An overview of the taxonomy, phylogeny, and typification of nectriaceous fungi in Cosmospora, Acremonium, Fusarium, Stilbella, and Volutella.

A comprehensive phylogenetic reassessment of the ascomycete genus Cosmospora (Hypocreales, Nectriaceae) is undertaken using fresh isolates and historical strains, sequences of two protein encoding genes, the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (rpb2), and a new phylogenetic marker, the larger subunit of ATP citrate lyase (acl1). The result is an extensive revision of taxonomic concepts, typification, and nomenclatural details of many anamorph- and teleomorph-typified genera of the Nectriaceae, most notably Cosmospora and Fusarium. The combined phylogenetic analysis shows that the present concept of Fusarium is not monophyletic and that the genus divides into two large groups, one basal in the family, the other terminal, separated by a large group of species classified in genera such as Calonectria, Neonectria, and Volutella. All accepted genera received high statistical support in the phylogenetic analyses. Preliminary polythetic morphological descriptions are presented for each genus, providing details of perithecia, micro- and/or macro-conidial synanamorphs, cultural characters, and ecological traits. Eight species are included in our restricted concept of Cosmospora, two of which have previously documented teleomorphs and all of which have Acremonium-like microconidial anamorphs. A key is provided to the three anamorphic species recognised in Atractium, which is removed from synonymy with Fusarium and epitypified for two macroconidial synnematous species and one sporodochial species associated with waterlogged wood. Dialonectria is recognised as distinct from Cosmospora and two species with teleomorph, macroconidia and microconidia are accepted, including the new species D. ullevolea. Seven species, one with a known teleomorph, are classified in Fusicolla, formerly considered a synonym of Fusarium including members of the F. aquaeductuum and F. merismoides species complex, with several former varieties raised to species rank. Originally a section of Nectria, Macroconia is raised to generic rank for five species, all producing a teleomorph and macroconidial anamorph. A new species of the Verticillium-like anamorphic genus Mariannaea is described as M. samuelsii. Microcera is recognised as distinct from Fusarium and a key is included for four macroconidial species, that are usually parasites of scale insects, two of them with teleomorphs. The four accepted species of Stylonectria each produce a teleomorph and micro- and macroconidial synanamorphs. The Volutella species sampled fall into three clades. Pseudonectria is accepted for a perithecial and sporodochial species that occurs on Buxus. Volutella s. str. also includes perithecial and/or sporodochial species and is revised to include a synnematous species formerly included in Stilbella. The third Volutella-like clade remains unnamed. All fungi in this paper are named using a single name system that gives priority to the oldest generic names and species epithets, irrespective of whether they are originally based on anamorph or teleomorph structures. The rationale behind this is discussed.

A revision of Cyanonectria and Geejayessia gen. nov., and related species with Fusarium-like anamorphs.

A revision of Fusarium-like species associated with the plant genus Buxus led to a reconsideration of generic concepts in the Fusarium clade of the Nectriaceae. Phylogenetic analyses of the partial second largest subunit of the RNA polymerase II (rpb2) and the larger subunit of the ATP citrate lyase (acl1) gene exons confirm the existence of a clade, here called the terminal Fusarium clade, that includes genera such as Fusariumsensu stricto (including its Gibberella teleomorphs), Albonectria, Cyanonectria, "Haematonectria", the newly described genus Geejayessia, and "Nectria" albida. Geejayessia accommodates five species. Four were previously classified in Nectria sensu lato, namely the black perithecial, KOH-species G. atrofusca and the orange or reddish, KOH+ G. cicatricum, G. desmazieri and G. zealandica.Geejayessia celtidicola is newly described. Following our phylogenetic analyses showing its close relationship with Cyanonectria cyanostoma, the former Gibbera buxi is recombined as the second species of Cyanonectria. A three gene phylogenetic analysis of multiple strains of each morphological species using translation elongation factor 1 α (tef-1), rpb2 and acl1 gene exons and introns confirms their status as distinct phylogenetic species. Internal transcribed spacer of the ribosomal RNA gene cluster and nuclear large ribosomal subunit sequences were generated as additional DNA barcodes for selected strains. The connection of Fusarium buxicola, often erroneously reported as the anamorph of G. desmazieri, with the bluish black and KOH+ perithecial species C. buxi is reinstated. Most Cyanonectria and Geejayessia species exhibit restricted host ranges on branches or twigs of Buxus species, Celtisoccidentalis, or Staphyleatrifolia. Their perithecia form caespitose clusters on well-developed, mostly erumpent stromata on the bark or outer cortex of the host and are relatively thin-walled, mostly smooth, and therefore reminiscent of the more or less astromatous, singly occurring perithecia of Cosmospora, Dialonectria, and Microcera. The cell walls in outer- and inner layers of the perithecial walls of Cyanonectria and Geejayessia have inconspicuous pore-like structures, as do representative species of Albonectria, Fusarium sensu stricto, "Haematonectria", and "Nectria" albida. The taxonomic significance of these structures, which we call Samuels' pores, is discussed.

