Fungal Planet description sheets: 1478-1549.

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Australia, Aschersonia mackerrasiae on whitefly, Cladosporium corticola on bark of Melaleuca quinquenervia, Penicillium nudgee from soil under Melaleuca quinquenervia, Pseudocercospora blackwoodiae on leaf spot of Persoonia falcata, and Pseudocercospora dalyelliae on leaf spot of Senna alata. Bolivia, Aspicilia lutzoniana on fully submersed siliceous schist in high-mountain streams, and Niesslia parviseta on the lower part and apothecial discs of Erioderma barbellatum on a twig. Brazil, Cyathus bonsai on decaying wood, Geastrum albofibrosum from moist soil with leaf litter, Laetiporus pratigiensis on a trunk of a living unknown hardwood tree species, and Scytalidium synnematicum on dead twigs of unidentified plant. Bulgaria, Amanita abscondita on sandy soil in a plantation of Quercus suber. Canada, Penicillium acericola on dead bark of Acer saccharum, and Penicillium corticola on dead bark of Acer saccharum. China, Colletotrichum qingyuanense on fruit lesion of Capsicum annuum. Denmark, Helminthosphaeria leptospora on corticioid Neohypochnicium cremicolor. Ecuador (Galapagos), Phaeosphaeria scalesiae on Scalesia sp. Finland, Inocybe jacobssonii on calcareous soils in dry forests and park habitats. France, Cortinarius rufomyrrheus on sandy soil under Pinus pinaster, and Periconia neominutissima on leaves of Poaceae. India, Coprinopsis fragilis on decaying bark of logs, Filoboletus keralensis on unidentified woody substrate, Penicillium sankaranii from soil, Physisporinus tamilnaduensis on the trunk of Azadirachta indica, and Poronia nagaraholensis on elephant dung. Iran, Neosetophoma fici on infected leaves of Ficus elastica. Israel, Cnidariophoma eilatica (incl. Cnidariophoma gen. nov.) from Stylophora pistillata. Italy, Lyophyllum obscurum on acidic soil. Namibia, Aureobasidium faidherbiae on dead leaf of Faidherbia albida, and Aureobasidium welwitschiae on dead leaves of Welwitschia mirabilis. Netherlands, Gaeumannomycella caricigena on dead culms of Carex elongata, Houtenomyces caricicola (incl. Houtenomyces gen. nov.) on culms of Carex disticha, Neodacampia ulmea (incl. Neodacampia gen. nov.) on branch of Ulmus laevis, Niesslia phragmiticola on dead standing culms of Phragmites australis, Pseudopyricularia caricicola on culms of Carex disticha, and Rhodoveronaea nieuwwulvenica on dead bamboo sticks. Norway, Arrhenia similis half-buried and moss-covered pieces of rotting wood in grass-grown path. Pakistan, Mallocybe ahmadii on soil. Poland, Beskidomyces laricis (incl. Beskidomyces