spp. and Sporidesmiella physconiicola on Physconia distorta are described, illustrated and discussed. Corynespora laevistipitata, hitherto known only from Europe and North America, is first reported on species of Lecanora from Asia, illustrated and briefly described. Endophragmiella franconica is first reported from Belarus.

The genus Cladosporium (Cladosporiaceae, Dothideomycetes), which represents one of the largest genera of dematiaceous hyphomycetes, has been intensively investigated during the past decade. In the process, three major species complexes (C. cladosporioides, C. herbarum and C. sphaerospermum) were resolved based on morphology and DNA phylogeny, and a monographic revision of the genus (s. lat.) published reflecting the current taxonomic status quo. In the present study a further 19 new species are described based on phylogenetic characters (nuclear ribosomal RNA gene operon, including the internal transcribed spacer regions ITS1 and ITS2, as well as partial actin and translation elongation factor 1-α gene sequences) and morphological differences. For a selection of the species with ornamented conidia, scanning electron microscopic photos were prepared to illustrate the different types of surface ornamentation. Surprisingly, during this study Cladosporium ramotenellum was found to be a quite common saprobic species, being widely distributed and occurring on various substrates. Therefore, an emended species description is provided. Furthermore, the host range and distribution data for several previously described species are also expanded.

The genus Cercospora includes many important plant pathogenic fungi associated with leaf spot diseases on a wide range of hosts. The mainland of Iran covers various climatic regions with a great biodiversity of vascular plants, and a correspondingly high diversity of cercosporoid fungi. However, most of the cercosporoid species found to date have been identified on the basis of morphological characteristics and there are no cultures that support these identifications. In this study the Consolidated Species Concept was applied to differentiate Cercospora species collected from Iran. A total of 161 Cercospora isolates recovered from 74 host species in northern Iran were studied by molecular phylogenetic analysis. Our results revealed a rich diversity of Cercospora species in northern Iran. Twenty species were identified based on sequence data of five genomic loci (ITS, TEF1-α, actin, calmodulin and histone H3), host, cultural and morphological data. Six novel species, viz. C. convolvulicola, C. conyzae-canadensis, C. cylindracea, C. iranica, C. pseudochenopodii and C. sorghicola, are introduced. The most common taxon was Cercospora cf. flagellaris, which remains an unresolved species complex with a wide host range. New hosts were recorded for previously known Cercospora species, including C. apii, C. armoraciae, C. beticola, C. cf. richardiicola, C. rumicis, Cercospora sp. G and C. zebrina.

Th e new lichenicolous hyphomycete species Gonatophragmium licheno philum, found on Xanthoria parietina in Austria, is described, illustrated, discussed and com pared with other species of Gonatophragmium. A key is given to all recognised species of this genus.

The third part of a series of monographic treatments of cercosporoid fungi (formerly Cercospora s. lat., Mycosphaerellaceae, Ascomycota) continues with a treatment of taxa on monocots (Liliopsida; Equisetopsida, Magnoliidae, Lilianae), covering asexual and holomorph species with mycosphaerella-like sexual morphs on true grasses (Poaceae), which were excluded from the second part. The species concerned are keyed out, alphabetically listed, described, illustrated and supplemented by references to previously published descriptions, illustrations, and exsiccatae. A key to the recognised genera and a discussion of taxonomically relevant characters was published in the first part of this series. Several species are lecto- or neotypified. The following taxonomic novelties are introduced: Cercospora barretoana comb. nov., C. cymbopogonicola nom. nov., Cladosporium elymi comb. nov., Passalora agrostidicola sp. nov., P. brachyelytri comb. nov., and P. dichanthii-annulati comb. nov.

Th e basidiomycete Hyphobasidiofera malaysiana, described from Malaysia, has been found in Vietnam for the fi rst time. Th is hitherto rarely encountered species is described, illustrated and discussed.

To identify powdery mildew fungi infecting Oenothera spp. in Europe, specimens collected worldwide were examined based on morphology and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of the nuclear rRNA gene complex. The specimens were morphologically barely distinguishable from each other, each exhibiting pseudoidium-type conidiophores but sexual morphs lacking. Surprisingly, based on ITS sequence analyses, these specimens represented two species, i.e. Erysiphe howeana, known to infect Oenothera spp., and Erysiphe cf. alphitoides, which has never been recorded on herbaceous plants. Both species were detected on the invasive O. biennis in different parts of the world including regions where O. biennis was introduced only recently.

