Resolving Tiarosporella spp. allied to Botryosphaeriaceae and Phacidiaceae

Abstract

The type species of the genus Tiarosporella, T. paludosa, is epitypified and confirmed as a member of the Botryosphaeriaceae. Based on morphology and DNA sequence data of the large subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (LSU, 28S) and the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) and 5.8S rRNA gene of the nrDNA operon, the genus Tiarosporella is shown to be poly-and paraphyletic. A group of isolates morphologically similar to T. paludosa cluster to the Phacidiaceae (Phacidiales, Leotiomycetes) and we accommodated them in Darkera, a genus associated with needle diseases of conifers, with D. picea introduced as a novel taxon. This new taxon includes isolates occurring on needles of Picea spp. in Europe (Finland, Norway and Switzerland) and differs from D. parca according to a five-locus alignment consisting of ITS, LSU, partial 18S nuclear ribosomal RNA, translation elongation factor 1-alpha and beta-tubulin genes. Four novel genera are introduced for tiarosporella-like fungi, namely Eutiarosporella based on E. tritici on Triticum aestivum from South Africa, Marasasiomyces based on M. karoo on Eriocephalus sp. from South Africa, Mucoharknessia based on M. cortaderiae on Cortaderia selloana from Argentina, and Sakireeta based on S. madreeya on Aristida setacea from India. Together with the genus Botryobambusa, these genera represent a subclade in the Botryosphaeriaceae that is ecologically diverse, occurring on Poaceae, as well as woody hosts, including endophytes, saprobes, and plant pathogens.

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

“…Crous Crous et al (2015b) introduced this genus and showed it belongs to Botryosphaeriaceae. Li et al (2016a) Foliophoma Crous Crous & Groenewald (2017) introduced this coelomycetous genus.…”

“…Mucoharknessia Crous et al Crous et al (2015b) introduced this genus and showed it belongs in Botryosphaeriaceae in their phylogenetic analyses. This placement was confirmed by Wijayawardene et al (2016).…”

“…They also designated an epitype for the type species. 1537 Crous et al (2015b) showed that this genus belongs to Botryosphaeriaceae and has a distinct phylogenetic lineage to Tiarosporella. Sardiniella Linaldeddu et al Linaldeddu et al (2016) Slopeiomyces Klaubauf et al Klaubauf et al (2014) introduced this genus with a hyphomycetous asexual morph and showed that it belongs in Magnaporthaceae, Magnaporthales in their phylogenetic analyses.…”

Re-classification of the causal agent of white grain disorder on wheat as three separate species of Eutiarosporella

“…Based on this single locus, WGD fungi resolve closely with E. urbisrosarum, E. tritici, T. madreeya. The genus of Tiarosporella was recently resolved into four genera (Tiarosporella, Marasasiomyces, Eutiarosporella, and Mucoharknessia) (Crous et al 2015). Accordingly, a subsequent tree was performed comparing the ITS sequences (369 bp) from these new genera (and species) with all of the WGD isolates ( Supplementary Fig.…”

“…This has lead to a significant refinement in the resolution of these genera Slippers et al 2013). Previously, genera that were poorly resolved, such as the genus of Tiarosporella (now Tiarosporella and Eutiarosporella (Crous et al 2015)), have now been characterised and their genetic relationship to other Botryosphaeriaceae described Slippers et al 2013;Crous et al 2006Crous et al , 2015.…”