gen. nov.) from resin of Larix decidua ssp. polonica, Lapidomyces epipinicola from sooty mould community on Pinus nigra, and Leptographium granulatum from a gallery of Dendroctonus micans on Picea abies. Portugal, Geoglossum azoricum on mossy areas of laurel forest areas planted with Cryptomeria japonica, and Lunasporangiospora lusitanica from a biofilm covering a biodeteriorated limestone wall. Qatar, Alternaria halotolerans from hypersaline sea water, and Alternaria qatarensis from water sample collected from hypersaline lagoon. South Africa, Alfaria thamnochorti on culm of Thamnochortus fraternus, Knufia aloeicola on Aloe gariepensis, Muriseptatomyces restionacearum (incl. Muriseptatomyces gen. nov.) on culms of Restionaceae, Neocladosporium arctotis on nest of cases of bag worm moths (Lepidoptera, Psychidae) on Arctotis auriculata, Neodevriesia scadoxi on leaves of Scadoxus puniceus, Paraloratospora schoenoplecti on stems of Schoenoplectus lacustris, Tulasnella epidendrea from the roots of Epidendrum × obrienianum, and Xenoidriella cinnamomi (incl. Xenoidriella gen. nov.) on leaf of Cinnamomum camphora. South Korea, Lemonniera fraxinea on decaying leaves of Fraxinus sp. from pond. Spain, Atheniella lauri on the bark of fallen trees of Laurus nobilis, Halocryptovalsa endophytica from surface-sterilised, asymptomatic roots of Salicornia patula, Inocybe amygdaliolens on soil in mixed forest, Inocybe pityusarum on calcareous soil in mixed forest, Inocybe roseobulbipes on acidic soils, Neonectria borealis from roots of Vitis berlandieri × Vitis rupestris, Sympoventuria eucalyptorum on leaves of Eucalyptus sp., and Tuber conchae from soil. Sweden, Inocybe bidumensis on calcareous soil. Thailand, Cordyceps sandindaengensis on Lepidoptera pupa, buried in soil, Ophiocordyceps kuchinaraiensis on Coleoptera larva, buried in soil, and Samsoniella winandae on Lepidoptera pupa, buried in soil. Taiwan region (China), Neophaeosphaeria livistonae on dead leaf of Livistona rotundifolia. Türkiye, Melanogaster anatolicus on clay loamy soils. UK, Basingstokeomyces allii (incl. Basingstokeomyces gen. nov.) on leaves of Allium schoenoprasum. Ukraine, Xenosphaeropsis corni on recently dead stem of Cornus alba. USA, Nothotrichosporon aquaticum (incl. Nothotrichosporon gen. nov.) from water, and Periconia philadelphiana from swab of coil surface. Morphological and culture characteristics for these new taxa are supported by DNA barcodes. Citation: Crous PW, Osieck ER, Shivas RG, et al. 2023. Fungal Planet description sheets: 1478-1549. Persoonia 50: 158- 310. https://doi.org/10.3767/persoonia.2023.50.05.

