Bio Science

Knowledge of the relationships and thus the classification of fungi, has developed rapidly with increasingly widespread use of molecular techniques, over the past 10–15 years, and continues to accelerate. Several genera have been found to be polyphyletic, and their generic concepts have subsequently been emended. New names have thus been introduced for species which are phylogenetically distinct from the type species of particular genera. The ending of the separate naming of morphs of the same species in 2011, has also caused changes in fungal generic names. In order to facilitate access to all important changes, it was desirable to compile these in a single document. The present article provides a list of generic names of Ascomycota (approximately 6500 accepted names published to the end of 2016), including those which are lichen-forming. Notes and summaries of the changes since the last edition of ‘Ainsworth & Bisby’s Dictionary of the Fungi’ in 2008 are provided. The notes includ...

The Sri Lankan mycota is inadequately described, although there are a number of studies on its biodiversity. Current estimates suggest that there could be as many as 25,000 species, of which only a little more than 2,000 are presently known, and this estimate does not take into account the large number of exotics introduced with food, plantation, and ornamental plants. In addition, only limited parts of the island have been explored. The available information is widely dispersed, difficult to access, and plagued by synonymy. This paper describes the current status of Sri Lankan Mycology, and makes suggestions for facilitating further research.

A complilation of anamorphic names for both Ascomycota and Basidiomycota is provided which compises 2873 genera. The genera are listed against a backbone of teleomorphic relationships where known. The study reveals that 699 genera and 94 anamorph-like genera are linked to teleomorphic genera names, 447 genera (one anamorph-like genus) are linked to teleomorph families, orders or classes, while for more than 1728 (60.15%) genera no teleomorph link is known.

Scolicosporium minkeviciusii, was newly collected in Italy, and subjected to morpho-molecular analyses. Morphological characters clearly indicate that this species is a coelomycete. Combined maximum-likelihood and maximum-parsimony analyses of LSU and SSU gene sequence data of S. minkeviciusii grouped it in Phaeosphaeriaceae with Phaeosphaeria nodorum, P. oryzae and Stagonospora foliicola, although the type species of Scolicosporium, S. macrosporium, which has not been sequenced, is considered to belong in the family Pleomassariaceae. In this study, we designate an epitype for Scolicosporium minkeviciusii. The placement of S. macrosporium and Scolicosporium sensu stricto remains uncertain and further morpho-molecular studies are necessary to confirm the taxonomic placement of this type species and to delimit this genus.

Dothideomycetes comprise a highly diverse range of fungi characterized mainly by asci with two wall layers (bitunicate asci) and often with fissitunicate dehiscence. Many species are saprobes, with many asexual states comprising important plant pathogens. They are also endophytes, epiphytes, fungicolous, lichenized, or lichenicolous fungi. They occur in terrestrial, freshwater and marine habitats in almost every part of the world. We accept 105 families in Dothideomycetes with the new families Anteagloniaceae , Bambusicolaceae , Biatriosporaceae , Lichenoconiaceae , Muyocopronaceae , Paranectriellaceae , Roussoellaceae , Salsugineaceae , Seynesiopeltidaceae and Thyridariaceae introduced in this paper. Each family is provided with a description and notes, including asexual and asexual states, and if more than one genus is included, the type genus is also characterized. Each family is provided with at least one figure-plate, usually illustrating the type genus, a list of accepted genera, including asexual genera, and a key to these genera. A phylogenetic tree based on four gene combined analysis add support for 64 of the families and 22 orders, including the novel orders, Dyfrolomycetales, Lichenoconiales , Lichenotheliales, Monoblastiales, Natipusillales, Phaeotrichales and Strigulales. The paper is expected to provide a working document on Dothideomycetes which can be modified as new data comes to light. It is hoped that by illustrating types we provide stimulation and interest so that more work is carried out in this remarkable group of fungi.

