Skip to main content

Cercosporoid fungi (Mycosphaerellaceae) 1. Species on other fungi, Pteridophyta and Gymnospermae

Abstract

Cercosporoid fungi (former Cercospora s. lat.) represent one of the largest groups of hyphomycetes belonging to the Mycosphaerellaceae (Ascomycota). They include asexual morphs, asexual holomorphs or species with mycosphaerella-like sexual morphs. Most of them are leaf-spotting plant pathogens with special phytopathological relevance. The only monograph of Cercospora s. lat., published by Chupp (1954), is badly in need of revision. However, the treatment of this huge group of fungi can only be accomplished stepwise on the basis of treatments of cercosporoid fungi on particular host plant families. The present first part of this series comprises an introduction, a survey on currently recognised cercosporoid genera, a key to the genera concerned, a discussion of taxonomically relevant characters, and descriptions and illustrations of cercosporoid species on other fungi (mycophylic taxa), Pteridophyta and Gymnospermae, arranged in alphabetical order under the particular cercosporoid genera, which are supplemented by keys to the species concerned. The following taxonomic novelties are introduced: Passalora austroplenckiae comb. nov., P. backmanii comb. nov, P. condensata comb. nov, P. gymnocladi comb. nov, P. thalictri comb. nov, Pseudocercospora davalliicola sp. nov, P. chamaecyparidis comb. nov, P. cratevicola nom. nov, P. gleicheniae comb. nov, P. lygodiicola sp. nov, P. lygodiigena nom. nov, P. nephrolepidigena sp. nov, P. paraexosporioides sp. nov, P. pini-densiflorae var. montantiana comb. et stat. nov, P. pteridigena sp. nov., P. ptisanae sp. nov, P. sciadopityos sp. nov, P. subramanianii nom. nov, P. thujina comb. nov, and Zasmidium australiense comb. nov.

Introduction

Cercospora-like fungi are one of the largest groups of mostly plant pathogenic, leaf-spotting hyphomycetes, comprising more than 2000 names (Crous & Braun 2003). Numerous economically relevant plant diseases are involved, as for instance angular leaf spot of bean (Pseudocercospora griseola), black leaf streak of banana (Pseudocercospora fijiensis), fruit and leaf spot disease of citrus (Pseudocercospora angolensis), leaf spot disease of celery (Cercospora apii), sugarbeet (Cercospora beticola), etc. Cercosporoid fungi are known from all parts of the world, but they are especially abundant and diverse in tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, Asia, Australia and Central to South America (e.g. Beilharz et al. 2002, Braun & Freire 2004, Hernández-Gutiérrez & Dianese 2008, 2009). They are dematiaceous hyphomycetes characterised by having macronematous conidiophores, formed singly, in fascicles, sporodochia or synnemata, with integrated, terminal to intercalary conidiogenous cells, holoblastic (mono- to polyblastic) conidiogenesis, percurrent to sympodial proliferation, forming amero- to scolecosporous conidia, solitary or in acropetal chains. Cercosporoid hyphomycetes are asexual fungi with relation to mycosphaerella-like sexual morphs as far as meiotic states are formed at all. Many or probably most species are asexual holomorphs, i.e. they have lost the ability to form sexual morphs. Mycosphaerella sexual morphs within this complex are morphologically rather uniform and provide few characters to support a further splitting into smaller generic units, whereas the asexual morphs are morphologically strongly differentiated, which is reflected in numerous asexual genera introduced for particular morphological groups in this complex. Furthermore, the genus Mycosphaerella proved to be polyphyletic (Crous et al. 2007). Based on comprehensive phylogenetic examinations using analyses of DNA sequence data, the Mycosphaerella complex has been separated into several families and monophyletic genera (Crous et al. 2007, 2009b, c, 2013, Groenewald et al. 2013). Due to the changes of the International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi and Plants (ICN) accepted during the Botanical Congress in Sydney 2011, above all the abolishment of the previous Article 59 dealing with pleomorphic fungi, asexual morph-typified genera are now nomenclaturally equivalent to sexual morph-typified ones (Hawksworth 2011, Norvell 2011, Braun 2012). Hence, several asexual morph genera within the Mycosphaerella complex can be used as generic holomorph names for particular groups segregated from this complex based on morphology and molecular sequence analyses. Mycosphaerella punctiformis, the type species of Mycosphaerella, has Ramularia endophylla as asexual morph (Verkley et al. 2004). The genus Mycosphaerella is however a facultative synonym of Ramularia, since the latter genus is older and has priority.

Fries (1849) introduced Passalora, the first generic name within the complex of cercosporoid hyphomycetes, followed by Cercospora introduced by Fresenius (in Fuckel 1863). Authors of the first half of the 19th century usually applied broad generic concepts of Cercospora (e.g. Viégas 1945). Chupp (1954) published the first and only monograph of cercosporoid hyphomycetes in which he followed a very broad generic concept. He referred most cercosporoid fungi to Cercospora, reduced several genera to synonymy with the latter genus, e.g. Ragnhildiana and Cercoseptoria, but maintained Passalora as separate genus (with Cercosporidium as synonym) for species with (0−)1(−3)-septate conidia. His general understanding of “genera confused with Cercospora”, reflected in his key (Chupp 1954: 17–20) in which he recognised genera like Cercodeuterosporium, Vellosiella and Pseudocercospora, is, however, vague and confusing. Soon after Chupp’s (1954) treatment of this fungal group, the erosion of his broad generic concept set in. Above all Deighton’s numerous treatments of cercosporoid fungi (Deighton 1967, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1990) strongly influenced the further taxonomy of this fungal group at generic and species rank. The strong proliferation and splitting of cercosporoid genera was later questioned due to numerous morphologically intermediate taxa and a continuum in several previously applied generic characters as well as the first phylogenetic results based on DNA sequence data (Crous et al. 2000, Crous & Braun 2003), which again lead to a reduction of recognised cercosporoid genera. Most of these changes in generic circumscriptions have recently been confirmed during the course of various molecular DNA studies, although a few newly segregated cercosporoid genera have been introduced to reflect monophyletic, morphologically separated clades, e.g. Phaeocercospora (Crous et al. 2012), Pallidocercospora and Phaeomycocentrospora (Crous et al. 2013). Other genera, previously sometimes considered to be synonyms, have been confirmed as separate genera, e.g. Pantospora (Minnis et al. 2011), Paracercospora s. str. and Scolecostigmina s. str. (Crous et al. 2013).

The history and the evolution of concepts of cercosporoid genera was comprehensively discussed in Deighton (1976), Braun (1995a) and Crous & Braun (2003) as well as recently in Crous et al. (2013) and Groenewald et al. (2013) with special emphasis on Pseudocercospora and Cercospora, respectively. These treatments may be consulted for further details.

Beside numerous, partly controversial treatments of cercosporoid hyphomycetes at generic level, a very large number of additional species have been described since Chupp’s (1954) monograph, and numerous comprehensive taxonomic treatments and works dealing with particular areas, including large countries, have been published, e.g. Viégas (1945, Brazil), Muntañola (1960), Deighton (1967, 1971, 1974, 1976, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1990), Katsuki (1965, Japan), Yen & Lim (1980, Singapore and the Malay Peninsula), Hsieh & Goh (1990, Taiwan), Guo & Hsieh (1995, China, Pseudocercospora), Crous & Braun (1996, South Africa), Braun & Mel’nik (1997, Russia and adjacent countries), Shin & Kim (2001, Korea), Guo et al. (2005, China, Cercospora), Guo et al. (2003, China, Passalora s. lat.), Kamal (2010, India) and Phengsintham et al. (2013a, b, Laos, Thailand). Hence, Chupp’s (1954) monograph is badly out of date. There is no modern comprehensive treatment of cercosporoid species, and taxonomic work on this fungal group is complicated and time-consuming due to the large number of species involved, and descriptions scattered thoughout the mycological and phytopathological literature. Therefore, a new “Chupp” summarising all taxa of and data on cercosporoid hyphomycetes is urgently required. To accomplish a comprehensive treatment of all taxa concerned in a monograph as in Chupp (1954), we have decided to treat the cercosporoids occurring on particular host families, i.e., in principle following Chupp’s (1954) concept, but supplemented by keys to the species and illustrations for most taxa. In the present first contribution, hyperparasitic cercosporoid species and taxa on hosts belonging to Pteridophyta and Gymnospermae are treated. After comprehensive treatments of cercosporoids of all host families, it will be possible to supplement the individual publications and compile a monograph.

