Generic concepts in Nectriaceae

Abstract

The ascomycete family Nectriaceae (Hypocreales) includes numerous important plant and human pathogens, as well as several species used extensively in industrial and commercial applications as biodegraders and biocontrol agents. Members of the family are unified by phenotypic characters such as uniloculate ascomata that are yellow, orange-red to purple, and with phialidic asexual morphs. The generic concepts in Nectriaceae are poorly defined, since DNA sequence data have not been available for many of these genera. To address this issue we performed a multi-gene phylogenetic analysis using partial sequences for the 28S large subunit (LSU) nrDNA, the internal transcribed spacer region and intervening 5.8S nrRNA gene (ITS), the large subunit of the ATP citrate lyase (acl1), the RNA polymerase II largest subunit (rpb1), RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (rpb2), α-actin (act), β-tubulin (tub2), calmodulin (cmdA), histone H3 (his3), and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1) gene regions for available type and authentic strains representing known genera in Nectriaceae, including several genera for which no sequence data were previously available. Supported by morphological observations, the data resolved 47 genera in the Nectriaceae. We re-evaluated the status of several genera, which resulted in the introduction of six new genera to accommodate species that were initially classified based solely on morphological characters. Several generic names are proposed for synonymy based on the abolishment of dual nomenclature. Additionally, a new family is introduced for two genera that were previously accommodated in the Nectriaceae.

Towards incorporating asexual fungi in a natural classification: checklist and notes 2012–2016

“…Aquanectria L. Lombard & Crous Lombard et al (2015) introduced this genus with a hyphomycetous asexual morph.…”

“…Clypeophysalosporaceae Giraldo & Crous Giraldo et al (2017) introduced Clypeophysalosporaceae and accepted three genera as members of it Coccinonectria L. Lombard & Crous Lombard et al (2015) introduced this genus with a hyphomycetous asexual morph. Coccinonectria resides in Nectriaceae in phylogenetic analyses (Lombard et al 2015).…”

Identification of Neocosmospora ipomoeae causing tomato stem rot in Korea

“…It was considered as Nectria ipomoeae associated with a sexual state (Nirenberg and Brielmaier-Liebetanz 1996). Nectria ipomoeae has been synonymised as Neocomospora ipomoeae by Lombard et al (2015).…”

Challenges in Fusarium, a Trans-Kingdom Pathogen

“…A consensus was reached that Fusarium was to be the preferred name [16], while a minority of researchers advocated a subdivision of Fusarium into smaller genera [17]. Diseases are commonly named after the etiologic agent, in this case Fusarium spp.…”

“…A major problem now lies in the question how large the genus Fusarium actually is and which species are to be regarded as fusarium-like. Clinically relevant are especially the suggested renaming of the Fusarium dimerum species complex as Bisifusarium, and the resurrection of the genus Neocosmospora for the Fusarium solani species complex [17], while the other complexes are currently not in danger of renaming. Clinically, however, all these species give the same type of opportunistic infections ranging from onychomycosis, keratitis, to disseminated infections with necrotic lesions so there it is easiest to describe them all as Fusarium and fusarioses.…”