Additions to Occultibambusaceae (Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes): Unrevealing Palmicolous Fungi in China

During a survey of microfungi associated with palms from karst formations, three novel ascomycetes were found from decaying petioles of Trachycarpus fortunei (Arecaceae) in Guizhou, China. Multi-gene phylogenetic analyses based on a combined SSU, ITS, LSU, RPB2 and TEF1α sequence data showed that these collections were affiliated to Brunneofusispora and Neooccultibambusa in the family Occultibambusaceae. A new species Brunneofusispora inclinatiostiola is introduced. It is phylogenetically close to B. clematidis but represents a distinct lineage. Morphologically, it differs from the latter in having immersed ascomata with eccentric, periphysate ostiole and smaller ascospores. Morpho-phylogenetic evidence also revealed two new Neooccultibambusa species, N. kaiyangensis and N. trachycarpi. Together with the generic type N. chiangraiensis, they formed a distinct lineage within the genus Neooccultibambusa. Three novel palmicolous fungi of Occultibambusaceae are described, illustrated and notes on their identification are provided. The ecological significance of the new taxa and the phylogenetic relationship of genera in Occultibambusaceae is discussed.

Morphological and phylogenetic insights reveal Cucurbitaria berberidicola (Cucurbitariaceae, Pleosporales) as a new species from Uzbekistan

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

Morphological and phylogenetic appraisal of Ophioceras (Ophioceraceae, Magnaporthales)

Ophioceras is accommodated in the monotypic family Ophioceraceae (Magnaporthales, Sordariomycetes), and the genus is delimited based on molecular data. During an ongoing survey of bambusicolous fungi in southwest China, we collected a submerged decaying branch of bamboo from Sichuan Province, China and an Ophioceras species occurring on this substrate was observed and isolated. An Ophioceras taxon was delimited based on morphological characteristics and combined LSU, RPB1 and ITS sequence analyses and is described as Ophioceras sichuanense sp. nov. The species formed a well-supported clade basal to Ophioceras (100% ML, 1.00 PP). Based on the updated phylogenetic tree of Magnaporthales, Ceratosphaerella castillensis (generic type) and C. rhizomorpha formed a clade within Ophioceras and morphologically resemble Ophioceras. Therefore, Ceratosphaerella is synonymized under Ophioceras. The phylogenetic relationships of Ophioceras are discussed in relation to morphological similarities of genera in Magnaporthales. The generic circumscription of Ophioceras is emended.

Gelidocalamus Fengkaiensis (Poaceae: Bambusoideae), A New Bamboo Species From Guangdong, China, With An Analysis of Branch Development in Relation To Flowering

Background: Bamboos, widely distributed in temperate and tropical Asia, Africa and America, refer to a group of special plants in Poaceae, Bambusoideae. China is rich in bamboo species. However, due to long flowering cycle, the flowering habit and the flowering structure of many bamboo species are still unknown. Here, we report a new bamboo species from Guangdong, China and an analysis of its interesting branch development in relation to flowering.Results: This species is similar to G. stellatus, the generic type, but differs in the characteristics of its lemma and palea, mid-culm branch complement, and culm-sheath ligules. The initial branches at a culm node do not apically develop flowering structure during a flowering episode; instead, these form on what appears to be specialized flowering branches.Conclusions: The results of morphological comparison support Gelidocalamus fengkaiensis recognized as a new species. And during flowering episode, two branch types (‘foliage branch’ and ‘flowering branch’) can be distinguished in this species.

Systematic revision of Calligrapha s. str. Chevrolat (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Chrysomelinae)

In this work, the Chrysomelinae leaf beetle subgenus Calligrapha s. str. Chevrolat, 1836 is revised, offering redescriptions and keys for identification of twelve species currently considered in this group, allied to the South American species Calligrapha polyspila (Germar, 1821), the generic type of Calligrapha. The current species count results from important taxonomic changes. These include reversing a long-held synonymy, resurrecting the name Calligrapha mexicana Stål, 1859 stat. rev. for a species that is different from Chrysomela serpentina Rogers, 1856; upgrading the status of Polyspila serpentina var. discrepans Achard, 1923 to Calligrapha discrepans (Achard) stat. rev.; and formally proposing a number of new synonymies for several species, including: (1) Calligrapha discrepans (Achard) (= Calligrapha serpentina ssp. temaxensis Bechyné, 1952 syn. nov.); (2) Calligrapha fulvipes (Gistel, 1848) (= Calligrapha bajula Stål, 1860 syn. nov.; = Calligrapha nupta Stål, 1859 syn. nov.; = C. sponsa Stål, 1859 syn. nov.); and (3) Calligrapha polyspila (Germar) (= Polyspila polyspila var. bilineolata Achard, 1923 syn. nov.; = Polyspila polyspila var. plagata Achard, 1923 syn. nov.).