An integrated taxonomic study of Fusarium langsethiae, Fusarium poae and Fusarium sporotrichioides based on the use of composite datasets.

An integrated systematic study was carried out to clarify the taxonomical position and relationship of Fusarium langsethiae to other taxa within the Fusarium section Sporotrichiella. Strains of this species were compared with strains of the closely related species Fusarium poae and Fusarium sporotrichioides using a composite dataset. This set consisted of DNA sequences derived from the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, partial sequences of the ribosomal intergenic spacer (IGS) region, the beta-tubulin and translation elongation factor-1 alpha (EF-1alpha) genes, AFLP fingerprints, chromatographic data on secondary metabolites and morphological data and growth characteristics. From these combined data, a consensus matrix was calculated by taking the mean of all pairwise distances between single isolates over all separate datasets. The consensus matrix was used as the basis for the construction of a UPGMA dendrogram and a multidimensional scaling, both of which revealed a clear separation of the three taxa. Partial IGS, EF-1alpha and beta-tubulin sequence-as well as chromatography-and AFLP-derived similarities turned out to be comparably consistent, while ITS sequence- and morphology-derived similarity matrices were rather divergent.

Fusarium nygamai.A causal agent of root rot of Vicia faba L. in the Sudan.

Wilted and rotted plants of Vicia faba were received from different localities in the Sudan. Among several Fusarium spp., Fusarium nygamai was recovered. Conspicuous symptoms were among others black root rot, associated with rot and death of the lateral root system. Severely infected plants showed black neck canker at soil level. These symptoms were usually accompanied by loss of the leaves' turgor, these then turned brown and died. Death of intact leaves also occurred. Most of the strains proved to be pathogenic to Vicia faba. Disease intensity varied between 28-100%. This is the first report of Fusarium nygamai as a pathogen of Vicia faba.

Identification of Trichoderma strains by image analysis of HPLC chromatograms.

Forty-four Trichoderma strains from water-damaged building materials or indoor dust were classified with chromatographic image analysis on full chromatographic matrices obtained by high performance liquid chromatography with UV detection of culture extracts. The classes were compared with morphological identification and rDNA sequence data, and for each class all strains were of the same identity. With all three techniques each strain--except one--was identified as the same species. These strains belonged to Trichoderma atroviride (nine strains), Trichoderma viride (three strains), Trichoderma harzianum (10 strains), Trichoderma citrinoviride (12 strains), and Trichoderma longibrachiatum (nine strains). The odd strain was identified as Trichoderma hamatum by morphology and rDNA sequencing, but not by image analysis as no reference strains of this species were included. It is concluded that the secondary metabolite profile contains sufficient information for classification and species identification.

Evolution of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum Races Inferred from Multigene Genealogies.

ABSTRACT Fusarium wilt of cotton is a serious fungal disease responsible for significant yield losses throughout the world. Evolution of the causal organism Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum, including the eight races described for this specialized form, was studied using multigene genealogies. Partial sequences of translation elongation factor (EF-1alpha), nitrate reductase (NIR), phosphate permase (PHO), and the mitochondrial small subunit (mtSSU) rDNA were sequenced in 28 isolates of F. oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum selected to represent the global genetic diversity of this forma specialis. Results of a Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks Templeton test indicated that sequences of the four genes could be combined. In addition, using combined data from EF-1alpha and mtSSU rDNA, the phylogenetic origin of F. oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum within the F. oxysporum complex was evaluated by the Kishino-Hasegawa likelihood test. Results of this test indicated the eight races of F. oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum appeared to be nonmonophyletic, having at least two independent, or polyphyletic, evolutionary origins. Races 3 and 5 formed a strongly supported clade separate from the other six races. The combined EF-1alpha, NIR, PHO, and mtSSU rDNA sequence data from the 28 isolates of F. oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum recovered four lineages that correlated with differences in virulence and geographic origin: lineage I contained race 3, mostly from Egypt, and race 5 from Sudan; lineage II contained races 1, 2, and 6 from North and South America and Africa; lineage III contained race 8 from China; and lineage IV contained isolates of races 4 and 7 from India and China, respectively.

