Kálmán Vánky

Fungal Planet description sheets: 107–127

Novel species of microfungi described in the present study include the following from Australia: Phytophthora amnicola from still water, Gnomoniopsis smithogilvyi from Castanea sp., Pseudoplagiostoma corymbiae from Corymbia sp., Diaporthe eucalyptorum from Eucalyptus sp., Sporisorium andrewmitchellii from Enneapogon aff. lindleyanus, Myrmecridium banksiae from Banksia, and Pilidiella wangiensis from Eucalyptus sp. Several species are also described from South Africa, namely: Gondwanamyces wingfieldii from Protea caffra, Montagnula aloes from Aloe sp., Diaporthe canthii from Canthium inerne, Phyllosticta ericarum from Erica gracilis, Coleophoma proteae from Protea caffra, Toxicocladosporium strelitziae from Strelitzia reginae, and Devriesia agapanthi from Agapanthus africanus. Other species include Phytophthora asparagi from Asparagus officinalis (USA), and Diaporthe passiflorae from Passiflora edulis (South America). Furthermore, novel genera of coelomycetes include Chrysocrypta corymbiae from Corymbia sp. (Australia), Trinosporium guianense, isolated as a contaminant (French Guiana), and Xenosonderhenia syzygii, from Syzygium cordatum (South Africa). Pseudopenidiella piceae from Picea abies (Czech Republic), and Phaeocercospora colophospermi from Colophospermum mopane (South Africa) represent novel genera of hyphomycetes. Morphological and culture characteristics along with ITS DNA barcodes are provided for all taxa.

Anther smut fungi on monocots

Teliospores, hyphal septa, cellular interactions, and nucleotide sequences from the ITS and LSU region of the rRNA gene of specimens of Ustilago vaillantii s. lat. on Muscari and Scilla species were examined and compared with findings in other Ustilaginomycotina. The data show that U. vaillantii s. lat. specimens belong to the Urocystales and represent the sister group of the Urocystaceae, standing well apart from Vankya heufleri and V. ornithogali. Within the Urocystales, U. vaillantii s. lat. is unique in sporulating in the anthers of the host plants. Accordingly, the new genus Antherospora is proposed for the anther smuts on Hyacinthaceae. In addition, our data show that there is a stringent phylogenetic correlation between the specimens of Antherospora and their respective hosts. Thus, the specimens on Scilla spp. as well as those on Muscari spp. form highly supported monophyla. Furthermore, on Scilla a phylogenetic dichotomy exists between the specimens infecting Scilla bifolia and those infecting S. vindobonensis, with the specimens of the two host species showing a difference of 17bp in the ITS nucleotide sequences. Therefore, A. vindobonensis is described as a new species, and A. scillae and A. vaillantii are proposed as new combinations. Consequently, because of their sporulation in anthers and their parasitism on species of other genera of the Hyacinthaceae, Ustilago albucae, U. peglerae, U. tourneuxii, and U. urgineae are also ascribed to Antherospora as new combinations. Descriptions are given for all species.

Soral synapomorphies are significant for the systematics of the Ustilago-Sporisorium-Macalpinomyces complex (Ustilaginaceae)

The genera Ustilago, Sporisorium and Macalpinomyces are a polyphyletic complex of plant pathogenic fungi. The four main morphological characters used to define these genera have been considered homoplasious and not useful for resolving the complex. This study re-evaluates character homology and discusses the use of these characters for defining monophyletic groups recovered from a reconstructed phylogeny using four nuclear loci. Generic delimitation of smut fungi based on their hosts is also discussed as a means for identifying genera within this group. Morphological characters and host specificity can be used to circumscribe genera within the Ustilago-Sporisorium-Macalpinomyces complex.

About the genus Thecaphora (Glomosporiaceae) and its new synonyms

After a short overview of the species of Thecaphora, some of the morphological characteristics of the genus, particularly the presence of spore balls and absence of sterile cells, as well as the variable germination pattern, are discussed. Based on morphological, ultrastructural and molecular phylogenetic analyses using LSU rDNA sequences, it is shown that, in addition to Tothiella, both Glomosporium and Kochmania are synonyms of the genus Thecaphora. A new combination, Thecaphora oxalidis, is proposed for Ustilago oxalidis. A slightly modified description of the genus Thecaphora is given. The uncertain generic position of two Thecaphora species, T. anemarrhenae and T. bulbinellae, on monocotyledonous host plants is discussed.

Taxonomic revision of Ustilago, Sporisorium and Macalpinomyces

Morphological characters within the Ustilago-Sporisorium-Macalpinomyces complex are defined explicitly. The genera Sporisorium and Anthracocystis are emended to reflect morphological synapomorphies. Three new genera, Langdonia, Stollia and Triodiomyces are described based on soral synapomorphies and host classification. The new classification of the Ustilago-Sporisorium-Macalpinomyces complex incorporates 142 new taxonomic combinations.

Shivasia gen. nov. for the Australasian smut Ustilago solida that historically shifted through five different genera

The generic position of the enigmatic smut fungus Ustilago solida is evaluated applying molecular phylogenetic analyses using ITS and LSU rDNA sequences as well as light and scanning electron microscopical investigations of several collections of this species. Ustilago solida has previously been included in five different genera (Ustilago, Urocystis, Sorosporium, Cintractia, and Tolyposporium), however, molecular analyses revealed that this smut does not belong to any of these genera and represents a distinct ustilaginalean lineage. The closest known phylogenetic relative of Ustilago solida is Heterotolyposporium lepidospermatis, the type species of the monotypic genus Heterotolyposporium. Both smuts differ considerably in both LSU sequences and in several morphological traits, such as the structure of sori and the characteristics of spore balls. Accordingly, the new genus Shivasia is described to accommodate Ustilago solida. This smut infects different Schoenus species (Cyperaceae) in Australia and New Zealand. The description of Shivasia increases the number of endemic smut genera in Australasia to ten. Compared to all other continents the number of endemic smut genera is exceptionally high, which may point at fast evolving characters and/or may be caused by the regional history, including the long-term geographic isolation of Australasia.