Material and Methods

The present work is a compilation based on papers and unpublished data of the authors as well as global literature. Details on methods are to be found in the papers cited. As far as new examinations are concerned, fungal structures have been examined on the base of standard methods of light microscopy, using an Olympus BX50 microscope, with distilled water and lactic acid as media, but without any staining. If possible, measurements of 30 conidia and other structures have been made at a magnification of ×1000. The following abbreviations are used: author names follow Brummit & Powell (1992), journals Bridson (2004a, b), and exsiccatae https://doi.org/www.botanischestaatssammlung.de/DatabaseClient/IndExs/index.jsp (IndExs — Index of Exsiccatae). Taxonomy and nomenclature of plant families, genera and species are based on the “Angiosperm Phylogeny Website” (https://doi.org/www.mobot.org/mobot/research/apweb/), Tropicos database (https://doi.org/www.Tropicos.org/), and The Plant List (https://doi.org/www.theplantlist.org).

Taxonomically relevant characters

Basic characters at generic rank (for the discrimination of genera) are mainly confined to colour of conidiophores (hyaline or pigmented) and the structure of the conidiogenous loci and conidial hila (conspicuous by being thickened and darkened versus inconspicuous, neither thickened nor darkened, or at least unthickend). Other features previously used to distinguish smaller generic units (segregated genera) proved to be of little relevance at generic level, e.g. absence or formation of external mycelium in vivo, arrangement and formation of conidiophores in vivo (formed singly on superficial hyphae, fasciculate, in sporodochia or synnemata). However, these characters are useful at species rank, i.e. for the differentiation of allied, morphologically similar species. The following additional characters are useful and applicable for the characterisation of species and their discrimination from allied taxa: shape and size, septation, pigmentation (pale to dark brown), wall thickness and surface structure (smooth to verrucose) of conidiophores; shape, size, integration and proliferation mode of conidiogenous cells; location, size (diameter) and shape of conidiogenous loci (scars) (e.g. inconspicuous, on shoulders caused by sympodial proliferation, denticle-like, etc.); formation of conidia (solitary or in simple or branched chains), shape, size, septation (eu- or distoseptate, transversely or longitudinally to obliquely septate, amero- to scolecosporous), colourless or pigmented, wall smooth or sculptured; shape and size, number and location of hila.

Sexual Morphs and Currently Recognised Cercosporoid Genera

Mycosphaerella and mycosphaerella-like sexual morphs

Sexual morphs of various cercosporoid hyphomycetes were traditionally referred to as Mycosphaerella. Ascomata of the latter genus are morphologically rather uniform and provide few characters to support further splitting. The associated asexual morphs are, in contrast, morphologically strongly differentiated and better reflect genotypic variation. The type species of Mycosphaerella, M. punctiformis, has an asexual morph described as Ramularia endophylla and clusters together with other Ramularia species in a monophyletic Ramularia clade within the Mycosphaerellaceae (Verkley et al. 2004, Crous et al. 2007), so that Mycosphaerella s. str. becomes a facultative synonym of Ramularia according to the new rules of the ICN (Art. 59). The older name Ramularia has priority and should be applied as holomorph name for this monophyletic unit composed of asexual or sexual morphs, or Ramularia species with Mycosphaerella sexual morphs in their life cycles. The further splitting of ascomycetes with mycosphaerella-like sexual morphs is closely connected with and based on assemblages of certain species with particular asexual morphs for which asexual morph-typified generic names are available. Ramularia (Mycosphaerella) as mucedinaceous genus, characterised by having colourless conidiophores and conidia, does not belong to the complex of cercosporoid genera, and is hence not treated in this series. Ramularia and allied mucedinaceous genera have been monographed by Braun (1995a, 1998), and a detailed molecular phylogeny will be published elsewhere (Videira et al., in prep.).

Cercospora s. str.

The genus Cercospora was introduced by Fresenius (in Fuckel 1863) for passalora-like species with pluriseptate conidia. The typification of a genus is essential for further taxonomic treatments, i.e. for changed generic circumscriptions s. str. or s. lat. However, the typification of Cercospora was previously controversially handled and discussed. Cercospora apii was usually considered as type species (or lectotype species) of Cercospora (Solheim 1930, Clements & Shear 1931, Ellis 1971, etc.), based on the assumption that the first description of this genus dates back to Fresenius (1863). This typification was accepted by most subsequent authors, including Sutton & Pons (1988), but proved to be wrong, which was pointed out by Braun (1995a) who showed that the first valid description of Cercospora was published somewhat earlier in Fuckel (1863) and simultaneously in Fuckel, Fungi Rhen. Exs., Fasc. II, No. 117, 1863 with Cercospora penicillata (C. depazeoides) as only and hence type species. Fuckel (1863) only added a new forma (f. apii), which is, however, irrelevant for the typification. Early circumscriptions of Cercospora comprised Cercospora ferruginea, a species with thickened, darkened conidiogenous loci and pigmented conidia, which was later reallocated to Mycovellosiella and belongs now to Passalora emend. During the course of the following 100 years, the application of Cercospora had been continuously widened (Saccardo 1880, Solheim 1930, etc.). All kinds of superficially similar species, with or without conspicuous conidiogenous loci, with hyaline or pigmented conidia, formed singly or in chains, were assigned to this genus. This broad generic concept was used and applied by Chupp (1954) in his monograph of Cercospora s. lat., in which he treated 1 419 species. The number of species assigned to Cercospora increased rapidly in the following decades. Pollack (1987) listed more than 3 000 names. Several early attempts to split Cercospora s. lat. into smaller generic units had been made, e.g. by Earle (1901) (Cercosporidium), Ferraris (1909) (Phaeoisariopsis), Spegazzini (1910) (Cercosporina, Pseudocercospora), Maublanc (1913a, b) (Asperisporium), Rangel (1917) (Mycovellosiella), Miura (1928) (Cercosporiopsis), Sydow (1930) (Stenella), Petrak (1951) (emendation of Chaetotrichum to include some cercosporoid taxa), Muntañola (1960) (Phaeoramularia), etc. However, the genera concerned did not gain wide acceptance and application until Deighton’s (1967, 1971, 1974, 1976, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1990) comprehensive studies on cercosporoid hyphomycetes, and his new generic concepts and splitting of Cercospora s. lat. Ellis (1971, 1976) followed Deighton’s concepts and accepted Cercosporidium, Mycovellosiella, Phaeoramularia and other cercosporoid genera segregated from Cercospora. Deighton (1976) re-introduced Pseudocercospora and widened its circumscription to all kinds of cercosporoid hyphomycetes with inconspicuous (unthickened, not darkened) conidiogenous loci, i.e. he finished the gradual reduction of the application of the genus Cercospora and confined it (s. str.) to species resembling C. apii, i.e. to taxa with pigmented conidiophores, thickened and darkened conidiogenous loci (scars) and colourless, pluriseptate, scolecosporous conidia formed singly, a concept accepted up to now and confirmed by molecular sequence analyses in which Cercospora s. str. proved to represent a monophyletic clade (Crous et al. 2000, Groenewald et al. 2013). Numerous molecular examinations of Cercospora species have been carried out, based on rDNA ITS data as well as multilocal approaches (Stewart et al. 1999, Crous et al. 2000, 2004a, 2009a, b, Goodwin et al. 2001, Tessmann et al. 2001, Pretorius et al. 2003, Groenewald et al. 2005, 2006a, b, 2010, 2013, Montenegro-Calderón et al. 2011). Crous & Braun (2003) published an annotated list of Cercospora and Passalora emend. names, including 659 recognised species of Cercospora s. str. and further 281 species names reduced to synonymy with C. apii s. lat. since they were morphologically not or barely distinguishable from C. apii s. str. on celery. This concept was influenced by assumptions as well as proven results suggesting that C. apii s. lat. comprises specialised as well as plurivorous races (Ellis 1971). Crous & Braun (2003) provided a morphological circumscription of Cercospora apii s. lat. and recommended to assign new collections on hosts of new families or genera to C. apii s. lat. if morphologically indistinguishable and if not proven by means of molecular sequence analyses and/or inoculation experiments that distinct species are involved. However, the speciation within Cercospora s. str., above all with regard to C. apii s. lat., is more complicated than previously assumed and far from being comprehensively perceived. Detailed molecular examination of Cercospora s. str. based on a multilocus DNA approach (ITS, actin, calmodulin, histone H3, and translation elongation factor 1-alpha genes) has recently been carried out by Groenewald et al. (2013). The monophyly of Cercospora s. str. was verified, but the speciation within this genus proved to be very complicated. Cercospora apii s. lat. as plurivorous monophyletic species could not be confirmed. Cercospora apii s. lat. is rather a complicated complex composed of specialised as well as numerous species with wide host range, often with overlapping host ranges between particular taxa. The problem is that most of the taxa involved, including various plurivorous ones, are morphologically barely distinguishable. Certain hosts or host ranges are also not reliable for taxonomic purposes within C. apii s. lat. Cercospora collections on certain hosts with agreeing morphology found in different geographical regions do often not belong to a single species, i.e. it is usually not possible to simply apply old names of Cercospora species described from Europe or North America to taxa in Africa, Asia, Australia or South America and vice versa. Therefore, descriptions of new species on new hosts morphologically indistinguishable from C. apii s. lat. should be avoided without support by molecular sequence analyses. The collections concerned should be simply referred to as C. apii s. lat. (C. apii complex) as recommended by Crous & Braun (2003).