Identity and typification of Achroomyces effusus (Pucciniomycotina, Basidiomycota)

The identity of Achroomyces effusus is re-established with the use of morphological and DNA methods, and a neotype is selected. The species is conspecific with Colacogloea peniophorae, the generic type of Colacogloea, and has a priority over it. A new combination, C. effusa, is proposed.

Global Phylogeny and Taxonomy of the Wood-Decaying Fungal Genus Phlebiopsis (Polyporales, Basidiomycota)

An in-depth study of the phylogeny and taxonomy of the corticioid genus Phlebiopsis (Phanerochaetaceae) was conducted. Phylogenetic analyses of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and nrLSU sequences demonstrated that Phlebiopsis is a strongly supported clade which is distinct from its sister clades of Phaeophlebiopsis, Hapalopilus, and Rhizochaete. Two genera, Australohydnum and Hjortstamia, are reduced to synonyms under Phlebiopsis as generic type species A. griseofuscescens and H. friesii, respectively, are embedded in the Phlebiopsis clade. Twenty-four lineages are resolved in the ITS phylogenetic tree of Phlebiopsis, including six new taxa, viz. P. albescens, P. brunnea, P. cylindrospora, P. magnicystidiata, P. membranacea and P. sinensis, from Sri Lanka and China. Five new combinations, viz. Phaeophlebiopsis mussooriensis, Phlebiopsis bambusicola, P. dregeana, P. griseofuscescens and P. novae-granatae, are proposed. Phlebiopsis crassa is a morphological species complex with three distinct lineages. Phlebiopsis lamprocystidiata is determined to be a later synonym of P. darjeelingensis. The new taxa are described, illustrated, and compared and contrasted to morphologically similar species. An emended description of Phlebiopsis is provided along with an identification key to 27 accepted species.

Thelopsis challenges the generic circumscription in the Gyalectaceae and brings new insights to the taxonomy of Ramonia

The genus Thelopsis was classified in the family Stictidaceae but its systematic position has never been investigated by molecular methods. In order to determine its family placement and to test its monophyly, fungal DNA of recent collections of Thelopsis specimens was sequenced. Phylogenetic analyses using nuLSU, RPB2 and mtSSU sequences reveal that members of Thelopsis form a monophyletic group within the genus Gyalecta as currently accepted. The placement of Thelopsis, including the generic type T. rubella, within the genus Gyalecta challenges the generic circumscription of this group because Thelopsis is well recognized by the combination of morphological characters: perithecioid ascomata, well-developed periphysoids, polysporous asci and small, few-septate ellipsoid-oblong ascospores. The sterile sorediate Opegrapha corticola is also placed in the Gyalectaceae as sister species to Thelopsis byssoidea + T. rubella. Ascomata of O. corticola are illustrated for the first time and support its placement in the genus Thelopsis. The hypothesis that O. corticola might represent the sorediate fertile morph of T. rubella is not confirmed because the species is phylogenetically and morphologically distinct. Thelopsis is recovered as polyphyletic, with T. melathelia being placed as sister species to Ramonia. The new combinations Thelopsis corticola (Coppins & P. James) Sanderson & Ertz comb. nov. and Ramonia melathelia (Nyl.) Ertz comb. nov. are introduced and a new species of Gyalecta, G. amsterdamensis Ertz, is described from Amsterdam and Saint-Paul Islands, characterized by a sterile thallus with discrete soralia. Petractis luetkemuelleri and P. nodispora are accommodated in the new genus Neopetractis, differing from the generic type (P. clausa) by having a different phylogenetic position and a different photobiont. Francisrosea bicolor Ertz & Sanderson gen. & sp. nov. is described for a sterile sorediate lichen somewhat similar to Opegrapha corticola but having an isolated phylogenetic position as sister to a clade including Gyalidea praetermissa and the genera Neopetractis and Ramonia. Gyalecta farlowii, G. nidarosiensis and G. carneola are placed in a molecular phylogeny for the first time. The taxonomic significance of morphological characters in Gyalectaceae is discussed.