Julio Mena-Portales

Phylogeny of saprobic microfungi from Southern Europe

During a survey of saprophytic microfungi on decomposing woody, herbaceous debris and soil from different regions in Southern Europe, a wide range of interesting species of asexual ascomycetes were found. Phylogenetic analyses based on partial gene sequences of SSU, LSU and ITS proved that most of these fungi were related to Sordariomycetes and Dothideomycetes and to lesser extent to Leotiomycetes and Eurotiomycetes. Four new monotypic orders with their respective families are proposed here, i.e. Lauriomycetales, Lauriomycetaceae; Parasympodiellales, Parasympodiellaceae; Vermiculariopsiellales, Vermiculariopsiellaceae and Xenospadicoidales, Xenospadicoidaceae. One new order and three families are introduced here to accommodate orphan taxa, viz. Kirschsteiniotheliales, Castanediellaceae, Leptodontidiaceae and Pleomonodictydaceae. Furthermore, Bloxamiaceae is validated. Based on morphology and phylogenetic affinities Diplococcium singulare, Trichocladium opacum and Spadicoides atra are moved to the new genera Paradiplococcium, Pleotrichocladium and Xenospadicoides, respectively. Helicoon fuscosporum is accommodated in the genus Magnohelicospora. Other novel genera include Neoascotaiwania with the type species N. terrestris sp. nov., and N. limnetica comb. nov. previously accommodated in Ascotaiwania; Pleomonodictys with P. descalsii sp. nov. as type species, and P. capensis comb. nov. previously accommodated in Monodictys; Anapleurothecium typified by A. botulisporum sp. nov., a fungus morphologically similar to Pleurothecium but phylogenetically distant; Fuscosclera typified by F. lignicola sp. nov., a meristematic fungus related to Leotiomycetes; Pseudodiplococcium typified by P. ibericum sp. nov. to accommodate an isolate previously identified as Diplococcium pulneyense; Xyladictyochaeta typified with X. lusitanica sp. nov., a foliicolous fungus related to Xylariales and similar to Dictyochaeta, but distinguished by polyphialidic conidiogenous cells produced on setiform conidiophores. Other novel species proposed are Brachysporiella navarrica, Catenulostroma lignicola, Cirrenalia iberica, Conioscypha pleiomorpha, Leptodontidium aureum, Pirozynskiella laurisilvatica, Parasympodiella lauri and Zanclospora iberica. To fix the application of some fungal names, lectotypes and/or epitypes are designated for Magnohelicospora iberica, Sporidesmium trigonellum, Sporidesmium opacum, Sporidesmium asperum, Camposporium aquaticum and Psilonia atra.

New species of Cordana and epitypification of the genus

Two interesting fungi belonging to the genus Cordana have been isolated recently in Spain from plant debris. Both are proposed here as new species, described and illustrated. Cordana mercadiana sp. nov. produces 0–1-septate conidia, with a prominent basal scar. Cordana verruculosa sp. nov. differs from the other species of the genus by its unique combination of aseptate, verruculose and small conidia. Both species are compared morphologically with other species of Cordana and their identities supported by the analysis of rDNA sequences. LSU sequence analysis revealed the congeneric relationship of Cordana and Pseudobotrytis; the members of both genera are in a well supported monophyletic lineage that appears to be related to the Coniochaetales but remains incertae sedis within the Sordariomycetes. To establish nomenclatural stability of the genus Cordana, an isolate of C. pauciseptata is designed here as epitype and the two species of Pseudobotrytis are transferred to Cordana. A dichotomous key is provided to identify the currently accepted species of Cordana.

New Bactrodesmiastrum and Bactrodesmium from decaying wood in Spain

Several new species belonging to the anamorph genera Bactrodesmiastrum and Bactrodesmium, collected from plant debris in Spain, are described and illustrated. Bactrodesmiastrum pyriforme, sp. nov. is characterized by large, pyriform conidia. Bactrodesmiastrum obovatum comb. nov. is proposed to accommodate janetia obovata, and the Spanish specimen of B. obscurum. the type species of the genus, represents the second known collection of the species worldwide. Analyses of rDNA sequences confirm the distinction between B. obovatum and B. pyriforme, and reveal their relationships with the Savoryellales (Sordariomycetes). Bactrodesmium diver-sum sp. nov. is distinguished from the other species of the genus by its large, pale brown conidia with a conspicuous pore at each septum.

Three new species and a new record of Diplococcium from plant debris in Spain

Diplococcium dimorphosporum sp. nov., D. racemosum sp. nov., D. singulare sp. nov. and D. pulneyense Subram. & Sekar collected from plant debris in natural areas of Spain are described and illustrated. The first species is characterized principally by the production of branched conidiophores and short chains of conidia. Diplococcium singulare has unbranched conidiophores, and conidia produced usually at the tip of conidiophores and from lateral spherical conidiogenous cells. In addition, both species develop a Selenosporella synanamorph with narrow falcate conidia. Diplococcium racemosum produces branched, verrucose conidiophores, and verrucose conidia in long branched chains. Diplococcium pulneyense is the second record, being described for first time on the natural substratum and re-described in pure culture. A key to currently accepted species of Diplococcium is provided.

A new species of Ceratocladium from Spain

The anamorphic fungus Ceratocladium polysetosum sp. nov., found on unidentified dead wood in the National Park of Ordesa y Monte Perdido, Spain, is described and illustrated. This fungus is characterized by the presence of unbranched primary setae and secondary setae originating from climbing fertile hyphae on the primary setae and by production of cylindrical or fusiform conidia. Circinotrichum pseudocladum is transferred to Ceratocladium based on the presence of fertile and ascending hyphae growing on the setae. A key to the accepted Ceratocladium species is provided.

Acarocybiopsis, a new genus of synnematous hyphomycetes from Cuba

A new anamorph genus, Acarocybiopsis, with A. cubitaensis as type species, is described. It is characterized by an unusual combination of indeterminate synnemata having two kinds of hyphae and terminal head composed of a single conidium.

Emendation of the genus Bactrodesmiastrum (Sordariomycetes) and description of Bactrodesmiastrum monilioides sp. nov. from plant debris in Spain

Bactrodesmiastrum monilioides sp. nov. is described and illustrated from the twig of an unidentified plant collected in Spain. This fungus is characterized by sporodochial conidiomata with moniliform conidiophores, its conidia being solitary, broadly navicular to obovoid, mostly 2-septate, dark brown, with a black band at the septa and basal cell pale brown to brown. Analysis of the ITS region and D1/D2 domains of the LSU of rDNA sequences confirms the placement of this fungus in Bactrodesmiastrum (Sordariomycetes). Because the genus Bactrodesmiastrum was originally characterized by solitary or aggregated conidiophores reduced to a single brown monoblastic conidiogenous cell, an emended description of the genus is provided to accommodate the novel species. A key to species of Bactrodesmiastrum is provided.