Fungal Planet description sheets: 1550-1613.

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Argentina, Neocamarosporium halophilum in leaf spots of Atriplex undulata. Australia, Aschersonia merianiae on scale insect (Coccoidea), Curvularia huamulaniae isolated from air, Hevansia mainiae on dead spider, Ophiocordyceps poecilometigena on Poecilometis sp. Bolivia, Lecanora menthoides on sandstone, in open semi-desert montane areas, Sticta monlueckiorum corticolous in a forest, Trichonectria epimegalosporae on apothecia of corticolous Megalospora sulphurata var. sulphurata, Trichonectria puncteliae on the thallus of Punctelia borreri. Brazil, Catenomargarita pseudocercosporicola (incl. Catenomargarita gen. nov.) hyperparasitic on Pseudocercospora fijiensis on leaves of Musa acuminata, Tulasnella restingae on protocorms and roots of Epidendrum fulgens. Bulgaria, Anthracoidea umbrosae on Carex spp. Croatia, Hymenoscyphus radicis from surface-sterilised, asymptomatic roots of Microthlaspi erraticum, Orbilia multiserpentina on wood of decorticated branches of Quercus pubescens. France, Calosporella punctatispora on dead corticated twigs of Aceropalus. French West Indies (Martinique), Eutypella lechatii on dead corticated palm stem. Germany, Arrhenia alcalinophila on loamy soil. Iceland, Cistella blauvikensis on dead grass (Poaceae). India, Fulvifomes maritimus on living Peltophorum pterocarpum, Fulvifomes natarajanii on dead wood of Prosopis juliflora, Fulvifomes subazonatus on trunk of Azadirachta indica, Macrolepiota bharadwajii on moist soil near the forest, Narcissea delicata on decaying elephant dung, Paramyrothecium indicum on living leaves of Hibiscus hispidissimus, Trichoglossum syamviswanathii on moist soil near the base of a bamboo plantation. Iran, Vacuiphoma astragalicola from stem canker of Astragalus sarcocolla. Malaysia, Neoeriomycopsis fissistigmae (incl. Neoeriomycopsidaceae fam. nov.) on leaf spots on flower Fissistigma sp. Namibia, Exophiala lichenicola lichenicolous on Acarospora cf. luederitzensis. Netherlands, Entoloma occultatum on soil, Extremus caricis on dead leaves of Carex sp., Inocybe pseudomytiliodora on loamy soil. Norway, Inocybe guldeniae on calcareous soil, Inocybe rupestroides on gravelly soil. Pakistan, Hymenagaricus brunneodiscus on soil. Philippines, Ophiocordyceps philippinensis parasitic on Asilus sp. Poland, Hawksworthiomyces ciconiae isolated from Ciconia ciconia nest, Plectosphaerella vigrensis from leaf spots on Impatiens noli-tangere, Xenoramularia epitaxicola from sooty mould community on Taxus baccata. Portugal, Inocybe dagamae on clay soil. Saudi Arabia, Diaporthe jazanensis on branches of Coffea arabica. South Africa, Alternaria moraeae on dead leaves of Moraea sp., Bonitomyces buffels-kloofinus (incl. Bonitomyces gen. nov.) on dead twigs of unknown tree, Constrictochalara koukolii on living leaves of Itea rhamnoides colonised by a Meliola sp., Cylindromonium lichenophilum on Parmelina tiliacea, Gamszarella buffelskloofina (incl. Gamszarella gen. nov.) on dead insect, Isthmosporiella africana (incl. Isthmosporiella gen. nov.) on dead twigs of unknown tree, Nothoeucasphaeria buffelskloofina (incl. Nothoeucasphaeria gen. nov.), on dead twigs of unknown tree, Nothomicrothyrium beaucarneae (incl. Nothomicrothyrium gen. nov.) on dead leaves of Beaucarnea stricta, Paramycosphaerella proteae on living leaves of Protea caffra, Querciphoma foliicola on leaf litter, Rachicladosporium conostomii on dead twigs of Conostomium natalense var. glabrum, Rhamphoriopsis synnematosa on dead twig of unknown tree, Waltergamsia mpumalanga on dead leaves of unknown tree. Spain, Amanita fulvogrisea on limestone soil, in mixed forest, Amanita herculis in open Quercus forest, Vuilleminia beltraniae on Cistus symphytifolius. Sweden, Pachyella pulchella on decaying wood on sand-silt riverbank. Thailand, Deniquelata cassiae on dead stem of Cassia fistula, Stomiopeltis thailandica on dead twigs of Magnolia champaca. Ukraine, Circinaria podoliana on natural limestone outcrops, Neonematogonum carpinicola (incl. Neonematogonum gen. nov.) on dead branches of Carpinus betulus. USA, Exophiala wilsonii water from cooling tower, Hygrophorus aesculeticola on soil in mixed forest, and Neocelosporium aereum from air in a house attic. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes. Citation: Crous PW, Costa MM, Kandemir H, et al. 2023. Fungal Planet description sheets: 1550-1613. Persoonia 51: 280-417. doi: 10.3767/persoonia.2023.51.08.

Fungal Planet description sheets: 1383-1435.

