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Illustrated genera of smut fungi

Haradaea moenchiae-manticae is reported for the first time from the Iberian Peninsula (from Spain), on Moenchia erecta subsp. erecta, and from Africa (from Morocco and Algeria), on a new host plant, M. erecta subsp. octandra.

Anthracocystis compacta, known only from the type collection from Senegal, is reported from a second locality, from Mali.

Microbotryum polygoni-alati, known only from India and China, is reported for the first time from Africa (from Ethiopia).

Twelve species of the genus Ganoderma, G. amboinense, G. applanatum, G. australe, G. crebrostriatum, G. curtisii, G. lobatum, G. lucidum, G. mediosinense, G. parvulum, G. ramosissimum, G. resinaceum, and G. subumbraculum, are reported and illustrated from different localities of state of Punjab (India) and its capital Chandigarh, which is also a union territory. Of these, G. mediosinense is a new record for India, while G. amboinense, G. australe, G. curtisii, G. crebrostriatum, G. lobatum, G. parvulum, G. ramosissimum, G. resinaceum, and G. subumbraculum are reported for the first time from the state of Punjab. A key to all twelve species from the study area is presented.

Two lichen-forming fungi, Hydropunctaria scabra and Verrucaria alpicola (Verrucariaceae, Ascomycota), are reported for the first time from Bulgaria. Descriptions and ecological observations based on the Bulgarian populations are provided. For Verrucaria alpicola the ability to survive a continuous submersion over a period of at least four years is confirmed.

Four species of smut fungi are reported for the first time from the following areas: Melanopsichium pennsylvanicum from Egypt and Madagascar, Sporisorium foveolati from the Canary Islands and Somalia, Sporisorium lanigeri from Somalia, on a new host, Cymbopogon pospischilii, and Urocystis corsica from the Canary Islands. Echinochloa stagnina is a new host of Ustilago trichophora in Africa (based on a record from Zambia).

The first Finnish records of Athelia singularis and Leptosporomyces mundus (Basidiomycota) are reported and notes of their habitats and substrata are given. The descriptions of the species are presented as well as their microscopical drawings. The taxonomy of two species is briefly discussed. The new records derived from Northern Finland, Rovaniemi, Pisavaara Strict Nature Reserve.

Anthracoidea melanostachyae, previously known from Iran and Tajikistan on Carex melanostachya, is reported from Armenia and Azerbaijan on the same host plant, and from a new Tajik locality, on a new host plant, C. songorica.

The new species Kiliophora novozhilovii (Ascomycota, Incertae sedis), found in Vietnam on a dead leaf of an unidentified tree, is described, illustrated, compared with other species assigned to Kiliophora, and keyed out. The asexual, hyphomycetous ascomycete Zanclospora cf. novae-zelandiae has been found in Vietnam for the first time. This hitherto rarely encountered species is described and illustrated based on the Vietnamese collection, and its taxonomy is briefly discussed.

This checklist contains 252 species of myxomycetes recognized as occurring in Turkey. The names are arranged alphabetically. For each species, references are cited. An index of synonyms, based on literature records from Turkey, is appended.

A type specimen of Bauerago capensis, a smut fungus endemic to the Cape Floristic Region, is re-examined and designated as a lectotype. An emended description of that species and for the first time, illustrations of the spores in SEM are presented.

Two novel species of the asexual ascomycete genus Neosporidesmium are described as N. garoense and N. khasianum from Garo and Khasi Hills of Meghalaya, India, respectively. Neosporidesmium garoense growing on bamboo litter is distinguished from closely related species by the larger size of synnema and smaller conidia. Neosporidesmium khasianum growing on litter of the tree Wightia speciosissima is distinguished by the size of conidia, the presence of multiple proliferations and the size of synnema.

The basidiomycete Hyphobasidiofera malaysiana, described from Malaysia, has been found in Vietnam for the first time. This hitherto rarely encountered species is described, illustrated and discussed.

The new lichenicolous hyphomycete species Gonatophragmium lichenophilum, found on Xanthoria parietina in Austria, is described, illustrated, discussed and compared with other species of Gonatophragmium. A key is given to all recognised species of this genus.

Langdonia aristidae is reported for the first time from Madagascar, on a new host plant, Aristida tenuissima.