The new genus and species Bicoloromyces kyffinensis is described as new to science from a sterile crustose lichen, perhaps Lecanora fuscobrunnea or Lecidella sp. from Ebony Ridge of Mount Kyffin, Antarctica. The fungus recalls superficially the lichenicolous species referred to Taeniolella, but differs in having semi-macronematous conidiophores, tissues encrusted with calcium oxalate, aeruginose to blue-black colouration under the microscope, and conidia which are distoseptate and formed in basipetal chains. Energy dispersive spectroscopy established that the encrustations were of calcium oxalate. Differences from genera of rock-inhabiting fungi described from the Antarctic are discussed. This appears to be the furthest south any lichen-inhabiting fungus has been reported.

The asexual stage of a powdery mildew on Chelidonium majus has been reported from various countries, but the corresponding sexual stage of this fungus has not yet been reported. In Oct 2011, many chasmothecia of this powdery mildew was found on C. majus plants growing in the campus of Jilin Agricultrual University in Changchun, China. The morphological characteristics of the asexual and sexual stages revealed this fungus as Erysiphe macleayae. A sequence of the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer region including the 5.8S rRNA gene, amplified from DNA of several chasmothecia, was 99.8–100% identical to that of E. macleayae records on GenBank. This is the first report of the teleomorph of E. macleayae on C. majus.

The Mycosphaerellaceae represent thousands of fungal species that are associated with diseases on a wide range of plant hosts. Understanding and stabilising the taxonomy of genera and species of Mycosphaerellaceae is therefore of the utmost importance given their impact on agriculture, horticulture and forestry. Based on previous molecular studies, several phylogenetic and morphologically distinct genera within the Mycosphaerellaceae have been delimited. In this study a multigene phylogenetic analysis (LSU, ITS and rpb2) was performed based on 415 isolates representing 297 taxa and incorporating ex-type strains where available. The main aim of this study was to resolve the phylogenetic relationships among the genera currently recognised within the family, and to clarify the position of the cercosporoid fungi among them. Based on these results many well-known genera are shown to be paraphyletic, with several synapomorphic characters that have evolved more than once within the family. As a consequence, several old generic names including Cercosporidium, Fulvia, Mycovellosiella, Phaeoramularia and Raghnildiana are resurrected, and 32 additional genera are described as new. Based on phylogenetic data 120 genera are now accepted within the family, but many currently accepted cercosporoid genera still remain unresolved pending fresh collections and DNA data. The present study provides a phylogenetic framework for future taxonomic work within the Mycosphaerellaceae.

The taxonomic history of the common powdery mildew of Chrysanthemum × morifolium (chrysanthemum, florist's daisy), originally described in Germany as Oidium chrysanthemi, is discussed. The position of O. chrysanthemi was investigated on the basis of morphological traits and molecular phylogenetic analyses. Based on the results of this study, this species, which is closely related to Golovinomyces artemisae, was reassessed and reallocated to Golovinomyces. The phylogenetic analysis and taxonomic reassessment of the chrysanthemum powdery mildew is supplemented by a morphological description, a summary of its worldwide distribution data, and a brief discussion of the introduction of this fungus to North America. G. chrysanthemi differs from true G. artemisiae in that it has much longer conidiophores, is not constricted at the base, and has much larger and most importantly longer conidia. The close affinity of Golovinomyces to Artemisia and Chrysanthemum species signifies a coevolutionary event between the powdery mildews concerned and their host species in the subtribe Artemisiinae (Asteraceae tribe Anthemideae). This conclusion is fully supported by the current phylogeny and taxonomy of the host plant genera and the coevolution that occurred with the host and pathogen. The following powdery mildew species, which are associated with hosts belonging to the tribe Anthemideae of the Asteraceae, are epitypified: Alphitomorpha depressa β artemisiae (≡ Alphitomorpha artemisiae), Erysiphe artemisiae, and Oidium chrysanthemi. Erysiphe macrocarpa is neotypified. Their sequences were retrieved from the epitype collections and have been added to the phylogenetic tree. Golovinomyces orontii, an additional powdery mildew species on Chrysanthemum ×morifolium, is reported. This species is rarely found as a spontaneous infection and was obtained from inoculation experiments.

Two powdery mildews, Erysiphe syringae and the previously undescribed Phyllactinia syringae, sp. nov., occur on lilac in western North America. Phyllactinia syringae is found on common lilac, whereas E. syringae is found on Chinese lilac and, occasionally, common lilac. Infection by P. syringae is extremely unobtrusive until formation of a hypophyllous mycelial mat with chasmothecia in late fall. Infection by E. syringae in late summer is conspicuous, with its thick, superficial mycelial mat on the leaf upper surface detracting from the aesthetic appearance of the bush.