Melanoxa, a new genus in the Urocystidales (Ustilaginomycotina)

A smut fungus, Melanotaenium oxalidis, forming dark-coloured spores in the leaves of Oxalis oregana (Oxalidaceae) was collected a few times in the USA. A similar smut fungus on Oxalis acetosella was recently collected in Slovenia. Teliospores, hyphal septations, cellular interactions and ITS and LSU rDNA sequences of these two smuts on Oxalis were examined and the results obtained were compared with each other and with findings in other members of the Ustilaginomycotina. The data show that the specimen from Slovenia is very close to Melanotaenium oxalidis, but represents a new species, and that the two Melanotaenium species occurring on Oxalis are members of the Urocystidaceae. Among the Urocystidaceae, they are morphologically very similar to Flamingomyces, Melanustilospora and Vankya species, but differ from them, and from all other Urocystidaceae, by their multilamellate teliospore walls. In addition, molecular phylogenetic analyses indicated good separation of the Melanotaenium species from Flamingomyces, Melanustilospora and Vankya. Accordingly, a new genus, Melanoxa, and a new species, M. oxalidiellae, are described, and a new combination, Melanoxa oxalidis, is proposed for Melanotaenium oxalidis.

Mycosarcoma (Ustilaginaceae), a resurrected generic name for corn smut (Ustilago maydis) and its close relatives with hypertrophied, tubular sori

Ustilago is a polyphyletic genus of smut fungi found mainly on Poaceae. The development of a taxonomy that reflects phylogeny requires subdivision of Ustilago into smaller monophyletic genera. Several separate systematic analyses have determined that Macalpinomyces mackinlayi, M. tubiformis, Tolyposporella pachycarpa, Ustilago bouriquetii and U. maydis, occupy a unique phylogenetic position within the Ustilaginaceae. A previously introduced monotypic generic name typified by U. maydis, Mycosarcoma, is available to accommodate these species, which resolves one component of polyphyly for Ustilago s. lat. in Ustilaginaceae. An emended description of Mycosarcoma is provided to reflect the morphological synapomorphies of this monophyletic group. A specimen of Ustilago maydis that has had its genome sequenced is designated as a neotype for this species. Taxonomic stability will further be provided by a forthcoming proposal to conserve the name Uredo maydis over Lycoperdon zeae, which has priority by date, in order to preserve the well-known epithet maydis.

A survey of the spore-ball-forming smut fungi*

The 29 spore-ball-forming smut fungus genera (of the total 58 recognized genera) are analysed, grouped, briefly characterized and illustrated. Problems within the genera, similarities, possible relationships and differences between genera are discussed. The following groups and genera are treated: genera with spores in pairs ( Schizonella, Mycosyrinx, Geminago ), genera with permanent spore balls composed of colourless spores and sterile cells and/or modified mycelia ( Burrillia, Doassansia, Doassansiopsis, Heterodoassansia, Nannfeldtiomyces, Narasimhania, Pseudodoassansia, Tracya ), genera with permanent spore balls composed of pigmented spores and sterile cells ( Urocystis, Moesziomyces, Dermatosorus, Testicularia ), and genera with spore balls containing only spores and lacking sterile cells between the spore balls. Within the latter group, the two sub-groups were distinguished: one with light, brownish spores ( Sorosporium, Thecaphora, Glomosporium, Fulvisporium ), and another one with dark, blackish spores ( Tolyposporium, Tolyposporella, Clintamra, Orphanomyces). Heterotolyposporium has small, hyaline spores between the pigmented spore balls. Sporisorium and Macalpinomyces have sterile cells between the true or pseudo spore balls. Odd genera are: Ustacystis, Mundkurella and Uleiella. A key to the spore-ball-forming genera of smut fungi is given. The value of the spore balls in the taxonomy of the Ustilaginales is discussed. The arrangement of the genera in groups is based on the most important characters of the spore balls. It has a practical, didactic purpose and in many case the groups do not reflect natural relationships.

Mycosyrinx and other pair-spored Ustilaginales

The revision of the genusMycosyrinx resulted in the recognition of three species, all on Vitaceae:M. cissi (type onCissus sicyoides), M. arabica (type onCissus quadrangularis), andM. microspora (type onCissus afzelii), and in the description of a new genus. After a short historical review, the genusMycosyrinx is characterized and descriptions, synonyms, ilustrations, and a key are given for the three recognizedMycosyrinx species.Mycosyrinx globosa (nomen nudum, onCissus sp.) is considered to be immatureM. microspora. Lectotype is selected forSchizonella colemani (=M. arabica). A short characterization is given for the generaSchizonella andUstacystis and they are compared withMycosyrinx andSchroeteria. ForM. nonveilleri (type onTriplochiton scleroxylon, Sterculiaceae) a new genus,Geminago, is proposed. A key to the pair-spored genera of Ustilaginales is given.Mycosyrinx osmundae (type onOsmunda regalis, Pteridophyta, Osmundaceae) and its var.cinnamomae are excluded fromMycosyrinx.