Leucocintractia scleriae is reported for the first time from Japan.

Tilletia lolioli, previously known only from Lebanon and Iran, is reported from Armenia.

Nine new species of cercosporoid fungi were found on leaves of plants in family Fabaceae from the Brazilian Cerrado: Asperisporium galactiae on Galactia peduncularis, Sirosporium sclerolobii and Zasmidium sclerolobii on Sclerolobium paniculatum, Pseudocercospora acosmii-subelegantis on Acosmium subelegans, and Pseudocercospora stryphnodendri on Stryphnodendron adstringens. In addition, four other Pseudocercospora species were found on Cassia s. lat., including Chamaecrista and Senna: Pseudocercospora aquae-emendadasensis on Chamaecrista orbiculata; Pseudocercospora sennae, Pseudocercospora sennae-rugosae, and Pseudocercospora subcuticularis on Senna rugosa. Descriptions, illustrations, and discussions of the new taxa are supplemented by keys to Pseudocercospora species on hosts belonging to Cassia s. lat., and to Zasmidium species on Fabaceae.

The data about some interesting representatives of the genus Conocybe found in Ukrainian Carpathians (Vyzhnytsia National Nature Park) are presented. A total of 14 taxa (including three varieties) were found. Four species and one variety new for this country (C. apala, C. inocybeoides, C. juniana var. sordescens, C. magnispora, and C. tuxlaensis) are reported, as well as some previously unknown localities for a further 9 taxa (C. echinata, C. hexagonospora, C. juniana var. subsejuncta, C. macrospora, C. pulchella, C. rostellata, C. siliginea, C. subpallida, and C. subxerophytica var. brunnea).

Sporisorium nyassae is reported for the first time from Togo and Benin. Hyparrhenia nyassae and H. diplandra var. mutica are recorded as new host plants of Sporisorium nyassae. Based on the current revision, Sporisorium barcinonense is removed from the list of smut fungi in Togo. Cintractia limitata is reported for the first time from Benin. All species of smut fungi known from Togo and Benin and their host plants are listed.

The new species Atractilina alinae and Neosporidesmium vietnamense, collected in Vietnam on fallen leaves of an unidentified tree and on bark of a twig of an unknown tree, respectively, are described, illustrated and discussed. A. alinae resembles the hyperparasitic A. parasitica, but differs in having quite distinct conidia. Neosporidesmium vietnamense is morphologically unique by its synnematous, indeterminate conidiomata, integrated, terminal, monoblastic, non-proliferating conidiogenous cells and obclavate, rostrate, euseptate conidia, but taxonomically rather complex with regard to its generic affinity.

Five lichenized fungi in Verrucariaceae, Hydropunctaria rheitrophila, Thelidium fontigenum, T. zwackhii, Verrucaria aquatilis, and V. elaeina, are reported for the first time from Bulgaria. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, and comments are provided.

Thirty six species of lichenicolous fungi are reported from India, all but one being new to the country. Endococcus incrassatus and Monodictys epilepraria are new to Asia. Endocarpon and Melanelixia are new host genera for Endococcus incrassatus and Lichenoconium xanthoriae respectively. Cladosporium licheniphilum is for the first time reported on Xanthoria candelaria, as is Corticifraga peltigerae on Peltigera elisabethae and P. ponojensis, and Nectriopsis lecanodes on Peltigera elisabethae and P. scabrosa. Two possibly undescribed species of lichenicolous fungi, viz. Cercidospora sp. on Lecanora sp. and Lichenostigma subgen. Lichenogramma sp. on Seirophora contortuplicata, are briefly described and discussed. Host lichens Peltigera ponojensis, P. scabrosa and Seirophora contortuplicata are new to India.

Two new Entyloma species, E. castillejae on Castilleja (Orobanchaceae) and E. violae on Viola (Violaceae), are described and illustrated from the USA.