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Australia, Agaricus albofoetidus, Agaricus aureoelephanti and Agaricus parviumbrus on soil, Fusarium ramsdenii from stem cankers of Araucaria cunninghamii, Keissleriella sporoboli from stem of Sporobolus natalensis, Leptosphaerulina queenslandica and Pestalotiopsis chiaroscuro from leaves of Sporobolus natalensis, Serendipita petricolae as endophyte from roots of Eriochilus petricola, Stagonospora tauntonensis from stem of Sporobolus natalensis, Teratosphaeria carnegiei from leaves of Eucalyptus grandis × E. camaldulensis and Wongia ficherai from roots of Eragrostis curvula. Canada, Lulworthia fundyensis from intertidal wood and Newbrunswickomyces abietophilus (incl. Newbrunswickomyces gen. nov.) on buds of Abies balsamea. Czech Republic, Geosmithia funiculosa from a bark beetle gallery on Ulmus minor and Neoherpotrichiella juglandicola (incl. Neoherpotrichiella gen. nov.) from wood of Juglans regia. France, Aspergillus rouenensis and Neoacrodontium gallica (incl. Neoacrodontium gen. nov.) from bore dust of Xestobium rufovillosum feeding on Quercus wood, Endoradiciella communis (incl. Endoradiciella gen. nov.) endophytic in roots of Microthlaspi perfoliatum and Entoloma simulans on soil. India, Amanita konajensis on soil and Keithomyces indicus from soil. Israel, Microascus rothbergiorum from Stylophora pistillata. Italy, Calonarius ligusticus on soil. Netherlands, Appendopyricularia juncicola (incl. Appendopyricularia gen. nov.), Eriospora juncicola and Tetraploa juncicola on dead culms of Juncus effusus, Gonatophragmium physciae on Physcia caesia and Paracosmospora physciae (incl. Paracosmospora gen. nov.) on Physcia tenella, Myrmecridium phragmitigenum on dead culm of Phragmites australis, Neochalara lolae on stems of Pteridium aquilinum, Niesslia nieuwwulvenica on dead culm of undetermined Poaceae, Nothodevriesia narthecii (incl. Nothodevriesia gen. nov.) on dead leaves of Narthecium ossifragum and Parastenospora pini (incl. Parastenospora gen. nov.) on dead twigs of Pinus sylvestris. Norway, Verticillium bjoernoeyanum from sand grains attached to a piece of driftwood on a sandy beach. Portugal, Collybiopsis cimrmanii on the base of living Quercus ilex and amongst dead leaves of Laurus and herbs. South Africa, Paraproliferophorum hyphaenes (incl. Paraproliferophorum gen. nov.) on living leaves of Hyphaene sp. and Saccothecium widdringtoniae on twigs of Widdringtonia wallichii. Spain, Cortinarius dryosalor on soil, Cyphellophora endoradicis endophytic in roots of Microthlaspi perfoliatum, Geoglossum lauri-silvae on soil, Leptographium gemmatum from fluvial sediments, Physalacria auricularioides from a dead twig of Castanea sativa, Terfezia bertae and Tuber davidlopezii in soil. Sweden, Alpova larskersii, Inocybe alpestris and Inocybe boreogodeyi on soil. Thailand, Russula banwatchanensis, Russula purpureoviridis and Russula lilacina on soil. Ukraine, Nectriella adonidis on overwintered stems of Adonis vernalis. USA, Microcyclus jacquiniae from living leaves of Jacquinia keyensis and Penicillium neoherquei from a minute mushroom sporocarp. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes. Citation: Crous PW, Boers J, Holdom D, et al. 2022. Fungal Planet description sheets: 1383-1435. Persoonia 48: 261-371. https://doi.org/10.3767/persoonia.2022.48.08.

First line of defence: Eucalyptus leaf waxes influence infection by an aggressive fungal leaf pathogen.

