Novel species of microfungi described in the present study include the following from South Africa: Camarosporium aloes, Phaeococcomyces aloes and Phoma aloes from Aloe, C. psoraleae, Diaporthe psoraleae and D. psoraleae-pinnatae from Psoralea, Colletotrichum euphorbiae from Euphorbia, Coniothyrium prosopidis and Peyronellaea prosopidis from Prosopis, Diaporthe cassines from Cassine, D. diospyricola from Diospyros, Diaporthe maytenicola from Maytenus, Harknessia proteae from Protea, Neofusicoccum ursorum and N. cryptoaustrale from Eucalyptus, Ochrocladosporium adansoniae from Adansonia, Pilidium pseudoconcavum from Greyia radlkoferi, Stagonospora pseudopaludosa from Phragmites and Toxicocladosporium ficiniae from Ficinia. Several species were also described from Thailand, namely: Chaetopsina pini and C. pinicola from Pinus spp., Myrmecridium thailandicum from reed litter, Passalora pseudotithoniae from Tithonia, Pallidocercospora ventilago from Ventilago, Pyricularia bothriochloae from Bothriochloa and Sphaerulina rhododendricola from Rhododendron. Novelties from Spain include Cladophialophora multiseptata, Knufia tsunedae and Pleuroascus rectipilus from soil and Cyphellophora catalaunica from river sediments. Species from the USA include Bipolaris drechsleri from Microstegium, Calonectria blephiliae from Blephilia, Kellermania macrospora (epitype) and K. pseudoyuccigena from Yucca. Three new species are described from Mexico, namely Neophaeosphaeria agaves and K. agaves from Agave and Phytophthora ipomoeae from Ipomoea. Other African species include Calonectria mossambicensis from Eucalyptus (Mozambique), Harzia cameroonensis from an unknown creeper (Cameroon), Mastigosporella anisophylleae from Anisophyllea (Zambia) and Teratosphaeria terminaliae from Terminalia (Zimbabwe). Species from Europe include Auxarthron longisporum from forest soil (Portugal), Discosia pseudoartocreas from Tilia (Austria), Paraconiothyrium polonense and P. lycopodinum from Lycopodium (Poland) and Stachybotrys oleronensis from Iris (France). Two species of Chrysosporium are described from Antarctica, namely C. magnasporum and C. oceanitesii. Finally, Licea xanthospora is described from Australia, Hypochnicium huinayensis from Chile and Custingophora blanchettei from Uruguay. Novel genera of Ascomycetes include Neomycosphaerella from Pseudopentameris macrantha (South Africa), and Paramycosphaerella from Brachystegia sp. (Zimbabwe). Novel hyphomycete genera include Pseudocatenomycopsis from Rothmannia (Zambia), Neopseudocercospora from Terminalia (Zambia) and Neodeightoniella from Phragmites (South Africa), while Dimorphiopsis from Brachystegia (Zambia) represents a novel coelomycetous genus. Furthermore, Alanphillipsia is introduced as a new genus in the Botryosphaeriaceae with four species, A. aloes, A. aloeigena and A. aloetica from Aloe spp. and A. euphorbiae from Euphorbia sp. (South Africa). A new combination is also proposed for Brachysporium torulosum (Deightoniella black tip of banana) as Corynespora torulosa. Morphological and c...

The genus Cladosporium (Cladosporiaceae, Dothideomycetes), which represents one of the largest genera of dematiaceous hyphomycetes, has been intensively investigated during the past decade. In the process, three major species complexes (C. cladosporioides, C. herbarum and C. sphaerospermum) were resolved based on morphology and DNA phylogeny, and a monographic revision of the genus (s. lat.) published reflecting the current taxonomic status quo. In the present study a further 19 new species are described based on phylogenetic characters (nuclear ribosomal RNA gene operon, including the internal transcribed spacer regions ITS1 and ITS2, as well as partial actin and translation elongation factor 1-α gene sequences) and morphological differences. For a selection of the species with ornamented conidia, scanning electron microscopic photos were prepared to illustrate the different types of surface ornamentation. Surprisingly, during this study Cladosporium ramotenellum was found to be a quite common saprobic species, being widely distributed and occurring on various substrates. Therefore, an emended species description is provided. Furthermore, the host range and distribution data for several previously described species are also expanded.