Attempts to separate Cercospora into several subgeneric units have been made by Penzes (1927) (three sections: Brachycercosporae, Macrocercosporae and Mediocercosporae) and Solheim (1930) (21 sections based on mycelium internal/external, conidiophores simple/branched, stroma and conidium shape), which are, however, barely practicable and not useful since these classifications were derived from a wide range of species of Cercospora s. lat. that now belong to different genera. Therefore, it is not surprising that these subgeneric concepts have never been applied by other authors.

A special problem concerns Cercospora species with colourless but passalora-like conidia, i.e. broadly ellipsoidovoid to obclavate-cylindrical, only with few septa, e.g. Cercospora chenopodii (Passalora dubia) and C. sojina (P. sojina). In this case, the generic relevance of the conidial shape versus conidial colour was unclear and differently evaluated. However, this problem has recently been clearly solved on the basis of molecular sequence analyses (Groenewald et al. 2012), which showed that species with hyaline conidia, independent of the conidial shape, cluster within the Cercospora clade. Other Cercospora species are characterised by having colourless or very pale conidiophores. They are superficially similar to Cercosporella species, but species of the latter genus have quite distinct conidiogenous loci (Braun 1995a). Braun (1993) introduced Cercospora subgen. Hyalocercospora for such species. Molecular data for Cercospora cercosporelloides, the type species of this subgenus, or any other species assigned to it in Braun (1995a) are not yet available, i.e. it is still unproven if they cluster in the monophyletic Cercospora clade.

The following description circumscribes Cercospora as currently perceived and phylogenetically confirmed as monophyletic genus:

Cercospora Fresen., in Fuckel, Hedwigia 2: 133 (1863) [and in Fuckel, Fungi Rhen. Exs., Fasc. II, No. 117, 1863].

Type species: Cercospora penicillata (Ces.) Fresen. 1863 (C. depazeoides (Desm.) Sacc. 1876).

Synonyms: Virgasporium Cooke, Grevillea 3: 182 (1875) [type species: V. maculatum Cooke 1875].

Cercosporina Speg., Anales Mus. Nac. Buenos Aires 20: 424 (1910) [type species: C. asparagicola Speg. 1910].

Literature: Chupp (1954), Vasudeva (1963), Katsuki (1965), Ellis (1976: 244), Yen & Lim (1980: 152–166), Hsieh & Goh (1990), Braun (1995a: 40), Shin & Kim (2001:20), Guo et al. (2005), Kamal (2010: 11), Seifert et al. (2011: 128–130).

Description [emend. Crous & Braun (2003: 16)]: Hyphomycetes (asexual morphs, asexual holomorphs) or Cercospora with mycosphaerella-like sexual morphs; Mycosphaerellaceae. Saprobic, secondary invaders or mostly plant pathogenic, symptomless or usually causing distinct lesions (leaf-spotting fungi). Mycelium internal, rarely external; hyphae branched, septate, colourless or almost so to usually pigmented, thin-walled, smooth, rarely faintly rough-walled. Stromata lacking to well-developed, substomatal, intaepidermal to deeply immersed, mostly pigmented, composed of textura angulata or globosa. Conidiophores mononematous, macronematous, solitary or fasciculate, in small to large fascicles, rarely in sporodochial conidiomata, emerging through stomata or erumpent, very rarely arising from superficial hyphae, erect, continuous to pluriseptate, hyaline or almost so (subgen. Hyalocercospora) to mostly pigmented, pale olivaceous to dark brown (subgen. Cercospora), wall smooth to somewhat rough, thin to moderately thick; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal or intercalary, sometimes conidiophores aseptate, i.e. reduced to conidiogenous cells, monoblastic, determinate to usually polyblastic, proliferation sympodial, rarely percurrent, conidiogenous loci (scars) conspicuous, thickened and darkened-refractive, planate with minute central pore. Conidia solitary, rarely in short chains (mainly under high humidity), mostly scolecosporous, obclavate-cylindrical, acicular, filiform and plurieuseptate, rarely amero- to phragmosporous, broadly ellipsoid-ovoid to broadly obclavate-cylindrical, but always hyaline or subhyaline (with a pale greenish tinge), thin-walled, smooth or almost so, hila thickened and darkened, conidial secession schizolytic.

Distocercospora

The genus Distocercospora is passalora-like (thickened and darkened loci and hila and pigmented conidia), but differs in having distoseptate conidia. The meaning of distoseptation as character on generic level within the complex of cercosporoid genera is, however, unclear. Distosepta may occasionally occur intermixed between genuine septa in some Passalora species (Crous & Braun 2003) as well as in Pseudocercospora cryptomeriicola (Nakashima et al. 2007). It is possible that distosepta mixed with eusepta are more common in cercosporoid fungi than hitherto known as it is often rather difficult to discern such septa in taxa with thin walls. However, cultures and molecular data based on Japanese material of the type species of Distocercospora, D. pachyderma, and D. livistonae have recently been examined by C. Nakashima (unpubl. data), which showed that these species cluster within the Mycosphaerellaceae clade in a more basal and separate position. These results indicate that Distocercospora has to be maintained as separate genus, distinguished from Passalora by having consistently distoseptate conidia.

Distocercospora Pons & B. Sutton, Mycol. Pap. 160: 60 (1988).

Type species: Distocercospora pachyderma (Syd. & P. Syd.) Pons & B. Sutton 1988.

Literature: Braun (1995a: 40), Braun & Mel’nik (1997: 15), Crous & Braun (2003: 26), Seifert et al. (2011: 187).

Description: Foliicolous, plant pathogenic, leaf spotting hyphomycetes (asexual morphs), sexual morphs unknown. Mycelium in vivo internal; hyphae branched, septate, subhyaline to pigmented, thin-walled, smooth. Stromata lacking to well-developed, pigmented, textura angulata to globosa. Conidiophores macronematous, mononematous, simple to branched, often strongly branched, septate, pigmented, thin-walled, smooth to rough-walled; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, occasionally intercalary, proliferation sympodial, conidiogenous loci conspicuous, somewhat thickened and darkened. Conidia formed singly, rarely in short chains, scolecosporous, mostly obclavate to cylindrical, with a single to several transverse distosepta, subhyaline to pigmented, wall smooth to rough, hila somewhat thickened and darkened, conidial secession schizolytic.