Leaf epicuticular waxes provide important anatomical and chemical defences against fungi that infect leaves. In this study we analysed the leaf wax composition of Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus urophylla hybrids with contrasting susceptibilities to Teratosphaeria leaf blight (TLB) caused by Teratosphaeria destructans, one of the most important foliar diseases of Eucalyptus. The Eucalyptus cuticular wax was extracted from non-inoculated and inoculated genotypes with different levels of susceptibility to TLB and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed that a triterpenoid, cycloartenol (CAS), was abundant in a resistant genotype and that hexanedioic acid content increased in the resistant genotypes in response to T. destructans infection. In contrast, palmitic acid was significantly more abundant in the inoculated highly susceptible genotype. In-vitro and in-planta T. destructans spore germination assays with pure compounds, showed that CAS and hexanedioic acid significantly inhibited spore germination. Application of these two compounds to the leaves of a susceptible host also significantly increased resistance to infection. In contrast, palmitic acid promoted spore germination and, when applied to the leaves of a resistant genotype, increased colonization by the pathogen. This is the first study providing insights into differences in the leaf wax composition of hosts with different levels of susceptibility to T. destructans. It also showed that leaf wax compounds can modulate spore germination and, ultimately, host resistance to infection.

A diverse range of Phytophthora species from botanical gardens in South Africa, including the novel Clade 5 species, Phytophthora mammiformis sp. nov.

The genus Phytophthora contains many destructive and globally important plant pathogens. In the last decade, targeted sampling efforts have resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of known species, as well as a better understanding of their global distribution. Routine activities undertaken in botanical gardens, combined with great numbers of local and international visitors, place botanical gardens at risk to the accidental introduction and establishment of pathogens such as Phytophthora spp. In this study, the occurrence of Phytophthora was investigated in two botanical gardens in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa. Symptomatic collar and stem tissues were collected, and root and rhizosphere soil samples were taken from trees exhibiting symptoms of decline. Standard baiting techniques and direct plating of symptomatic tissues revealed the presence of seven species of Phytophthora residing in four phylogenetic clades. Five of these species, P. cinnamomi, P. citrophthora, P. multivora, P. parvispora and the informally designated taxon Phytophthora sp. stellaris were known to be present in South Africa and P. aquimorbida was recorded for the first time. Of these, P. citrophthora represented a novel host-pathogen association causing bleeding cankers on indigenous Celtis africana. A multilocus phylogenetic analysis based on ITS, ßtub, cox1 and hsp90 sequences showed the presence of an undescribed species belonging to the Phytophthora ITS Clade 5. This species is described here as Phytophthora mammiformis sp. nov. This study highlights the importance of monitoring botanical gardens for the detection and discovery of pathogens and emphasises their value as sites for the discovery of novel host-pathogen associations. Citation: Paap T, Balocchi F, Burgess TI, Bose T, Wingfield MJ (2024). A diverse range of Phytophthora species from botanical gardens in South Africa, including the novel Clade 5 species, Phytophthora mammiformis sp. nov. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 13: 111-122. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2024.13.05.

Fungal Planet description sheets: 1614-1696.