Novel species of fungi described in the present study include the following from Australia: Neoseptorioides eucalypti gen. & sp. nov. from Eucalyptus radiata leaves, Phytophthora gondwanensis from soil, Diaporthe tulliensis from rotted stem ends of Theobroma cacao fruit, Diaporthe vawdreyi from fruit rot of Psidium guajava, Magnaporthiopsis agrostidis from rotted roots of Agrostis stolonifera and Semifissispora natalis from Eucalyptus leaf litter. Furthermore, Neopestalotiopsis egyptiaca is described from Mangifera indica leaves (Egypt), Roussoella mexicana from Coffea arabica leaves (Mexico), Calonectria monticola from soil (Thailand), Hygrocybe jackmanii from littoral sand dunes (Canada), Lindgomyces madisonensis from submerged decorticated wood (USA), Neofabraea brasiliensis from Malus domestica (Brazil), Geastrum diosiae from litter (Argentina), Ganoderma wiiroense on angiosperms (Ghana), Arthrinium gutiae from the gut of a grasshopper (India), Pyrenochaeta telephoni from the screen of a mobile phone (India) and Xenoleptographium phialoconidium gen. & sp. nov. on exposed xylem tissues of Gmelina arborea (Indonesia). Several novelties are introduced from Spain, namely Psathyrella complutensis on loamy soil, Chlorophyllum lusitanicum on nitrified grasslands (incl. Chlorophyllum arizonicum comb. nov.), Aspergillus citocrescens from cave sediment and Lotinia verna gen. & sp. nov. from muddy soil. Novel foliicolous taxa from South Africa include Phyllosticta carissicola from Carissa macrocarpa, Pseudopyricularia hagahagae from Cyperaceae and Zeloasperisporium searsiae from Searsia chirindensis. Furthermore, Neophaeococcomyces is introduced as a novel genus, with two new combinations, N. aloes and N. catenatus. Several foliicolous novelties are recorded from La Réunion, France, namely Ochroconis pandanicola from Pandanus utilis, Neosulcatispora agaves gen. & sp. nov. from Agave vera-cruz, Pilidium eucalyptorum from Eucalyptus robusta, Strelitziana syzygii from Syzygium jambos (incl. Strelitzianaceae fam. nov.) and Pseudobeltrania ocoteae from Ocotea obtusata (Beltraniaceae emend.). Morphological and culture characteristics along with ITS DNA barcodes are provided for all taxa.

The EU 7th Framework Program provided funds for Quarantine Barcoding of Life (QBOL) to develop a quick, reliable and accurate DNA barcode-based diagnostic tool for selected species on the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) A1/A2 quarantine lists. Seven nuclear genomic loci were evaluated to determine those best suited for identifying species of Mycosphaerella and/or its associated anamorphs. These genes included β-tubulin (Btub), internal transcribed spacer regions of the nrDNA operon (ITS), 28S nrDNA (LSU), Actin (Act), Calmodulin (Cal), Translation elongation factor 1-alpha (EF-1α) and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2). Loci were tested on their Kimura-2-parameter-based inter- and intraspecific variation, PCR amplification success rate and ability to distinguish between quarantine species and closely related taxa. Results showed that none of these loci was solely suited as a reliable barcoding locus for the tested fungi. A combination of a primary and secondary barcoding locus was found to compensate for individual weaknesses and provide reliable identification. A combination of ITS with either EF-1α or Btub was reliable as barcoding loci for EPPO A1/A2-listed Mycosphaerella species. Furthermore, Lecanosticta acicola was shown to represent a species complex, revealing two novel species described here, namely L. brevispora sp. nov. on Pinus sp. from Mexico and L. guatemalensis sp. nov. on Pinus oocarpa from Guatemala. Epitypes were also designated for L. acicola and L. longispora to resolve the genetic application of these names.