Passalora Emend. Crous & Braun (2003)

Passalora, described by Fries (1849), was the first genus introduced for cercosporoid hyphomycetes. Fresenius (in Fuckel 1863) introduced Cercospora for passalora-like species with pluriseptate conidia. Later the concept of Cercospora was considerably widened, and culminated in Chupp’s (1954) monograph of Cercospora s. lat. with very broad generic concept. Several attempts to segregate smaller generic units from Cercospora s. lat. for cercosporoids with thickened and darkened conidiogenous loci were made in the 20th century, but attracted little attention and were barely used, e.g. Cercosporidium (Earle 1901), Mycovellosiella (Rangel 1917), Ragnhildiana (Solheim 1930), Cercodeuterospora (Curzi 1932), Berteromyces (Ciferri 1954), Fulvia and Oreophylla (Ciferri 1954), Phaeoramularia (Muntañola 1960), Tandonella (Prasad & Verma 1970).

Deighton (1967) reintroduced Cercosporidium for cercospora-like hyphomycetes with internal mycelium, usually well-developed stromata, fasciculate conidiophores and solitary, non-scolecosporous, mostly pale conidia and maintained Passalora, although very similar, as separate genus based on “lacking” stromata and pale brown conidia. For similar species characterised by conidia formed in chains, Ellis (1971, 1976) and Deighton (1979) accepted and used Phaeoramularia, and for those with solitary conidiophores arising from superficial mycelium the old name Mycovellosiella was reintroduced (Deighton 1974, 1979, 1983; Ellis 1971, 1976). This splitting of the Passalora complex had been the generally recognised genus concept in the following about 25 years, recognised by most subsequent authors (e.g., von Arx 1983, Pons & Sutton 1988, Hsieh & Goh 1990, Braun 1995a, Braun & Mel’nik 1997, Shin & Kim 2001, Guo et al. 2003, etc.).

First doubts with regard to the acceptance and rationality of the differentiation between Passalora and Cercosporidium, as made in Deighton (1967), were expressed in Deighton’s (1990) reassessment of the synnematous genus Phaeoisariopsis in which he confined the latter genus to a few species around P. griseola, the type species, characterised by having subconspicuous, non-protuberant conidiogenous loci on non-geniculate conidiogenous cells. Other former Phaeoisariopsis species with inconspicuous (unthickened, not darkened) loci were assigned to Pseudocercospora, and the remaining species with thickened, darkened loci on distinctly geniculate conidiogenous cells were proposed to be candidates for Passalora. Braun (1995b) reassessed the Passalora complex and proposed to reduce Cercosporidium, Mycovellosiella and Phaeoramularia to synonymy with Passalora. Crous & Braun (2003) discussed this generic complex in detail and came to the conclusion that these genera and various additional ones should better be merged under the oldest name Passalora. There is a continuum of all relevant morphological characters between species of the genera involved. Numerous examples of intermediate species were cited and discussed in Crous & Braun (2003). Neither the conidial formation, solitary or in chains, nor the presence or absence of superficial mycelium represent reliable features on generic rank. With regard to morphological features reliably applicable for the discrimination on generic level, Passalora is comparable with other cercosporoid and ramularioid genera like Pseudocercospora, Pseudocercosporella, Ramularia and Zasmidium. Thus, the new emended circumscription of Passalora (according to Crous & Braun 2003) encompassed cercosporoid species with internal and external or only internal mycelium, solitary, fasciculate to synnematous conidiophores and conidia formed singly or in chains, but in all cases with conspicuous (thickened and darkened) conidiogenous loci (scars) and mostly non-scolecosporous, pigmented conidia. This new concept was also supported by first molecular sequence analyses (Crous et al. 2000, 2001). Hernández-Gutiérrez & Dianese (2009) divided Passalora in sections, viz. sect. Passalora, Mycovellosiella, Phaeoramularia, and Pseudophaeoisariopsis, which can be seen as morphological, non-monophyletic groups, which are, however, connected by numerous morphologically intermediate species. Sequences of Passalora fulva (Cladosporium fulvum, Fulvia fulva), type species of the genus Fulvia, with a special habit of conidiophores, are close to those of some other Passalora species in the Mycosphaerellaceae clade (Thomma et al. 2005), which supported the reduction of Fulvia to synonym with Passalora as proposed in Crous & Braun (2003). In this wide concept of Passalora, some species with hyaline passalora-like conidia (non-scolecosporous, broad, only with few septa) were included, as for instance Passalora dubia and P. janseana. However, in molecular sequence analyses, such species clustered within the Cercospora clade (Groenewald et al. 2012), i.e. the colour of the conidia (absence or presence of pigmentation) is more important than the conidial shape, although most Passalora species are characterised by having non-scolecosporous conidia and most Cercospora species by scolecosporous ones.

The currently applied wide concept of Passalora introduced by Braun (1995b) and Crous & Braun (2003) is not generally accepted and was questioned by some authors. For instance, Guo et al. (2003) treated Chinese species of the Passalora s. lat. complex and recognised three genera, namely Mycovellosiella, Passalora (including Cercosporidium) and Phaeoramularia. Baker et al. (2000) discussed the intricated, controversial history of Passalora and Cercosporium in detail, admitted a morphological continuum between the two genera, but considered the merging of these genera as undesirable. They discussed morphological differences between these genera, and considered them to be sufficiently distinct to be maintained until more profound examinations will be available. With the increasing application of molecular methods in the Cercospora complex, more profound approaches are now given, but corresponding analyses of sequence data do not support a clear separation of Cercosporidium, Passalora and other genera involved.

The phylogenetic structure of Passalora is, however, complicated and causes severe problems. Numerous available phylogenetic examinations based on rDNA ITS data and other markers indicate that Passalora s. lat. is not monophyletic (Crous et al. 2000, 2001, 2009b, c, 2013; Thomma et al. 2005). Taxa within the Mycosphaerellaceae are at least paraphyletic, if not polyphyletic. Comprehensive phylogenetic analyses based on a much broader sampling, including the type species of Passalora and its synonymised genera, are necessary for a better understanding of the generic structure of Passalora s. lat. However, a severe problem is that clades or subclades spread within the Mycosphaerellaceae are not clearly connected with morphological groups within Passalora, i.e. mycovellosiella-like, phaeoramularia-like groups of species and other morphological types are not reflected in phylogenetic assemblages. Hence, a comprehensive phylogenetic reassessment and further splitting of Passalora is currently not possible based on available data, and it has to be accepted as a para- or polyphyletic genus, at least for the present.

Passalora Fr., Summa Veg. Scand. 2: 500 (1849).

Type species: Passalora bacilligera (Mont. & Fr.) Mont. & Fr. 1849.

Synonyms: Cercosporidium E. Earle, Muhlenbergia 1: 16 (1901) [type species: C. helleri E. Earle 1901].

Vellosiella Rangel, Bol. Agric. (São Paulo), Ser. 16 A, 2: 151 (1915), nom. illeg. (Art. 53.1).

Mycovellosiella Rangel, Arch. Jard. Bot. Rio de Janeiro 2: 71 (1917) [type species: M. cajani (Henn.) Rangel ex Trotter 1931].

Passalora sect. Mycovellosiella (Rangel) A. Hern.-Gut. & Dianese, Mycotaxon 108: 3 (2009).

Ormathodium Syd., Ann. Mycol. 26: 138 (1928) [type species: O. styracis Syd. 1928], fide Muntañola (1960). Ragnhildiana Solheim, Mycologia 23: 365 (1931) [type species: R. agerati (F. Stevens) F. Stevens & Solheim 1931].

Cercodeuterospora Curzi, Boll. Staz. Patol. Veg. Roma, Ser. 2, 12: 149 (1932) [type species: C. trichophila Curzi 1932].

Fulvia Cif., Atti Ist. Bot. Univ. Lab. Critt. Pavia, Ser. 5, 10: 246 (1954) [type species: F. fulva (Cooke) Cif.1954].

Mycovellosiella subgen. Fulvia (Cif.) U. Braun, Monogr. Cercosporella, Ramularia 1: 39 (1995).

Berteromyces Cif., Sydowia 8: 267 (1954) [type species: B. aeneus Cif. 1954].

Oreophyllum Cif., Sydowia 8: 253 (1954) [type species: O. angelaemariae Cif. 1954].

Phaeoramularia Munt.-Cvetk., Lilloa 30: 182 (1960) [type species: P. gomphrenicola (Speg.) Munt.-Cvetk. 1960].

