Multigene phylogeny and taxonomy of the genus Melanconiella(Diaporthales)

Molecular phylogenetic analyses of LSU rDNA demonstrate monophyly of the genus Melanconiella,and its status as a genus distinct from Melanconis is confirmed.Data of macro-and microscopic morphology,pure cultures and phylogenetic analyses of partial SSU-ITS-LSU rDNA,tef1 and rpb2 sequences revealed 13 distinct species of Melanconiella,six of which are described as new(M.chrysodiscosporina,M.chrysomelanconium,M.chrysorientalis,M.echinata,M.elegans,M.meridionalis).Melanconiella hyperopta var.orientalis is described as a new variety.Diaporthe carpinicola,D.ellisii,D.flavovirens,D.hyperopta and D.ostryae are formally combined into Melanconiella.The name Melanconiella chrysostroma is excluded from Melanconiella,as it is an obligate synonym of Wuestneia xanthostroma.The type of Melanconiella is confirmed as M.spodiaea.Several species are lecto-and/or epitypified.A key to all treated species ofMelanconiella is provided,and the circumscriptions of the genera Melanconis and Melanconiella are emended.Most Melanconiella species revealed by molecular phylogenetic analyses can be well characterised by a suite of morphological traits including ascospore shape,length and width,colour,absence/presence and shape of appendages and the anamorph.Anamorph-teleomorph connections were confirmed by pure culture and DNA data,revealing the presence of a single melanconium-or discosporina-like anamorph for each species.Colony growth was found to be characteristic of the respective species.Melanconiella is shown to be confined to the host family Betulaceae,and all species are found to be highly host-specific,mostly confined to a single host species.The biodiversity ofMelanconiella was determined to be centred on the genus Carpinus with nine species,five of which have been confirmed on C.betulus.Europe appears to be the geographic centre of Melanconiella biodiversity.

Phylogeny and taxonomy of Ophiognomonia(Gnomoniaceae,Diaporthales),including twenty-five new species in this highly diverse genus

Species of Ophiognomonia are leaf-inhabiting endophytes,pathogens,and saprobes that infect plants in the families Betulaceae,Fagaceae,Juglandaceae,Lauraceae,Malvaceae,Platanaceae,Rosaceae,Salicaceae,and Sapindaceae.Based on extensive collecting,this speciesrich genus is now known to have a world wide distribution in primarily temperate areas,although some species are known from the subtropics.Analyses of DNA sequences from three markers including guanine nucleotide-binding protein subunit beta-like protein(MS204),translation elongation factor 1α(tef-1α),and the ITS region including ITS1,5.8 S rDNA and ITS2 regions(ITS)were used to define phylogenetic species in Ophiognomonia.Host plant association correlated with these species.Twenty-five new species of Ophiognomonia and two new combinations are proposed with descriptions and illustrations.In addition,descriptions and illustrations are provided for 12 other species of Ophiognomonia.A key is provided to the 45 currently accepted species of Ophiognomonia.The disposition of additional names in Ophiognomonia is also discussed.

The Longibrachiatum Clade of Trichoderma:a revision with new species

The Longibrachiatum Clade of Trichoderma is revised.Eight new species are described(T.aethiopicum,T.capillare,T.flagellatum,T.gillesii,T.gracile,T.pinnatum,T.saturnisporopsis,T.solani).The twenty-one species known to belong to the Longibrachiatum Clade are included in a synoptic key.Trichoderma parareesei and T.effusum are redescribed based on new collections or additional observations.Hypocrea teleomorphs are reported for T.gillesii and T.pinnatum.Previously described species are annotated.

Occultocarpon,a new monotypic genus of Gnomoniaceae on Alnus nepalensis from China

Microfungi in the Gnomoniaceae(Diaporthales,Ascomycetes)comprise species commonly reported as pathogens and endophytes on trees and herbaceous hosts primarily from temperate forests of North America,Europe,and Japan.The diversity of Gnomoniaceae in China is poorly known,although several plant families that occur there specifically the Betulaceae are considered important hosts.An exploratory trip to Yunnan,China,resulted in the discovery of several members of the Gnomoniaceae.In this paper a new monotypic genus,Occultocarpon and its species,O.ailaoshanense,are described and illustrated.A phylogeny based on three genes(LSU,rpb2,tef1-α)reveals that O.ailaoshanense belongs to the Gnomoniaceae and forms a branch distinct from the currently known genera.Occultocarpon ailaoshanense is characterized by perithecia with thin,central to eccentric necks in groups embedded in a stroma and oblong elliptical-elongated,one-septate ascospores.Occultocarpon ailaoshanense occurs on the bark of branches of Alnus nepalensis(Betulaceae)in Yunnan,China.