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Australia, Baobabopsis sabindy in leaves of Eragrostis spartinoides, Cortinarius magentiguttatus among deep leaf litter, Laurobasidium azarandamiae from uredinium of Puccinia alyxiae on Alyxia buxifolia, Marasmius pseudoelegans on well-rotted twigs and litter in mixed wet sclerophyll and subtropical rainforest. Bolivia, Favolaschia luminosa on twigs of Byttneria hirsuta, Lecanora thorstenii on bark, in savannas with shrubs and trees. Brazil, Asterina costamaiae on leaves of Rourea bahiensis, Purimyces orchidacearum (incl. Purimyces gen. nov.) as root endophyte on Cattleya locatellii. Bulgaria, Monosporascus bulgaricus and Monosporascus europaeus isolated from surface-sterilised, asymptomatic roots of Microthlaspi perfoliatum. Finland, Inocybe undatolacera on a lawn, near Betula pendula. France, Inocybe querciphila in humus of mixed forest. Germany, Arrhenia oblongispora on bare soil attached to debris of herbaceous plants and grasses. Greece, Tuber aereum under Quercus coccifera and Acer sempervirens. India, Alfoldia lenyadriensis from the gut of a Platynotus sp. beetle, Fulvifomes subramanianii on living Albizzia amara, Inosperma pavithrum on soil, Phylloporia parvateya on living Lonicera sp., Tropicoporus maritimus on living Peltophorum pterocarpum. Indonesia, Elsinoe atypica on leaf of Eucalyptus pellita. Italy, Apiotrichum vineum from grape wine, Cuphopyllus praecox among grass. Madagascar, Pisolithus madagascariensis on soil under Intsia bijuga. Netherlands, Cytosporella calamagrostidis and Periconia calamagrostidicola on old leaves of Calamagrostis arenaria, Hyaloscypha caricicola on leaves of Carex sp., Neoniesslia phragmiticola (incl. Neoniesslia gen. nov.) on leaf sheaths of standing dead culms of Phragmites australis, Neptunomyces juncicola on culms of Juncus maritimus, Zenophaeosphaeria calamagrostidis (incl. Zenophaeosphaeria gen. nov.) on culms of Calamagrostis arenaria. Norway, Hausneria geniculata (incl. Hausneria gen. nov.) from a gallery of Dryocoetes alni on Alnus incana. Pakistan, Agrocybe auriolus on leaf litter of Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Rhodophana rubrodisca in nutrient-rich loamy soil with Morus alba. Poland, Cladosporium nubilum from hypersaline brine, Entomortierella ferrotolerans from soil at mines and postmining sites, Pseudopezicula epiphylla from sooty mould community on Quercus robur, Quixadomyces sanctacrucensis from resin of Pinus sylvestris, Szafranskia beskidensis (incl. Szafranskia gen. nov.) from resin of Abies alba. Portugal, Ascocoryne laurisilvae on degraded wood of Laurus nobilis, Hygrocybe madeirensis in laurel forests, Hygrocybula terracocta (incl. Hygrocybula gen. nov.) on mossy areas of laurel forests planted with Cryptomeria japonica. Republic of Kenya, Penicillium gorferi from a sterile chicken feather embedded in a soil sample. Slovakia, Cerinomyces tatrensis on bark of Pinus mugo, Metapochonia simonovicovae from soil. South Africa, Acremonium agapanthi on culms of Agapanthus praecox, Alfaria elegiae on culms of Elegia ebracteata, Beaucarneamyces stellenboschensis (incl. Beaucarneamyces gen. nov.) on dead leaves of Beaucarnea stricta, Gardeniomyces kirstenboschensis (incl. Gardeniomyces gen. nov.) rotting fruit of Gardenia thunbergia, Knufia dianellae on dead leaves of Dianella caerulea, Lomaantha quercina on twigs of Quercus suber. Melanina restionis on dead leaves of Restio duthieae, Microdochium buffelskloofinum on seeds of Eragrostis cf. racemosa, Thamnochortomyces kirstenboschensis (incl. Thamnochortomyces gen. nov.) on culms of Thamnochortus fraternus, Tubeufia hagahagana on leaves of Hypoxis