Passalora sect. Phaeoramularia (Munt.-Cvetk.) A. Hern.-Gut. & Dianese, Mycotaxon 108: 3 (2009). Tandonella S.S. Prasad & R.A.B. Verma, Indian Phytopathol. 23: 111 (1970) [type species: T. ziziphi S.S. Prasad & R.A.B. Verma 1970]. Walkeromyces Thaung, Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc. 66: 213 (1976) [type species: W. grewiae Thaung 1976].

Passalora sect. Pseudophaeoisariopsis U. Braun, Dianese & A. Hern.-Gut., Mycotaxon 108: 3 (2009).

Literature: Deighton (1967), Ellis (1971, 1976, as Cercosporidium), Hsieh & Goh (1990), Braun (1995a: 41), Braun & Mel’nik (1997: 16–17), Shin & Kim (2001: 135), Crous & Braun (2003: 21), Guo et al. (2003: 65), Kamal (2010: 101), Seifert et al. (2011: 331–332).

Description [emend. Crous & Braun (2003: 21)]: Hyphomycetes (asexual morphs or asexual holomorphs) or Passalora species with mycosphaerella-like sexual morphs; Mycosphaerellaceae. Foliicolous, occasionally also caulicolous or on fruits, usually phytopathogenic, causing leaf-spots or other lesions, occasionally symptomless, rarely hyperparasitic or saprobic. Mycelium in vivo internal and external, superficial; hyphae branched, septate, colourless or almost so to pigmented, thin-walled, smooth or almost so. Stromata absent to well-developed, substomatal, intraepidermal to deeply immersed, applanate to subglobose, subhyaline to usually pigmented. Conidiophores in vivo solitary, arising from superficial hyphae, lateral, occasionally terminal, or loosely to densely fasciculate, arising from internal hyphae or stromata, sometimes in sporodochia or synnemata, macronematous, cylindrical, filiform to strongly geniculate-sinuous, unbranched or sometimes branched, pale to distinctly pigmented, olivaceous to medium dark brown, continuous to pluriseptate, wall thin to somewhat thickened, smooth, occasionally somewhat rough; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, occasionally intercalary or pleurogenous, or conidiophores aseptate, i.e. conidiophores reduced to conidiogenous cells, mono- to mostly polyblastic, proliferation sympodial, rarely percurrent, with a single to numerous conspicuous conidiogenous loci, non-protuberant to distinctly so, somewhat thickened and darkened-refractive, more or less cercosporoid, i.e. planate. Conidia solitary or catenate, in simple or branched acropetal chains, ameroto scolecosporous, aseptate to plurieuseptate, rarely with additional distosepta, pale olivaceous to distinctly pigmented, wall thin to slightly thickened, smooth to finely rough, hila conspicuous, somewhat thickened and darkened-refractive, conidial secession schizolytic.

Pseudocercospora Emend. Crous et al. (2013), Pallidocercospora and Phaeocercospora

The genus Pseudocercospora was introduced by Spegazzini (1910) in order to accommodate Septonema vitis (Cercospora vitis). This genus name was little used until Deighton (1976) reintroduced it in the course of his splitting of Cercospora s. lat. into smaller generic units. He used Pseudocercospora for cercosporoid hyphomycetes with unthickened “conidial scars” (i.e. conidiogenous loci), widened its circumscription and added a large number of species. Unthickened conidiogenous loci are characterised by having locus walls not thicker than the walls of the surrounding conidiogenous cells. Such loci are often inconspicuous, but may be more rigid and conspicuous in other species by being more or less denticle-like. The unthickened nature of the conidiogenous loci is, indeed, the fundamental character of Pseudocercospora, although in almost all species of this genus the loci are in addition not darkened-refractive, i.e. not darker than the surrounding wall of the conidiogenous cells (the darker pigmentation of conidiogenous loci, which is diagnostic for species of other cercosporoid genera like Cercospora, Passalora and Zasmidium, is generally caused by a combination of darker pigmentation and sometimes structural differences that may cause altered refraction of the light). The basic importance of unthickened conidiogenous loci as generic character for Pseudocercospora is supported by several “abnormal” species with more conspicuous loci which are unthickened but darker by being somewhat refractive or even slightly darkened (Crous & Braun 2003). Nevertheless such species belong in Pseudocercospora, which has been confirmed in several studies based on molecular sequence analyses (e.g., Crous et al. 2001, 2012).

Another problem concerns conidial formation. In almost all Pseudocercospora species, the conidia are consistently formed singly, but conidial catenation may occasionally occur, e.g. in Pseucocercospora nyctanthis, P. millettiae and P. noveboracensis (Hsieh & Goh 1990, Braun 1995a, Braun & Mel’nik 1997, Crous & Braun 2003, Crous et al. 2013). Some other pseudocercospora-like species, characterised by subconspicuous conidiogenous loci (unthickened or almost so, but somewhat refractive or darkened-refractive) giving rise to short conidial chains or disarticulating conidia, were considered to be intermediate between Passalora and Pseudocercospora and assigned to the new genus Pseudophaeoramularia (Braun & Mel’nik 1997). However, the phylogenetic position of species with Pseudophaeoramularia morphology within the Pseudocercospora (s. str.) clade revealed that catenate conidia and somewhat darkened-refractive loci and hila are acceptable variation within Pseudocercospora.

Prathigada is another example for a misinterpreted and confused genus. Due to at least partly conspicuous conidiogenous loci, it has previously been interpreted as close to Passalora, but distinct by having obclavate, relatively thick-walled, often apically rostrate conidia. Beside type material, a collection on Crateva formosensis, collected in Japan, has been examined and compared. The Japanese material agrees perfectly with the type material. The conidia do not exceed 50 µm in length and three septa in both specimens. Results of molecular sequence analyses based on the Japanese material (C. Nakashima, unpubl. data) showed that Prathigada crataevae, the type species of Prathigada, clusters within the Pseudocercospora s. str. clade near to P. fjiensis, i.e. Prathigada has to be reduced to synonym with Pseudocercospora. The molecular data are supported by morphological characters of P. crataevae. The conidiogenous loci and conidial hila are somewhat intermediate between the Passalora and Pseudocercospora type by ranging from inconspicuous to conspicuous by being denticle- or peg-like or by being somewhat refractive to slightly darkened-refractive, but on the other hand they are always unthickened and thus not in conflict with the current concept of Pseudocercospora s. str. (Crous et al. 2013). Unthickened conidiogenous loci which are more conspicuous by being somewhat darkened-refractive are known in other proven Pseudocercospora species, e.g. in Pseudophaeoramularia, which has been reduced to synonymy with the latter genus (Crous et al. 2013). Due to the discussed results, Prathigada crataevae has to be reallocated to Pseudocercospora. The following redescription is based on the re-examination of type material and an additional Japanese sample:

Pseudocercospora cratevicola C. Nakash. & U. Braun, nom. nov.

MycoBank MB805517

(Fig. 1)

Fig. 1
figure 1

Pseudocercospora cratevicola (S, F42112). A. Conidiophore fascicles. B. Conidiophores. C. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Basionym: Napicladium cratevae Syd. & P. Syd. (“crataevae”), Ann. Mycol. 11: 329 (1913), non Pseudocercospora cratevae Phengsintham et al. (2013).

Synonyms: Macraea cratevae (Syd. & P. Syd.) Subram. (“crataevae”), Proc. Indian Acad. Sci, B, Biol. Sci., 36(4): 164 “1952” (1953).

Prathigada cratevae (Syd. & P. Syd.) Subram. (“crataevae”), in Subramanian & Ramakrishnan, J. Madras Univ., B, 26: 367 (1956).

