Phylogenetic Reconstruction of the Calosphaeriales and Togniniales Using Five Genes and Predicted RNA Secondary Structures of ITS, and Flabellascus tenuirostris gen. et sp. nov.

Abstract

The Calosphaeriales is revisited with new collection data, living cultures, morphological studies of ascoma centrum, secondary structures of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA and phylogeny based on novel DNA sequences of five nuclear ribosomal and protein-coding loci. Morphological features, molecular evidence and information from predicted RNA secondary structures of ITS converged upon robust phylogenies of the Calosphaeriales and Togniniales. The current concept of the Calosphaeriales includes the Calosphaeriaceae and Pleurostomataceae encompassing five monophyletic genera, Calosphaeria, Flabellascus gen. nov., Jattaea, Pleurostoma and Togniniella, strongly supported by Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood methods. The structural elements of ITS1 form characteristic patterns that are phylogenetically conserved, corroborate observations based on morphology and have a high predictive value at the generic level. Three major clades containing 44 species of Phaeoacremonium were recovered in the closely related Togniniales based on ITS, actin and β-tubulin sequences. They are newly characterized by sexual and RNA structural characters and ecology. This approach is a first step towards understanding of the molecular systematics of Phaeoacremonium and possibly its new classification. In the Calosphaeriales, Jattaea aphanospora sp. nov. and J. ribicola sp. nov. are introduced, Calosphaeria taediosa is combined in Jattaea and epitypified. The sexual morph of Phaeoacremonium cinereum was encountered for the first time on decaying wood and obtained in vitro. In order to achieve a single nomenclature, the genera of asexual morphs linked with the Calosphaeriales are transferred to synonymy of their sexual morphs following the principle of priority, i.e. Calosphaeriophora to Calosphaeria, Phaeocrella to Togniniella and Pleurostomophora to Pleurostoma. Three new combinations are proposed, i.e. Pleurostoma ochraceum comb. nov., P. repens comb. nov. and P. richardsiae comb. nov. The morphology-based key is provided to facilitate identification of genera accepted in the Calosphaeriales.

Collophora hispanica, a New Pathogen and Potential Threat to the Almond Industry in Iran

“…iranianum and Pleurostoma richardsiae (formerly known as Pleurostomophora richardsiae ) (Réblová et al. ) being highly pathogenic on almond. In pathogenicity trails, these species have induced internal necrosis and brown to black vascular streaking.…”

Recommendations for competing sexual-asexually typified generic names in Sordariomycetes (except Diaporthales, Hypocreales, and Magnaporthales)

“…Given that the name Pleurostoma has priority, has the greater number of species, and has been widely used, we recommend the use of Pleurostoma . Based on these conclusions and recent molecular data, the three exclusively asexual Pleurostomophora species were transferred to Pleurostoma by Réblová et al . (2015) .…”

“…Calosphaeria pulchella is a saprobic fungus occurring on various woody plants and has been recently isolated from wood of sweet cherry trees showing canker symptoms ( Trouillas et al 2010a , Berbegal et al 2014 ). If Calosphaeria princeps and C. pulchella are congeneric, then these generic names are synonyms as suggested by Réblová et al (2015) . Based on priority, the number of species in the genus, and its widespread use, the generic name Calosphaeria is recommended for use.…”

“…One species, P. ootheca , has an asexual morph described as Pleurostomophora ootheca , the type species of Pleurostomophora ( Vijaykrishna et al 2004 ). Réblová et al (2015) explored the phylogeny of this group including one species of Pleurostoma and four species of Pleurostomophora , although the type species of Pleurostoma was not available. While both sexual species are lignicolous, the asexual species were isolated from woody plants, soil or sewage ( Schol-Schwarz 1970 ).…”

“…2004 ). Although an older epithet was discovered for T. acerosa ( Réblová 2011 ), this was later rescinded ( Réblová et al . 2015 ).…”