Redefining genera of cereal pathogens: Oculimacula, Rhynchosporium and Spermospora

P.W. Crous, Uwe Braun, B.A. McDonald, C.L. Lennox, Jacqueline Edwards, Ross C. Mann, A Zaveri, C.C. Linde, P.S. Dyer, Ewald Groenewald

Research output: Contribution to journal/periodicalArticleScientificpeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The taxonomy of Oculimacula, Rhynchosporium and Spermospora is re-evaluated, along with that of phylogenetically related genera. Isolates are identified using comparisons of DNA sequences of the internal transcribed spacer ribosomal RNA locus (ITS), partial translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1), actin (act), DNA-directed RNA polymerase II largest (rpb1) and second largest subunit (rpb2) genes, and the nuclear ribosomal large subunit (LSU), combined with their morphological characteristics. Oculimacula is restricted to two species, O. acuformis and O. yallundae, with O. aestiva placed in Cyphellophora, and O. anguioides accommodated in a new genus, Helgardiomyces. Rhynchosporium s. str. is restricted to species with 1-septate conidia and hooked apical beaks, while Rhynchobrunnera is introduced for species with 1–3-septate, straight conidia, lacking any apical beak. Rhynchosporium graminicola is proposed to replace the name R. commune applied to the barley scald pathogen based on nomenclatural priority. Spermospora is shown to be paraphyletic, representing Spermospora (type: S. subulata), with three new species, S. arrhenatheri, S. loliiphila and S. zeae, and Neospermospora gen. nov. (type: N. avenae). Ypsilina (type: Y. graminea), is shown to be monophyletic, but appears to be of minor importance on cereals. Finally, Vanderaaea gen. nov. (type: V. ammophilae), is introduced as a new coelomycetous fungus occurring on dead leaves of Ammophila arenaria.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)67-98
JournalFungal Systematics and Evolution
Volume7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2021

Keywords

  • Eyespot disease
  • Helotiales
  • leaf blotch
  • new taxa
  • systematics

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