Description: Leaf spots almost lacking to well-developed, amphigenous, subcircular to angular-irregular, 1–10 mm diam or confluent and larger, yellowish, ochraceous, pale to medium brown, later dark brown by abundant fructification, lesions uniform or with a paler centre, finally sometimes greyish white, surrounded by a darker border, often with a diffuse yellowish to ochraceous halo. Caespituli amphigenous, scattered, punctiform, sometimes pustulate, later confluent and dense, forming larger layers, dark brown. Mycelium internal. Stromata lacking or almost so to well-developed, substomatal to intraepidermal or deeply immersed, subcircular in outline, 10–80 µm diam, or oblong, up to 150 × 50 µm, olivaceous-brown, yellowish brown to medium brown, composed of swollen hyphal cells, subcircular to angular-irregular in outline, 3–8 µm diam, wall somewhat thickened. Arrangement of conidiophores variable, ranging from small fascicles arising from internal hyphae or small stromata, rarely even solitary, to well-developed, large, dense fascicles, forming sporodochial conidiomata, emerging through stomata or erumpent, erect, straight to somewhat curved, subcylindrical to mostly attenuated towards the tip, conical or somewhat irregularly shaped, unbranched, 10–35 × 5–10 µm, 0–1-septate, pale olivaceous to olivaceous-brown or light brown, wall thin, about 0.5–0.75 µm, smooth or almost so to verruculose; conidiophores mostly reduced to conidiogenous cells, occasionally integrated, terminal, 10–30 µm long, proliferation sympodial, rarely percurrent, with a single or few conidiogenous loci, inconspicuous to conspicuous by being denticle-like (peg-like) or by being somewhat refractive or slightly darkened-refractive, but always unthickened, 1.5–3 µm diam. Conidia solitary, 15–50 × 5–9 µm, 0–3-septate, young small conidia ellipsoid-ovoid, obovoid or subcylindrical, 0–1-septate, thin-walled, subhyaline or pale, uniformly pigmented, mostly verruculose, fully developed older conidia obclavate, straight to often curved, above all at the apex, 2–3-septate, pale olivaceous to medium dark brown, above all in the lower part, uniformly pigmented or often distinctly paler towards the tip, wall thickened, up to 1.5 µm, smooth or almost so to verruculose, apex obtuse to somewhat pointed, base short obconically truncate, sometimes abruptly attenuated, peg-like, 1.5–3 µm diam, hila neither thickened nor darkened, at most somewhat refractive.

Material examined: India: Madras: Coimbatore, Government Farm, on Crateva religiosa (Capparaceae), 5 Feb. 1912, W. McRae, No. 9 (S, F42112, holotype). — Japan: Shizuoka, Ito, on Crateva formosensis, 29 Sep. 1999, T. Kobayashi & C. Nakashima (CNS 797 and HAL 2597 F).

Notes: Subramanian (1953) introduced Micaraea for Napicladium cratevae as type species and added the new species M. punjabensis distinguished from the latter species by having longer conidia, about 30–70 µm, with mostly 3–6 septa. Later he assigned the two species to Prathigada introduced as replacement name since Micaraea proved to be a younger homonym. The source for the description and illustration of Prathigada cratevae in Ellis (1971) is unclear, but undoubtedly covers P. cratevae as well as P. punjabensis, although the latter name is not cited as synonym. The re-examination of type material of Napicladium cratevae (S, F42112) showed that this collection perfectly coincides with Subramanian’s (1953) description and illustration. Mature, fully developed conidia do not exceed a length of 50 µm and are consistently 0–3-septate, and the examined and sequenced Japanese collection on Crateva formosensis agrees completely. Therefore, we prefer to maintain Macraea punjabensis (Prathigada punjabensis) as separate, easily distinguishable species and transfer it to Pseudocercospora as well:

Pseudocercospora subramanianii U. Braun & C. Nakash., nom. nov.

MycoBank MB805518

Basionym: Macraea punjabensis Subram., Proc. Indian Acad. Sci., B, Biol. Sci., 36: 166 “1952” (1953), non Pseudocercospora punjabensis (Syd.) U. Braun & Bagyan., 1999.

Synonym: Prathigada punjabensis (Subram.) Subram., in Subramanian & Ramakrishnan, J. Madras Univ., B, 26: 367 (1956).

Notes: It is not surprising that the structure of the conidiogenous loci of Prathigada was previously misinterpreted and confused with scars of genera with thickened and darkened loci. Due to at least partly conspicuous conidiogenous loci, Prathigada has previously been interpreted as a genus close to Passalora, but distinct by having obclavate, relatively thick-walled, often apically rostrate conidia (Braun 1995a, Crous & Braun 2003). As discussed above, the loci may be visible by being more rigid and somewhat darkened-refractive, but they are always unthickened, i.e. they fall into the morphological range of Pseudocercospora. Due to the discussed confusion, additional prathigada-like cercosporoid hyphomycetes have been assigned to Prathigada, including several species with true passalora-like conidiogenous loci, i.e. with conspicuously thickened and darkened scars, which cannot be reallocated to Pseudocercospora. They belong in Passalora in its current circumscription. The latter genus is, as far as known, not monophyletic, but a comprehensive phylogenetic revision is not yet available. Hence, the species concerned can currently only be assigned to Passalora s. lat.:

Passalora austroplenckiae (A. Hernández-Gutierrez & Dianese) U. Braun, comb. nov.

MycoBank MB805519

Basionym: Prathigada austroplenckiae A. Hernández-Gutierrez & Dianese, Mycotaxon 106: 57 (2009).

Passalora backmanii (Furlan. & Dianese) U. Braun, comb. nov.

MycoBank MB805520

Basionym: Prathigada backmanii Furlan. & Dianese, Mycol. Res. 103: 1203 (1999).

Passalora condensata (Ellis & Kellerm.) U. Braun, comb. nov.

MycoBank MB805521

Basionym: Cercospora condensata Ellis & Kellerm., J. Mycol. 1(1): 2 (1885).

Synonym: Prathigada condensata (Ellis & Kellerm.) U. Braun, Cryptog. Mycol. 20: 166 (1999).

Passalora gymnocladi (Ellis & Kellerm.) U. Braun, comb. nov.

MycoBank MB805522

Basionym: Cercospora gymnocladi Ellis & Kellerm., Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 11:121 (1884).

Synonym: Prathigada gymnocladi (Ellis & Kellerm.) U. Braun, Sydowia 48: 209 (1996).

Passalora thalictri (Thüm.) U. Braun, comb. nov. MycoBank, MB805523

Basionym: Cercospora thalictri Thüm., Contr. Fl. Mycol. Lusat. 2: 5 (1879).

Synonym: Cercospora thalictri var. thalictri-flavi Thüm., Mycoth. Univ.: 1470 (1886).

Prathigada thalictri (Thüm.) U. Braun, in Braun & Mel’nik, Trudy Bot. Inst. Im. V.L. Komarova 20: 97 (1997).

Notes: Other species assigned to Prathigada do not agree with Passalora, belong elsewhere or they are doubtful and unclear. The status of Prathigada bauhiniae (Rao et al. 1975) is unclear. Stenellopsis shoreae was reallocated to Prathigada by Kamal (2010), but due to unthickened hila it is possible that this species belongs to Pseudocercospora. Prathigada tamarindi (Muthappa 1968) is a doubtful species characterised by its unusual conidia which are about 20–30 × 8.5–11 µm and 1–2-septate. A re-examination of type material or examinations of new collections are necessary to reassess this species. Prathigada terminaliae (Sutton 1994) is better considered a species of Pseudocercospora (P. terminaliae). Prathigada terminaliae-bellericae (Kamal 2010) is tentatively reduced to synonymy with P. terminaliae. The significance of differences in the length of conidiophores and conidia between P. terminaliae and P. terminaliae-bellericae is unclear and doubtful as the values for these structures of the latter species are intermediate between P. terminaliae and P. kenemensis, which has been reduced to synonym with the former species as well (Crous & Braun 2003). Prathigada ziziphi (Rao & Ramakrishnan 1965) is tentatively reduced to synonymy with Pseudocercospora jujubae. Type material was not available, but the shape and size of the conidia agree well.

There are several other morphological characteristics which were proposed for a further splitting of Pseudocercospora into smaller generic units, but all of them failed due to a morphological continuum between the particular morphological types and numerous intermediate taxa. Furthermore, there is no molecular (phylogenetic) evidence for and support of genera to be segregated based on morphology (Crous et al. 2000, 2001, 2013). Braun (1998) tried to use morphological characters for a separation of Pseudocercospora into morphological, non-phylogenetic sections, which are, however, little useful. Pallidocercospora (Crous et al. 2013), recently introduced for the “Mycosphaerella heimii” complex (Crous et al. 2004a), is a segregation from Pseudocercospora mainly based on its distinct phylogenetic position and culture characteristics (formation of red crystals on MEA, PDA, SNA and WA), whereas the morphology of the asexual and sexual morphs is pseudocercospora- and mycosphaerella-like, respectively.