angustifolia, Wingfieldomyces cypericola on dead leaves of Cyperus papyrus. Spain, Geastrum federeri in soil under Quercus suber and Q. canariensis, Geastrum nadalii in calcareous soil under Juniperus, Quercus, Cupressus, Pinus and Robinia, Hygrocybe garajonayensis in laurel forests, Inocybe cistophila on acidic soil under Cistus ladanifer, Inocybe sabuligena in a mixed Quercus ilex subsp. ballota/Juniperus thurifera open forest, Mycena calongei on mossy bark base of Juniperus oxycedrus, Rhodophana ulmaria on soil in Ulmus minor forest, Tuber arriacaense in soil under Populus pyramidalis, Volvariella latispora on grassy soils in a Quercus ilex ssp. rotundifolia stand. Sweden, Inocybe iota in alpine heath on calcareous soil. Thailand, Craterellus maerimensis and Craterellus sanbuakwaiensis on laterite and sandy soil, Helicocollum samlanense on scale insects, Leptosporella cassiae on dead twigs of Cassia fistula, Oxydothis coperniciae on dead leaf of Copernicia alba, Russula mukdahanensis on soil, Trechispora sangria on soil, Trechispora sanpatongensis on soil. Türkiye, Amanita corylophila in a plantation of Corylus avellana. Ukraine, Pararthrophiala adonis (incl. Pararthrophiala gen. nov.) on dead stems of Adonis vernalis. USA, Cladorrhinum carnegieae from Carnegiea gigantea, Dematipyriformia americana on swab from basement wall, Dothiora americana from outside air, Dwiroopa aeria from bedroom air, Lithohypha cladosporioides from hospital swab, Macroconia verruculosa on twig of Ilex montana, associated with black destroyed ascomycetous fungus and Biatora sp., Periconia floridana from outside air, Phytophthora fagacearum from necrotic leaves and shoots of Fagus grandifolia, Queenslandipenidiella californica on wood in crawlspace. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes. Citation: Crous PW, Jurjevic Z, Balashov S, De la Peña-Lastra S, Mateos A, Pinruan U, Rigueiro-Rodríguez A, Osieck ER, Altés A, Czachura P, Esteve-Raventós F, Gunaseelan S, Kaliyaperumal M, Larsson E, Luangsa-ard JJ, Moreno G, Pancorbo F, Piatek M, Sommai S, Somrithipol S, Asif M, Delgado G, Flakus A, Illescas T, Kezo K, Khamsuntorn P, Kubátová A, Labuda R, Lavoise C, Lebel T, Lueangjaroenkit P, Maciá-Vicente JG, Paz A, Saba M, Shivas RG, Tan YP, Wingfield MJ, Aas T, Abramczyk B, Ainsworth AM, Akulov A, Alvarado P, Armada F, Assyov B, Avchar R, Avesani M, Bezerra JL, Bhat JD, Bilanski P, Bily DS, Boccardo F, Bozok F, Campos JC, Chaimongkol S, Chellappan N, Costa MM, Dalecká M, Darmostuk V, Daskalopoulos V, Dearnaley J, Dentinger BTM, De Silva NI, Dhotre D, Carlavilla JR, Doungsa-ard C, Dovana F, Erhard A, Ferro LO, Gallegos SC, Giles CE, Gore G, Gorfer M, Guard FE, Hanson S-A, Haridev P, Jankowiak R, Jeffers SN, Kandemir H, Karich A, Kislo K, Kiss L, Krisai-Greilhuber I, Latha KPD, Lorenzini M, Lumyong S, Manimohan P, Manjón JL, Maula F, Mazur E, Mesquita NLS, Mlynek K, Mongkolsamrit S, Morán P, Murugadoss R, Nagarajan M, Nalumpang S, Noisripoom W, Nosalj S, Novaes QS, Nowak M, Pawlowska J, Peiger M, Pereira OL, Pinto A, Plaza M, Polemis E, Polhorský A, Ramos DO, Raza M, Rivas-Ferreiro M, Rodriguez-Flakus P, Ruszkiewicz-Michalska M, Sánchez A, Santos A, Schüller A, Scott PA, Sen I, Shelke D, Sliwa L, Solheim H, Sonawane H, Strasiftáková D, Stryjak-Bogacka M, Sudsanguan M, Suwannarach N, Suz LM, Syme K, Taskin H, Tennakoon DS, Tomka P, Vaghefi N, Vasan V, Vauras J, Wiktorowicz D, Villarreal M, Vizzini A, Wrzosek M, Yang X, Yingkunchao W, Zapparoli G, Zervakis GI, Groenewald JZ (2024). Fungal Planet description sheets: 1614-1696. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 13: 183-440. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2024.13.11.