This study endeavors to clarify the taxonomy of Anthracoidea species occurring in East Asia. Being a cosmopolitan genus, more widely distributed in temperate and subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, Anthracoidea is insufficiently studied in East Asia, particularly in Japan and Korea. A comprehensive account of the species composition and distribution of the Anthracoidea species in Japan is presented herein. Further, information about the Anthracoidea species in the Kuriles, Sakhalin, and Korean Peninsula is also provided. Three new smut fungi are described and illustrated as follows: Anthracoidea caricis-grallatoriae on Carex grallatoria from Japan, Anthracoidea lanceolatae on Carex lanceolata from South Korea, and Anthracoidea pseudomichelii on Carex michelii from Central Europe. For Cintractia japonica on ‘Carex capillacea’, a new combination, Anthracoidea japonica, is proposed. Anthracoidea grallatoriae Vánky is a superfluous name and a synonym of A. japonica. The existence of the type specimen of Cintractia subglobosa S. Ito makes the lectotypification of C. subglobosa redundant. Similarly, a lectotype of Cintractia variabilis S. Ito is also made redundant. Based on a comparative morphological investigation, 20 Anthracoidea species were established in Japan, all of them on host plants of Carex. In addition to Anthracoidea caricis-grallatoriae, six other species, A. capillaris, A. humilis, A. irregularis, A. karii, A. michelii, and A. sempervirentis, are reported for the first time from Japan. Eight plant species are reported as new hosts of Anthracoidea species in Japan: Carex gmelinii with Anthracoidea buxbaumii; Carex foliosissima, C. mitrata, C. morrowii, C. nervata, and C. subebracteata with Anthracoidea caryophylleae; Carex fernaldiana and C. tenuinervis with Anthracoidea microsora. Ten fungus-host combinations, Anthracoidea capillaris on Carex tenuiformis, A. caryophylleae on Carex leucochlora, A. caryophylleae on Carex mitrata, A. caryophylleae on Carex foliosissima, A. caryophylleae on Carex morrowii, A. humilis on Carex lanceolata, A. karii on Carex omiana var. monticola, A. microsora on Carex fernaldiana, A. microsora on Carex tenuinervis, and A. sempervirentis on Carex makinoensis, are new for science. Additional distribution records are given for some Anthracoidea species hitherto known from Japan. The genus Anthracoidea is recorded for the first time from the Korean Peninsula, with three species from South Korea: A. caryophylleae on Carex leucochlora, A. lanceolatae on Carex lanceolata, and A. siderostictae on Carex siderosticta. Two species, Anthracoidea caryophylleae and A. variabilis, are reported for the first time from the Kuriles. Anthracoidea variabilis is a new species for Russia. Three species, Anthracoidea globularis, A. heterospora, and A. paniceae, are reported for the first time from Sakhalin. The study further found that four fungus-host combinations had been wrongly recorded in the literature, specifically, Carex cespitosa is not a host of Anthracoidea variabilis; Carex foliosissima and C. conica are not hosts of Anthracoidea microsora; and Carex tarumensis is not a host of Anthracoidea buxbaumii.

A new genus of smut fungi, Aizoago, is described and illustrated, with two new species, A. tetragoniae on Tetragonia diptera and A. tetragonioides on T. tetragonioides (Aizoaceae), from Australia.

A new genus, Eriocortex is proposed to accommodate a peculiar, new smut fungus, E. eriocauli, collected in Australia on Eriocaulon scullionii.

An emended description of the genus Anomalomyces is given to accommodate a new species of smut fungus, Anomalomyces yakirrae, on Yakirra pauciflora (Poaceae) from Australia. The systematic placement of the fungus within the genus Anomalomyces is based on morphological characters and molecular data from two loci.

Of the 154 taxa reported, 28 species are new to Greece, 9 new to the Greek mainland and 39 new to one or more provinces. Many of these records represent substantial range extensions of species with Central European or arctic-boreal distribution. The distribution data are briefly discussed and notes are given on the species composition of different substrates.

The genus Biazrovia is described from Siberia for the single new species B. stereocaulicolagrowing on Stereocaulon species. It is characterized by a lichenicolous habit; finally urceolate orange-brown apothecia; a cupulate non-hairy exciple; a hyaline, I−, K/I− hymenium; filiform, apically swollen paraphyses; 8-spored, I−, K/I− asci with an apically thickened wall without a distinct ocular chamber; and hyaline, trans-septate, smooth-walled, non-halonate ascospores. The new genus is provisionally included in the Ostropales.