Cercoseptoria was recognised and reintroduced in Deighton (1976) for pseudocercosporoid species with acicular conidia. Most of the species assigned to Cercoseptoria are distinctly sporodochial. Deighton (1987) and Braun (1988) questioned Cercoseptoria as properly distinguished genus and reduced it to synonymy with Pseudocercospora. Absence or presence of stromata and conidial shape are too variable in Pseudocercospora to be used for the discrimination of smaller units on generic rank. Braun’s (1993) introduction of Cercostigmina for pseudocercospora-like former Stigmina species (conidiophores and conidia thin-walled, conidia scolecosporous) with consistently percurrently proliferating conidiogenous cells, partly associated with mycosphaerella-like sexual morphs, is another example. Sympodial and percurrent proliferations of conidiogenous cells are often mixed in particular Pseudocercospora species, and species with consistently percurrent proliferation cluster within the big Pseudocercospora clade as well (Crous et al. 2001, 2013; Taylor et al. 2003).

The conidiogenous loci of Phaeoisariopsis griseola, type species of Phaeoisariopsis, were previously considered to be passalora-like, i.e. slightly thickened and darkened. However, the loci in P. griseola range from being quite inconspicuous (neither thickened nor darkened), as exhibited in the type material of Pseudocercospora columnaris (Cercospora columnaris), one of the synonyms of P. griseola, to subconspicuous (i.e. non-protuberant, lying flat around the conidiogenous cells, unthickened, but slightly darkened-refractive). Deighton (1990) maintained Phaeoisariopsis as separate genus, but confined it to a few species with scars similar to those of its type species, P. griseola. He reallocated synnematous species with inconspicuous conidiogenous loci to Pseudocercospora and those with distinctly sympodial conidiogenous cells and conspicuously thickened and darkened loci to Passalora, whereas Braun (1992) considered Phaeoisariopsis a synnematous counterpart of Passalora. However, the locus type of Phaeoisariopsis griseola, type species of Phaeoisariopsis, falls within the range of loci in Pseudocercospora, which has been proven by means of results of molecular sequence analyses (Crous et al. 2006). These comprehensive examinations of angular leaf spot of bean (P. griseola) showed that this species clusters within the Pseudocercospora clade and revealed that the formation of synnematous conidiomata does not play any taxonomic role on generic level within the Pseudocercospora complex (Crous et al. 2006, 2013). Hence, this species was reallocated to the latter genus and Phaeoisariopsis was reduced to synonym with Pseudocercospora, which was proposed to be conserved as the former genus name is older (Braun & Crous 2006), i.e. former Phaeoisariopsis species with subconspicuous, P. griseola-like scars as well as inconspicuous loci are now part of Pseudocercospora and those with conspicuously thickened loci belong to Passalora. Furthermore, Crous et al. (2006) demonstrated the unexpected phylogenetic position of Stigmina platani, type species of Stigmina, within the Pseudocercospora clade. Although older than Pseudocercospora, the latter genus name was conserved over that of Stigmina (Braun & Crous 2006).

Paracercospora (Deighton 1979), with P. egenula as type species, was introduced for former pseudocercosporoid hyphomycetes characterised by having a special type of conidiogenous loci, viz. the scars are only visible by a ringlike structure formed by a slightly thickened and darkened rim. P. fijiensis was originally assigned to Pseudocercospora, a position later confirmed in molecular sequence analyses (Crous et al. 2000, 2001, Stewart et al. 1999, Arzanlou et al. 2008). Therefore, Crous & Braun (2003) reduced Paracercospora to synonymy with Pseudocercospora, but the situation is more complicated as P. fijiensis is, indeed, a species of the latter genus, but P. egenula, the type species of Paracercospora, does not cluster within the Pseudocercospora clade and is tentatively maintained as separate genus (Crous et al. 2013). The problem is that the scar structure (Paracercospora type) is not informative and distinctive in this case, i.e. Paracercospora is confined to its type species and only phylogenetically distinguished from Pseudocercospora. Phaeocercospora (Crous et al. 2013) is another pseudocercospora-like genus just based on its separate phylogenetic position.

Based on detailed multilocal phylogenetic examinations, Crous et al. (2013) revealed a large monophyletic Pseudocercospora (s. str.) clade, including the type species of this genus, representing Pseudocercospora emend., which is now a holomorph genus in its own right. Beside species of the “Mycosphaerella heimii” complex, forming a separate clade that is now treated as Pallidocercospora, and Phaeocercospora, there are some additional species morphologically indistinguishable from Pseudocercospora which cluster, however, apart from Pseudocercospora (s. str.) in other clades. Such phylogenetically unresolved species, as for instance P. colombiensis on Eucalyptus (Crous 1998), P. thailandica on Acacia (Crous et al. 2004b), and P. tibouchinigena on Tibuchina (Crous et al. 2013), are tentatively retained in Pseudocercospora. Pseudocercospora s. str. is characterised as follows:

Pseudocercospora Speg., Anales Mus. Nac. Buenos Aires 20: 438, 1910 (nom. cons.).

Type species: Pseudocercospora vitis (Lév.) Speg. 1910.

Synonyms: Stigmina Sacc., Michelia 2: 22 (1880), nom. rej. [type species: S. platani (Fuckel) Sacc. 1880]

Phaeoisariopsis Ferraris, Ann. Mycol. 7: 280 (1909), nom rej. [type species: Ph. griseola (Sacc.) Ferraris 1909].

Cercosporiopsis Miura, Flora of Manchuria and East Mongolia, 3, Cryptogams: 527 (1928), nom. illeg. (Art. 53.1).

Septoriopsis F. Stevens & Dalbey, Mycologia 11: 4 (1918), nom. illeg. (Art. 53.1).

Cercoseptoria Petr., Ann. Mycol. 23: 69 (1925) [type species: C. chamaesyceae (F. Stevens & Dalbey) Petr. 1925].

Ancyclospora Sawada, Rep. Govt. Agric. Res. Inst. Taiwan 87: 78 (1944), nom. inval. (Art. 39.1).

Helicomina L.S. Olive, Mycologia 40: 17 (1948) [type species: H. caperoniae L.S. Olive 1948].

Macraea Subram., Proc. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci, Section B, Biol. Sci., 36: 164 “1952” (1953), nom. illeg. (Art. 53.1).

Prathigada Subram., in Subramanian & Ramakrishnan, J. Madras Univ., B, 26: 366 (1956).

Cercocladospora G.P. Agarwal & S.M. Singh, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. India, B, 42: 439 “1972” (1974) [type species: C. andinae G.P. Agarwal & S.M. Singh 1974].

Cercostigmina U. Braun, Cryptog. Bot. 4: 107 (1993) [type species: C. concentrica (Cooke & Ellis) U. Braun 1993].

Pseudophaeoramularia U. Braun, Trudy Bot. Inst. Im. V.L. Komarova 20: 18 (1997) [type species: P. geranii (W.B. Cooke & C.G. Shaw) U. Braun 1997].

Paracercospora p.p. [see Crous et al. (2013)].

Literature: Deighton (1976), Yen & Lim (1980: 168–190), Pons & Sutton (1988), Hsieh & Goh (1990), Braun (1995a: 42), Guo & Hsieh (1995), Braun & Mel’nik (1997: 18), Guo et al. (1998), Shin & Kim (2001: 158), Crous & Braun (2003: 25), Kamal (2010: 143), Seifert et al. (2011: 364–367).