Microfungi associated with dying Euphorbia mauritanica in South Africa and their relative pathogenicity.

Euphorbia mauritanica is a succulent shrub that is indigenous to South Africa and widely distributed throughout the country. Dying plants have been observed in their natural habitat in the Northern and Western Cape Provinces of South Africa in recent years. Stems displaying lesions were collected and the emerging cultures were identified based on ITS, LSU, ACT, RPB2, TEF1 and/or TUB2 sequence data. Four filamentous fungi were consistently observed and isolated. One was identified as Alanphillipsia (Ala.) aloes, and the other three were new to science and are described here as Cytospora euphorbiicola sp. nov., Nothomicrosphaeropsis namakwaensis sp. nov. and Austrophoma (Aus.) euphorbiae gen. et sp. nov. These new species and Ala. aloes were the most commonly encountered, and their pathogenicity was tested on E. mauritanica plants in a greenhouse trial. All four species gave rise to lesions that were significantly larger than those associated with the controls, but they were not significantly different to each other. Although the lesions associated with the inoculations were well-developed, they did not give rise to plant death, suggesting that they are not responsible for the large-scale die-off of E. mauritanica in the field. The primary cause of the death of E. mauritanica in the studied area remains unknown and could be due to environmental factors such as has been found with the die-off of Euphorbia ingens in South Africa. Citation: Marincowitz S, Pham NQ, Wingfield BD, Roets F, Wingfield MJ (2023). Microfungi associated with dying Euphorbia mauritanica in South Africa and their relative pathogenicity. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 12: 59-71. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2023.12.04.

Characterisation of the mating-type loci in species of Elsinoe causing scab diseases.

The genus Elsinoe includes many aggressive plant pathogens that infect various economically important agricultural, horticultural and forestry plants. Significant diseases include citrus scab caused by E. fawcettii and E. australis, grapevine spot anthracnose by E. ampelina, and the emerging Eucalyptus scab and shoot malformation disease caused by the recently described E. necatrix. Despite their importance as plant pathogens, little is known regarding the biology of many Elsinoe spp. To gain insights into the reproductive biology of these fungi, we characterized the mating-type loci of seven species using whole genome sequence data. Results showed that the MAT1 locus organization and its flanking genes is relatively conserved in most cases. All seven species manifested a typical heterothallic mating system characterized by having either the MAT1-1 or MAT1-2 idiomorph present in an isolate. These idiomorphs were defined by the MAT1-1-1 or the MAT1-2-1 gene, respectively. A unique MAT1-1 idiomorph containing a truncated MAT1-2-1 gene, and a MAT1-1-1 gene, was identified in E. necatrix and E. fawcettii genomes. Additionally, two idiomorph-specific proteins were found in the MAT1-1 and MAT1-2 idiomorphs of E. australis. Universal mating-type markers confirmed heterothallism across 21 Elsinoe spp., are poised to advance future studies regarding the biology of these fungi.

A novel species of Microsphaeropsis causing cankers on Rafnia amplexicaulis in South Africa.

Cankers leading to branch, stem and plant death were observed on the South African endemic Rafnia amplexicaulis (Fabaceae) in the Cederberg Wilderness Area, South Africa, during September 2021. Conidiomatal pycnidia were found developing on the cankers, and isolations consistently yielded a Microsphaeropsis species. Phylogenetic analysis based on partial nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS), the nuclear large subunit (LSU) and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2) regions showed that the fungus represented an undescribed species. Based on the multigene phylogeny and morphological characteristics, we describe the species here as M. rafniae sp. nov. Pathogenicity tests and the fulfilment of Koch's postulates confirmed that M. rafniae sp. nov. is the cause of the cankers of R. amplexicaulis. Presently, this disease is known from a single location in South Africa, and further surveys are required to determine its distribution and relative importance. Citation: Paap T, Marincowitz S, Pham NQ, Roets F, Basson RJ, Wingfield BD, Oberlander K, Wingfield MJ (2023). A novel species of Microsphaeropsis causing cankers on Rafnia amplexicaulis in South Africa. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 12: 73-80. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2023.12.05.