Redefining genera of cereal pathogens: Oculimacula, Rhynchosporium and Spermospora

P. W. Crous*, U. Braun, B. A. McDonald, C. L. Lennox, J. Edwards, R. C. Mann, A. Zaveri, C. C. Linde, P. S. Dyer, J. Z. Groenewald

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    19 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
    Number of pages32
    JournalFungal Systematics and Evolution
    Volume7
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Jun 2021

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