A new species of Sporisorium, S. emariae on Sclerachne punctata (Poaceae), is described and illustrated from Transcaucasia, Republic of Georgia.

A new family, Erratomycetaceae, is described as distinct from Tilletiaceae based on host specialization, morphological features of the sori and spores, and results of published molecular phylogenetic analyses. Eight invalidly published names of Indian smut fungi are discussed. Four of these are considered to apply to distinct species and their names are validated as Eballistra punensis, Anthracocystis kolhapurensis, Sporisorium mahabaleshwarense, and Sporisorium lohagadense. The remaining names are recognized as synonyms of validly published names. A new name, Anthracocystis guoae, is proposed to replace Sporisorium apludae-muticae L. Guo (non Anthracocystis apludae-muticae (A.R. Patil et al.) McTaggart & R.G. Shivas).

Juncorrhiza aschersoniana, known only from Europe, Central America (Costa Rica), and New Zealand, is reported for the first time from South America (from Bolivia).

Thecaphora thlaspeos, known only from Europe and East Asia (South Korea), is reported for the first time from Africa (from Algeria), on a new host plant, Arabis pubescens.

Additional records to three Tilletia species are reported from Africa: T. oplismeni-cristati on Acroceras calcicola from Madagascar, T. vittata on Oplismenus burmannii from Senegal, and T. perotidis on Perotis patens from Madagascar. Acroceras calcicola is a new host association for T. oplismeni-cristati, currently known only on species of Oplismenus. Descriptions, illustrations, and taxonomic notes are provided for these taxa.

Two smut fungi, Bauerago vuyckii on Luzula alpina and Moreaua kochiana on Schoenus nigricans and Schoenus ×scheuchzeri, are reported for the first time from Austria. Luzula alpina is a new host association for Bauerago vuyckii. Descriptions and illustrations are provided for these taxa.

Bauerago (with B. abstrusa on Juncus as the type species) is a small genus in the Microbotryales. Its species infect plants belonging to three, monocotyledonous families, Commelinaceae (Commelina and Tinantia), Juncaceae (Juncus and Luzula), and Cyperaceae (Cyperus). There are four Bauerago species on hosts in the Commelinaceae (three species on Commelina and one on Tinantia). Bauerago commelinae on Commelina communis was studied by molecular and morphological methods. Phylogenetic analyses using rDNA (ITS, LSU, and SSU) sequences indicate that B. commelinae does not cluster with other species of Bauerago on Juncaceae. For accommodation of this smut fungus in the Microbotryaceae, a new genus, Kalmanago, is introduced, with four new combinations: Kalmanago commelinae (Kom.) Denchev et al., K. combensis (Vánky) T. Denchev et al., K. boliviana (M. Piepenbr.) T. Denchev et al., and K. tinantiae (J.C. Lindq.) T. Denchev et al. A lectotype is designated for K. commelinae.

Thirty-six taxa of lichenized fungi, Acarospora irregularis, Arthonia mediella, Caloplaca asserigena, C. atroflava, C. subpallida, Catillaria detractula, Diplotomma hedinii, Endohyalina insularis, Lecanora rouxii, L. rupicola subsp. subplanata, Lecidea berengeriana, L. sarcogynoides, Lepra leucosora, Lepraria borealis, L. diffusa, L. elobata, L. nylanderiana, L. vouauxii, Ochrolechia arborea, Pertusaria flavicans, Protoparmeliopsis muralis var. dubyi, Pycnora praestabilis, Rinodina freyi, R. luridata var. immersa, R. occulta, R. roscida, R. sicula, R. teichophila, R. trevisanii, Rinodinella dubyanoides, Scoliciosporum umbrinum var. corticicolum, Solorina bispora var. macrospora, Strigula affinis, Tephromela atra var. torulosa, Umbilicaria freyi, and U. maculata, are reported for the first time from Bulgaria. The finding of Rinodina sicula represents the first record for the Balkan Peninsula.

Two generic names, Meira and Acaromyces, and nineteen species names of basidiomycetous yeasts, earlier proposed and invalidly published, are validated.

Two poorly known smut fungi are recorded for the first time from Africa: Tilletia brachypodii-ramosi on Brachypodium retusum (from Morocco) and Ustilago constantineanui on Sporobolus schoenoides (from Algeria). Descriptions and illustrations are provided for these taxa.