Extracellular tyrosol and tryptophol were produced and isolated from the phytopathogen fungus Ceratocystis adiposa cultivated in a rich broth. These compounds have not been previously reported in this Ceratocystis species, as its identification was established through spectroscopic methods ( 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR and MS). Productivity of tyrosol and tryptophol was 65.3 and 44 lg l -1 day -1 , respectively, which were values higher than those reported to date. Tyrosol is a compound of pharmaceutical interest showing antioxidating activity, a property used in the treatment of atherosclerosis. Tryptophol is reported to have antibiotic and phytotoxic activity.

<em>Cercospora agavicola</em>, agente causal de la mancha gris del agave azul (<em>Agave tequilana</em>), es un hongo reglamentado bajo control oficial en estados bajo Denominación de Origen del Tequila (DOT). Este trabajo se desarrolló en Jalisco, México, principal región DOT, para determinar la inductividad epidémica espacio-temporal del hongo y desarrollar modelos estocásticos de pronóstico de la mancha gris con el fin de sustentar acciones preventivas regionales. De octubre 2016 a diciembre 2017 se evaluó mensualmente la severidad, incidencia y número de plantas enfermas en 41 parcelas establecidas en plantaciones comerciales de agave de 3-4 años de edad seleccionadas con criterios ponderados de riesgo en Los Altos (20), Valles (11) y Sur (10). La inductividad epidémica regional de<em> C. agavicola</em> fue heterogénea con mayor riesgo para al menos nueve municipios de Los Altos. Sin embargo, bajas tasas epidémicas (0.0008-0.006 unidades semana-1), fuerte restricción de contagio (1-4 plantas), reducido incremento anual de incidencia (0-32 plantas/0.5 ha) y nula captura de esporas evidenciaron la baja aptitud parasítica y epidémica del hongo. Consecuentemente, se encontró limitada capacidad predictiva aun con los mejores modelos generados (R2adj 0.51-0.60). Las horas favorables (HFav) de enero-abril, respecto a la infección, fue consistente entre modelos por lo que puede integrarse como algoritmo preventivo en SIVEA (www.sivea.org.mx). Las pérdidas regionales, bajo los parámetros epidémicos establecidos, se estimaron entre 98.01 MDD y 237 mil dólares americanos. La cercosporina, toxina asociada al género <em>Cercospora,</em> puede estar implicada en el progreso temporal lineal atípico y debe integrarse en futuras investigaciones.

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En el cultivo de Agave tequilana, los estudios se han restringido a una parte de su largo ciclo y a periodos cortos de tiempo, por tal razón, con el objetivo de evaluar las características agronómicas en planta y piña en un ciclo completo de la planta, se establecieron hijuelos provenientes de Jalisco en el sur de Tamaulipas en tres condiciones: a) en temporal y sin fertilizante (TA); b) fertigación, además de la precipitación, recibieron agua y nutrimentos (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, y micronutrimentos) mediante un sistema de riego por goteo; y c) FB+fertigación, adicional a lo anterior, éstas plantas recibieron fertilización de base (FB), con N, P, K y micronutrimentos, cada tratamiento tuvo tres repeticiones. Se realizaron ocho evaluaciones destructivas utilizando una planta por unidad experimental, septiembre 2004, febrero del 2005, octubre de 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 y 2010. Las plantas desarrolladas con fertigación y fb+fertigación, en promedio superaron en 26% y 57% la altura y número de hojas de plantas del TA, respectivamente; la mayor producción de Materia Seca (MS) anual fue 51.8 t ha-1, estimándose un total de biomasa por planta de 491.4 y 456.1 t ha-1 y 218.1 y 252.4 t ha-1 en la piña, respectivamente. En plantas del TA la biomasa total fue 97 t ha-1 y un rendimiento de piña de 46.5 t ha-1. En piña los azúcares evaluados en oBrix y azúcares reductores totales (ART) no fueron afectados por los tratamientos. La concentración de ART en la piña fluctuó entre 26.8 y 29%. La concentración de glucosa y fructosa fue similar en etapas iniciales de desarrollo de la piña; Sin embargo, al final del ciclo durante la etapa de máximo crecimiento el valor medio en la concentración de fructosa fue de 246.8 g por kg MS de piña y representó 88% de los dos monosacáridos solubles evaluados, la glucosa presentó un comportamiento inverso y representó el restante 12%.