Cheng-Lin Hou

Lophodermium pini-mugonis sp. nov. on needles of Pinus mugo from the Alps based on morphological and molecular data.

Lophodermium pini-mugonis, collected on needles of Pinus mugo from German Alps, is described as a species new to science. It is characterized by subcuticular ascomata with a wrinkled surface and a somewhat untidy outline, a complex structure of lip cells, and ellipsoidal conidia. An analysis of the internal transcribed spaces of rDNA showed that Lophodermium pini-mugonis is, sister to Lophodermium autumnale and distantly related to other Lophodermium species on pines. The hypothesis of cospeciation of Lophodermium species with members of the Pinaceae is discussed.

A new species of Lophodermium associated with the needle cast of Cathay silver fir

Cathay silver fir, Cathaya argyrophylla, is a national first-class protected species in China and honored as a “living fossil” of the plant kingdom. Recently, a needle cast of Cathay silver fir of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China was investigated. This pathogen not only reduces the host ornamental value, but seriously affects the growth of this endangered plant. In this paper, the needle cast, formerly misidentified as Lophodermium pinastri, is identified as Lophodermium cathayae. L. cathayae differs morphologically from L. pinastri in many aspects, but particularly in anamorph morphology. An analysis of the internal transcribed spacer of rDNA shows that L. cathayae is closely related to L. pinastri and that further study is required in order to update the circumscription of L. pinastri. The fungal diversity conservation for new species L. cathayae is discussed.

Lophodermium on needles of conifers from Yunnan Province, China.

Twelve Lophodermium species on needles of conifers are known in Yunnan, the eastern Himalayas in China. Recently, additional specimens were collected and identified. Two new species, Lophodermium dilutum on Pinus armandii and Lophodermium tsugae on Tsuga dumosa, were described and illustrated, and six species, L. autumnale, L. confluens, L. himalayense, L. kumaunicum, L. laricinum, and L. nitens, were recorded for the first time for Yunnan. A key to the Lophodermium species on needles of conifers for Yunnan is provided.

Known and two new species of Rhytisma (Rhytismatales, Ascomycota) from China.

Three species of Rhytisma are described based on recently collected specimens from the Anhui province, China. Rhytisma anhuiense is a new species causing a serious tar spot disease on Rhododendron simsii. Rhytisma yuexiense is a new species, which develops its stromata only on fallen leaves of Rhododendron ovatum. Rhytisma himalense on Ilex fargesii is a known species and probably widely distributed in China. Including the two new species, 11 species of Rhytisma are known from China which are presented in a key.

Nematococcomyces rhododendri, a new species in a new genus of the Rhytismatales from China

A fungus belonging to the Rhytismatales found on twigs of Rhododendron lutescens in Yunnan, southwestern China, is described as a new species in a new genus. It is characterized by Coccomyces-like ascomata but differs in having elliptical ascospores with filiform, hyaline appendages. The ascospores of this new taxon are somewhat similar to those of species of Parvacoccum, but the latter has symmetrical, fusiform ascospores with funnel-shaped appendages. The new genus also is distinct from Hypoderma, Hypodermella, Myriophacidium, Ploioderma, Neococcomyces and Therrya.

Two species of Lirula on Abies from Yunnan, Southwest China

Based on a recent investigation of species of the Rhytismatales in the eastern Himalayas in China, two species of Lirula on Abies were found, one of which is described as a new species, Lirula yunnanensis, which differs from Lirula japonica mainly by ascomatal structure and conidiomatal features, while the other is Lirula exigua, a new record for China. An analysis of the combined sequences of ITS + LSU r DNA showed that Lirula macrospora and Lophodermium piceae were closely related and that Lirula yunnanensis and Lophodermium autumnale were grouped together. The genus of Lirula should be redefined based on more molecular data. Lirula exigua was distantly related to Lirula species and its systematic position has to be confirmed by further molecular data. A key for known species of Lirula worldwide is provided.

A new species of Melanospora on truffles from China

The new species Melanospora subterranea is described from China, based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses. This is the first record of Melanospora species parasitizing Chinese black and white truffles (Tuber indicum and T. huidongense), and its host range indicates that the new species might be a disease threat to commercially exploited European truffles including Tuber melanosporum and Tuber magnatum. Apparent polyphyly within the Ceratostomataceae can be explained at least in part by inadvertent sequencing of the host fungus instead of the parasite.

Co-occurrence of Pseudocercospora species and rhytismatalean ascomycetes on maple and camellia in Taiwan

A new species of Pseudocercospora on leaves of Acer albopurpurascens, a maple endemic to Taiwan, is described. The fungus sporulated on leaf spots caused by Vladracula annuliformis (Rhytismatales). Pseudocercospora camelliicola and Coccomyces sinensis on leaves of Camellia cultivars are recorded for the first time for Taiwan and described and illustrated in detail. In contrast to the situation on maple, both fungal species on camellia caused conspicuous breakage of the epidermis during sporulation, which is discussed in connection with fungal succession during leaf litter decomposition.

Four rhytismataceous ascomycetes on needles of pine from China

Four rhytismataceous ascomycetes on needles of pine from China 1 2 by 3 Cheng-Lin Hou 4 College of Life Science, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100037, P. R. China 5 Jian Gao 6 International Center for Bamboo and Rattan, Beijing 100102, P. R. China 7 Meike Piepenbring 8 Institut für Ökologie, Evolution und Diversität, J.W. Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, 9 60054 Frankfurt/M., Germany 10 With 22 figures 11 12 13 Received, accepted in revised form ... 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Abstract: Three species of Rhytismataceae are described from needles of pines from China. 26 Davisomycella intermedia is a new species growing on Pinus yunnanensis var. tenuifolia. 27 Ploioderma pini-armandii and Soleella pinicola on Pinus armandii have been described 28 previously only in Chinese with a short Latin diagnosis and therefore are presented here in 29 detail. Naemacyclus fimbriatus, formerly regarded as belonging to the Rhytismatales, now to 30 Helotiales, is reported for the first time for China, described, and illustrated. 31 32

Multigene phylogenetic analysis detects cryptic species of Tryblidiopsis in China

Tryblidiopsis pinastri (Rhytismatales) has been recognized as being distributed throughout northern temperate regions. In the present study, comparative studies showed that species of Tryblidiopsis from China were distinct from the European type species. They are shown to belong to two new Tryblidiopsis species, T sichuanensis and T. sinensis, with a third known to be present in China but not described because the reference material is immature. Combined LSU rDNA, ITS rDNA and mtSSU rDNA sequences analyses revealed that Chinese species and European species formed a monophyletic clade. Collections of Tryblidiopsis from North America need to be re-examined and sequenced; they are probably not conspecific with T. pinastri. Tryblidiopsis species appear to be highly host specific and are probably restricted to the host genus Picea.