A complilation of anamorphic names for both Ascomycota and Basidiomycota is provided which compises 2873 genera. The genera are listed against a backbone of teleomorphic relationships where known. The study reveals that 699 genera and 94 anamorph-like genera are linked to teleomorphic genera names, 447 genera (one anamorph-like genus) are linked to teleomorph families, orders or classes, while for more than 1728 (60.15%) genera no teleomorph link is known.

Phaeosphaeriaceae is a large and important family in the order Pleosporales which includes economically important plant pathogens. Species may also be endophytes or saprobes on plant hosts, especially on monocotyledons (e.g., Cannaceae, Cyperaceae, Juncaceae, Poaceae); some species have also been reported on dicotyledons. The family previously accommodated 35 sexual and asexual genera and comprised more than 300 species with a range of morphological characters. The morphological characters of taxa in this family are often ambiguous and can be confused with other taxa in Leptosphaeriaceae and Montagnulaceae. Fourteen specimens of the type genera of Phaeosphaeriaceae were loaned from herbaria worldwide and were re-examined and illustrated. Fresh collections were obtained from Italy and Thailand, characterized, examined, isolated into pure culture and used to obtain molecular data. The asexual state was induced where possible on sterile bamboo pieces placed on water agar. Multigene phylogenetic analyses of ITS, LSU, SSU, RPB2 and TEF1 sequence datasets were carried out using maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and Bayesian analysis. Molecular analyses shows that 21 genera (Amarenomyces, Ampelomyces, Chaetosphaeronema, Dematiopleospora, E n t o d e s m i u m , L o r a t o s p o r a , N e o s e t o p h o m a ,

Macrodiplodiopsis desmazieri, the type species of Macrodiplodiopsis, was collected from Italy, and morpho-molecular studies were carried out. Phylogenetic analyses (maximum-likelihood, maximum parsimony and Bayesian) using combined data set of LSU, SSU and EF1-α sequences showed our strain to group in Lophiostomataceae (Pleosporales) with Misturatosphaeria uniseriata and other Misturatosphaeria spp. Floricola striata, the type species of Floricola also groups in the same clade with a close relationship with Misturatosphaeria cruciformis. The Macrodiplodiopsis clade is well supported with high bootstrap and posterior probability. Floricola striata and nine species of Misturatosphaeria are transferred to the older name Macrodiplodiopsis as new combinations.

During a study of saprobic fungi from Bagno di Cetica Province, Italy, we collected a pleosporoid ascomycete on stems of Cytisus sp. In morphology, our collection is similar to Cucurbitaria species, but molecular analysis of SSU, LSU and ITS genes reveals it can be referred to Camarosporium. In this study we compare all other Cucurbitaria species from Cytisus sp. and based on both morphology and molecular data, we introduce our collection as a new species in Camarosporium viz. C. arezzoensis.

Vamsapriya comprises two species from bamboo and is characterized by erect, rigid, dark brown, synnematous conidiophores, monotretic conidiogenous cells and brown to dark brown, septate, conidia in chains. Vamsapriya indica, the generic type of Vamsapriya, was recollected and isolated from bamboo culms in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand and is described, illustrated and epitypified in this paper. Two new species in the genus were also discovered and are introduced as V. khunkonensis and V. bambusicola. The new species differs from the type and the other known species, V. mahabaleshwarensis, in the shape and size of the conidia. Maximum-parsimony (MP) analysis of combined LSU, SSU and RPB2 sequence data and Bayesian analysis based on multi-gene data set of betatubulin, ITS, LSU, and RPB2 show Vamsapriya belongs in Xylariaceae, Xylariales.