The genus Restiosporium consists of 21 species on hosts in the Restionaceae. It was known only from Australia and New Zealand. Restiosporium is reported here for the first time outside Australasia, based on a specimen of R. spathacei on Dapsilanthus disjunctus from Thailand. A description and illustrations are provided for this smut fungus. Dapsilanthus disjunctus is a new host plant for Restiosporium spathacei.

A checklist of all taxa of lichenized and lichenicolous fungi recorded from Bulgaria is presented. The lichen biota as currently known includes 1137 taxa (1115 species, 5 subspecies, and 17 varieties) of lichenized fungi, 46 species of lichenicolous fungi, and 28 non-lichenized fungi traditionally included in lichenological literature. Lepra corallina is reported for the first time from Bulgaria. An index of synonyms based on literature records from Bulgaria is appended. It includes 1761 infrageneric names.

The first Red List assessment of lichenized fungi reported from Bulgaria is presented. The IUCN Red List criteria were applied to 138 species to assess their current extinction risk and to highlight the main threats for them. Our results revealed that six species are Regionally Extinct (RE), 23 species are Critically Endangered (CR), 20 species are Endangered (EN), 13 species are Vulnerable (VU), 11 species are Near Threatened (NT), 58 species are Least Concern (LC), and seven species are Data Deficient (DD). The most important floristic regions for lichen conservation are the Pirin Mts (26 species), the Balkan Range (25), the Rila Mts (25), the Rhodopes (20), Mt. Vitosha (16), Mt. Strandzha (16), and the Black Sea coast (15). The main threats are development of tourism and recreation activities that destroy habitats (60 species affected), air pollution (55), climate change (53), development of tourism and recreation areas (41), harvesting trees and other woody vegetation (unintentional effects) (27), ecosystem modifications that convert or degrade habitats (18), and development of housing and urban areas (14). The information provided in this Red List will assist to further develop the national conservation strategy for Bulgaria.

Two new species of Ustanciosporium, U. bulbostylidis-truncatae and U. bulbostylidis-coniferae, are described and illustrated. These are the first records of species of this genus on hosts in Bulbostylis (Cyperaceae). Both species are known only from their type localities, in the savannas of Suriname (Sipaliwini Savanna Nature Reserve, for U. bulbostylidis-truncatae) and Guyana (near Manari, for U. bulbostylidis-coniferae). Ustanciosporium bulbostylidis-truncatae is distinguished from U. bulbostylidis-coniferae by having smaller spores, (9.5–)10–12.5(–13.5) μm long vs. (12–)12.5–15.5(–16.5) μm long for U. bulbostylidis-coniferae, and thinner spore wall, 0.5–0.9(–1.2) μm thick vs. 0.6–1.7(–2.0) μm thick for U. bulbostylidis-coniferae.

The group of seed-destroying Microbotryum species on caryophyllaceous hosts includes ten species, among which only M. alsines, on Stellaria nitens from USA, is known on Stellaria. Recently, a specimen of Stellaria media from Greece, infected by a seed-destroying Microbotryum species, was found in a phanerogams herbarium. Based on distinct morphology and phylogenetic evidence, this fungus was considered to represent an unknown species which is described and illustrated as Microbotryum graecum. It can be distinguished from M. alsines by having smaller spores, fewer meshes per spore diameter, a different spore ornamentation, wider meshes, and higher spore wall muri.

Microbotryum marginale is reported for the first time on Bistorta plumosa, based on a collection from the Yukon coast, Canadian Arctic, at 68°55'N. This locality is a new northern limit for M. marginale in North America.

Portalia uljanishcheviana is an extremely rarely reported smut fungus so far known only from the type collection in the Western Tian-Shan Range (Kazakhstan) and a single locality in Spain. In the present paper, P. uljanishcheviana is reported for the first time from Greece, based on collections from Central Macedonia (Korinos Beach) and South Aegean Region (Naxos). A morphological description and notes on its distribution are provided.

A new smut fungus from Madagascar, Ustilago neostapfiellae on Neostapfiella chloridiantha, is described and illustrated. It differs from all other species of Ustilago by specialization on Neostapfiella, a grass genus endemic to Madagascar.