A morphological and molecular perspective of Trichoderma viride: is it one or two species?

Trichoderma (Ascomycetes, Hypocreales) strains that have warted conidia are traditionally identified as T. viride, the type species of Trichoderma. However, two morphologically distinct types of conidial warts (I and II) have been found. Because each type corresponds to a unique mitochondrial DNA pattern, it has been questioned whether T. viride comprises more than one species. Combined molecular data (sequences of the internal transcribed spacer 1 [ITS-1] and ITS-2 regions and of part of the 28S rRNA gene along with results of restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the endochitinase gene and PCR fingerprinting), morphology, physiology, and colony characteristics distinguish type I and type II as different species. Type I corresponds to "true" T. viride, the anamorph of Hypocrea rufa. Type II represents a new species, T. asperellum, which is, in terms of molecular characteristics, close to the neotype of T. hamatum.

Moniliformin production in the genusFusarium.

More than 600Fusarium strains were screened for their ability to produce moniliformin in vitro. They represented 90 species and 15 sections (without sectionPseudomicrocera). A simple TLC-method (agar plug method) was tested for its applicability to detect moniliformin in fungal cultures. It revealed moniliformin production in 146 strains representing 32 species, all belonging to sections of which the teleomorph is known to beGibberella. The results by and large agree with earlier published data. However, some species did not show any moniliformin production in contrast to other reports. Furthermore, moniliformin production is reported for the first time in two known and in two not yet described species. 58 species were unable to generate the toxin. The results support the importance to include mycotoxin production of fungi as a criterion in a polyphasic taxonomy.

Morphological differentiation of Fusarium sambucinum Fuckel sensu stricto, F. torulosum (Berk. & Curt.) Nirenberg comb. nov. and F. venenatum Nirenberg sp. nov.

Within Fusarium sambucinum Fuckel sensu lato three species were differentiated: F. sambucinum Fuckel s. str., F. torulosum (Berk. et Curt.) Nirenberg comb. nov. and F. venenatum Nirenberg sp. nov. They are described and illustrated in detail.

Differentiation of Fusarium sambucinum Fuckel sensu lato and related species by RAPD PCR.

DNA polymorphisms generated by the random amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction (RAPD PCR) were used to analyse 41 isolates investigated in the European Fusarium sambucinum Project (EFSP). Employing ten arbitrary (10-mer) oigonucleotides and simple repeat sequences (M13, (GACA)4) as single primers, informative banding patterns typical for identifying European populations of Fusarium sambucinum Fuckel s. str., F. torulosum (Berk. & Curt.) Nirenberg and F. venenatum Nirenberg were obtained.

Actual situation in Fusarium taxonomy.

The importance of choosing the proper systematic system in Fusarium taxonomy is stated and a comparative listing of synonyms of the sections Sporotrichiella, Roseum, Liseola, Discolor, Gibbosum, Martiella, as used by various authors in three monographs, is given (2, 4, 9).

Mutagenicity of methyl benzimidazole-2-yl carbamate (MBC) towards Aspergillus nidulans (EIDAM) Winter and Cladosporium cucumerinum Ellis & Arth.

The ability of methyl benzimidazol-2-yl carbamate (MBC) to induce point mutations to carboxin and MBC resistance was tested in Aspergillus nidulans (Eidam) Winter and Cladosporium cucumerinum Ellis & Arth. A sub-lethal concentration (E.D.50) of MBC, when incorporated into a complete agar medium, induced MBC resistance in germinating conidia of A. nidulans and carboxin resistance in germinating conidia of C. cucumerinum. The significance of these findings in relation to fungicide resistance in the fields is discussed.

The pH dependence of the mutagenicity of methyl benzimidazol-2-yl carbamate (MBC) towards Aspergillus nidulans (Eidam) Winter and Cladosporium cucumerinum Ellis & Arth.

The ability of methyl benzimidazol-2-yl carbamate (MBC) to induce point mutations to carboxin and MBC resistance in Aspergillus nidulans (Eidam) Winter and Cladosporium cucumerinum Ellis & Arth. was dependent upon the pH value of the agar medium into which it had been incorporated. The relevance of this in relation to testing chemicals for a possible mutagenic activity with microorganisms is discussed.