Marcin Piatek

Anther smuts of Caryophyllaceae: molecular characters indicate host-dependent species delimitation +

Phylogenetic relationships of Microbotryum species (Urediniomycetes, Basidiomycota) inhabiting anthers of Caryophyllaceae were investigated by molecular analyses using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences and collections from different host plants. The data show that the current taxonomy of Microbotryum on Caryophyllaceae is only partly satisfactory. Microbotryum violaceum is confirmed to be a paraphyletic grouping and is split up in monophyletic groups. Microbotryum silenesinflatae and M. violaceo-verrucosum appear as polyphyletic. Host data are in good agreement with molecular results. Two new species, Microbotryum chloranthae-verrucosum and M. saponariae, are described based on morphological, ecological, and molecular characteristics. An emended circumscription of Microbotryum dianthorum is given. The name Ustilago major (= Microbotryum major) is lectotypified.

Anther smuts of Caryophyllaceae: molecular analyses reveal further new species.

Recent collections of Microbotryum (Pucciniomycotina, Basidiomycota) specimens inhabiting anthers of different caryophyllaceous host plants were analysed using LM and electron microscopy, as well as molecular phylogenetic analyses using rDNA (ITS and LSU) sequences. The phylogenetic relationships of caryophyllaceous anther parasites are discussed. Three new species, Microbotryum adenopetalae, M. minuartiae, and M. silenes-acaulis, are described based on morphological, ecological, and molecular characteristics. New host plants are reported for Microbotryum dianthorum (Dianthus jacquemontii and Petrorhagia saxifraga) and M. lychnidis-dioicae (Cucubalus baccifer and Silene zawadskii). For Microbotryum violaceum, a neotype is selected.

Doassansiopsis caldesiae sp. nov. and Doassansiopsis tomasii: two remarkable smut fungi from Cameroon

Three recent collections of Doassansiopsis from western Cameroon are assessed taxonomically. Doassansiopsis caldesiae M. Piątek & Vánky is described as a new species from infected leaves of Caldesia reniformis (D. Don) Makino. Its diagnostic characters are flat, nonthickened sori with spore balls as blackish, slightly elevated dots, more or less globoid spores, conspicuous cortical sterile cells and parasitism on Caldesia reniformis of family Alismataceae. The species is compared to another Doassansiopsis species on host plants belonging to family Alismataceae. Doassansiopsis tomasii Vánky is described from two localities on Nymphaea nouchali Burm.f. var. caerulea (Savigny) Verdc. (Nymphaeaceae), which represents the first report of this smut from Cameroon and western Africa. Similarities between this species and Doassansiopsis nymphaeae (Syd. & P. Syd.) Thirum. and D. ticonis M. Piepenbr. are outlined and the global distribution of the three taxa is mapped. The species concept in the genus Doassansiopsis is discussed, and a key to all known species of the genus is provided.