A new species Homortomyces tamaricis is introduced from Cervia, Italy. It is distinct from H. combreti, the type species of this monotypic genus, in having smaller conidia, smaller paraphyses and shorter supporting cells. Morphologically Homortomyces is similar to Stilbospora, which groups in Diaporthales incertae sedis in maximum-likelihood analysis of LSU rDNA sequences. Maximum-likelihood analysis of the combined data set of LSU and ITS rDNA sequences indicates that Homortomyces species cluster with Tubeufiaceae with 77% bootstrap support, but group as a distinct clade with high bootstrap value (100%). These two genera show convergent evolution since both share very similar morphological characters, but have distinct phylogenetic lineages. Further phylogenetic analyses are needed, when more strains of Homortomyces and related genera are available, to resolve the genus familial placement. We maintain the genus in Dothideomycetes incertae sedis. No sexual state has yet been reported for this genus.

Ritigala is one of the most remarkable places, located in the dry zone of Sri Lanka (8˚03'-8˚7' N and 80˚ 36' E -80˚ 38' E), in historical, archeological and biological aspects. As authorities recognized the importance of its maintenance, upper part of Ritigala mountain was declared as Strict Nature Reserve (SNR), while the other part of the mountain is declared as an archeological site. The extent

Taxonomic names are key links between various databases that store information on different organisms. Several global fungal nomenclural and taxonomic databases (no-tably Index Fungorum, Species Fungorum and MycoBank) can be sourced to find taxonomic details about fungi, while DNA sequence data can be sourced from NCBI, EBI and

This paper is a compilation of notes on 142 fungal taxa, including five new families, 20 new genera, and 100 new species, representing a wide taxonomic and geographic range. The new families, Ascocylindricaceae, Caryosporaceae and Wicklowiaceae (Ascomycota) are introduced based on their distinct lineages and unique morphology. The new Dothideomycete genera Pseudomassariosphaeria (Amniculicolaceae), Heracleicola, Neodidymella and P s e u d o m i c r o s p h a e r i o p s i s (D i d y m e l l a c e a e) , P s e u d o p i t h o m y c e s (D i d y m o s p h a e r i a c e a e) , Brunneoclavispora, Neolophiostoma and Sulcosporium (Halotthiaceae), Lophiohelichrysum (Lophiostomataceae), G a l l i i c o l a , P o p u l o c r e s c e n t i a a n d Va g i c o l a (Phaeosphaeriaceae), Ascocylindrica (Ascocylindricaceae), E l o n g a t o p e d i c e l l a t a (R o u s s o e l l a c e a e) , Pseudoasteromassaria (Latoruaceae) and Pseudomonodictys (Macrodiplodiopsidaceae) are introduced. The newly described species of Dothideomycetes (Ascomycota) are Pseudomassariosphaeria bromicola (Amniculicolaceae), Flammeascoma lignicola (Anteagloniaceae), Ascocylindrica m a r i n a (A s c o c y l i n d r i c a c e a e) , L e m b o s i a x y l i a e (Asterinaceae), Diplodia crataegicola and Diplodia galiicola (B o t r y o s p h a e r i a c e a e) , C a r y o s p o r a a q u a t i c a (Caryosporaceae), Heracleicola premilcurensis and N e o d i d y m e l l a t h a i l a n d i c u m (D i d y m e l l a c e a e) , Pseudopithomyces palmicola (Didymosphaeriaceae), Floricola viticola (Floricolaceae), Brunneoclavispora bambusae, Neolophiostoma pigmentatum and Sulcosporium thailandica (Halotthiaceae), Pseudoasteromassaria fagi (Latoruaceae), Keissleriella dactylidicola (Lentitheciaceae), Lophiohelichrysum helichrysi (Lophiostomataceae), A q u a s u b m e r s a j a p o n i c a (L o p h i o t re m a t a c e a e) , Pseudomonodictys tectonae (Macrodiplodiopsidaceae), Microthyrium buxicola and Tumidispora shoreae (Microthyriaceae), Alloleptosphaeria clematidis, A l l o p h a e o s p h a e r i a c y t i s i , A l l o p h a e o s p h a e r i a subcylindrospora, Dematiopleospora luzulae, Entodesmium artemisiae, Galiicola pseudophaeosphaeria, Loratospora