Description [emend. Crous et al. (2013)]: Hyphomycetes (asexual morphs or asexual holomorphs) or Pseudocercospora with mycosphaerella-like sexual morphs; Mycosphaerellaceae. Foliicolous, occasionally also caulicolous or on fruits, usually phytopathogenic, causing leaf spots or other lesions, occasionally symptomless or endophytic. Mycelium in vivo internal and/or external, superficial, sometimes climbing leaf hairs; hyphae branched, septate, hyaline to pigmented, mostly thin-walled, smooth or only faintly rough-walled, mostly about 1–6 µm wide, external hyphae emerging through stomata, rarely erumpent. Stromata lacking to well-developed, small to large, substomatal, intraepidermal to deeply immersed, mostly between 10 and 120 µm diam, pale olivaceous to dark brown. Colonies on leaves, amphigenous, sometimes also on fruits and stems, almost colourless to dark brown, scattered to dense. Conidiophores semimacronematous to mosty macronematous, in small to large, loose to dense fascicles, arising from internal hyphae or stromata, emerging through stomata or erumpent, and/or conidiophores solitary, arising from superficial hyphae, lateral or occasionally terminal, sometimes forming sporodochial conidiomata (numerous conidiogenous cells or short conidiophores arising from well-developed stromata) or distinct synnemata, conical, cylindrical, filiform to strongly geniculate-sinuous, unbranched to branched, aseptate (conidiophores reduced to conidiogenous cells) to plurieuseptate, subhyaline to dark brown, wall thin to moderately thick, smooth to somewhat rough-walled, occasionally with annellations caused by rejuvenation; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, occasionally intercalary, or conidiophores often reduced to conidiogenous cells, mono- to polyblastic, sympodially or percurrently proliferating, sometimes both types of proliferation mixed, conidiogenous loci inconspicuous or conspicuous by being more or less denticle-like, but locus wall always unthickened or almost so, usually neither darkened nor refractive, rarely more rigid and more conspicuous by being somewhat darkened-refractive or slightly thickened along the rim, but not thickened throughout. Conidia usually formed singly, rarely disarticulating or in short acropetal chains, usually scolecosporous, i.e. obclavate, cylindrical, filiform, acicular and pluriseptate, rarely amero- to phragmosporous, i.e. ellipsoid-ovoid, short cylindrical, fusiform, aseptate or only with few septa, euseptate, rarely eusepta mixed with few distosepta, but not consistently distoseptate, hyaline or subhyaline, olivaceous, olivaceous-brown to medium dark brown, wall thin to somewhat thickened, smooth to faintly verruculose, ends rounded, truncate to obconically truncate, hila unthickened or almost so, planate, rarely slightly bulging, without marginal frill or rarely with minute frill, conidial secession schizolytic.

Pallidocercospora Crous, Stud. Mycol. 75: 73 (2012) [2013].

Type species: Pallidocercospora heimii (Crous) Crous 2013. Pseudocercospora p.p. [see Crous et al. (2013)].

Description: Hyphomycetes (asexual morphs or asexual holomorphs) or Pallidocercospora with mycosphaerella-like sexual morphs; Mycosphaerellaceae. Phylogenetically distinct from Pseudocercospora, forming a separate clade. In vivo morphologically indistinguishable from Pseudocercospora, but in vitro forming red crystals on MEA, PDA, SNA and WA.

Phaeocercospora Crous, Persoonia 28: 171 (2012) [Fungal Planet 122, 2012]

Type species: Phaeocercospora colophospermi Crous 2012.

Description: Hyphomycetes (asexual morphs or asexual holomorphs); Mycosphaerellaceae. Phylogenetically distinct from Pseudocercospora, belonging to the “Dothistroma clade”. Morphologically close to and barely distinguishable from former Cercostigmina species (Cercostigmina-like Pseudocercospora species), i.e. with unilocal, determinate to percurrent conidiogenous cells. Hitherto monotypic (the type species occurs in South Africa on the legume Colophospermum mopane).

Stenella and Zasmidium

Stenella was introduced by Sydow (1930) as monotypic genus for S. araguata, a species with conspicuously thickened, darkened conidiogenous loci and hila. However, this genus was little applied until Ellis (1976) and Deighton (1979) widened its concept and added numerous morphologically similar species, previously mostly assigned to Cercospora, characterised by forming distinctly verruculose superficial mycelium in vivo and verruculose conidia, formed singly or in chains. The number of new and reallocated species increased rapidly, encompassing a wide range of morphological types, i.e. species with exclusively solitary conidiophores arising from superficial hyphae to taxa with solitary as well as fasciculate conidiophores, with or without stromata, with catenate or solitary amero- to scolecosporous conidia or both types mixed in particular species. Similar species with stenella-like conidia, but without any verruculose superficial hyphae in vivo have previously been placed in Stenellopsis, but Braun & Crous (2005) reduced the latter genus to synonym with Stenella, a conclusion supported by results of molecular sequence analyses (Shivas et al. 2009). The presence of superficial mycelium in Stenella is not essential on generic rank, which is comparable to the situation in other cercosporoid genera like Passalora and Pseudocercospora. Verrucisporota, introduced by Shaw & Alcorn (1993) as replacement for the illegitimate Verrucospora, with V. proteacearum as type species, is morphologically very close to Zasmidium and barely distinguishable. Previous attempts to distinguish this genus from Stenellopsis on the base of differences in the stroma structure, broad loci and rugose conidia (Ellis 1971, David 1997) are neither practicable nor tenable. New species of this genus described by Beilharz & Pascoe (2002) are rather zasmidium-like. One of these species, V. davisiae, has a mycosphaerella-like sexual morph. Phylogenetic analyses of Verrucisporota species carried out by Crous et al. (2009c) showed that they cluster within the Mycosphaerellaceae clade together with Zasmidium species. Therefore, Verrucisporota is tentatively considered a synonym of the non-monophyletic genus Zasmidium until the exact phylogenetic position of its type species will be known.

Arzanlou et al. (2007) carried out comprehensive molecular examinations of Ramichloridium and morphologically similar genera, including Stenella and Zasmidium. Stenella araguata, the type species of Stenella, surprisingly clustered in the Teratosphaeriaceae, whereas all other examined Stenella species belong to the Mycosphaerellaceae phylogenetically. These results led to the conclusion that Stenella has to be confined to its type species, whereas the other species in the Mycosphaerellaceae need to be assigned to another genus. Zasmidium proved to be an available name, as the type species of this genus clusters in the Mycosphaerellaceae and coincides morphologically with Stenella (Arzanlou et al. 2007). Therefore, Braun et al. (2010a) introduced Zasmidium as genus for stenella-like fungi belonging to the Mycosphaerellaceae and reallocate numerous species, although Zasmidium s. lat. does not form a single monophyletic clade within the Mycosphaerellaceae (Crous et al. 2009a, b). The conidiogenous loci and hila of the conidia in Zasmidium are cercosporoid, i.e. planate and somewhat thickened and darkened. Stenella s. str. is currently monotypic, i.e. confined to its type species, and the conidiogenous loci are according to David (1993) pileate. Otherwise, Stenella and Zasmidium species are morphologically barely distinguished. Braun et al. (2010b) and Kamal (2010) reallocated numerous additional Stenella species described from Brazil, New Zealand, Venezuela and known from India to Zasmidium.

Zasmidium Fr., Summa Veg. Scand. 2: 407 (1848).

Type species: Zasmidium cellare (Pers. : Fr.) Fr. 1848.

Synonyms: Biharia Thirum. & Mishra, Sydowia 7: 79 (1953) [type species: B. vangueriae Thirum. & Mishra 1953].

Stenellopsis B. Huguenin, Bull. Trimestriel Soc. Mycol. France 81: 695 (1966) [type species: St. fagraeae B. Huguenin 1966].

Verrucispora D.E. Shaw & Alcorn, Proc. Linn. Soc. New South Wales 92: 171 (1967), nom. illeg. (Art. 53.1).

Verrucisporota D.E. Shaw & Alcorn, Austral. Syst. Bot. 6: 273 (1993) [type species: V. proteacearum D.E. Shaw & Alcorn 1993].

Stenella p.p. [see Braun et al. (2010a, b)].

Literature: Deighton (1979: 52–54, as Stenella), Ellis (1976: 307–314, as Stenella), Braun & Mel’nik (1997: 21), Braun et al. (2010a, b), Shivas et al. (2009), Seifert et al. (2011: 478).

Description [emend. Braun et al. (2010a)]: Hyphomycetes (asexual morphs or asexual holomorphs) or Zasmidium with mycosphaerella-like sexual morphs; Mycosphaerellaceae. Saprobic or mostly biotrophic, usually foliicolous, symptomless or causing various lesions, ranging from yellowish discolorations to distinct leaf spots. In plant pathogenic species, mycelium mostly immersed as well as superficial, rarely only immersed; hyphae branched, septate, colourless or almost so to pigmented, pale olivaceous to brown, wall thin to somewhat thickened, immersed hyphae smooth or almost so to faintly rough, external hyphae distinctly verruculose to verrucose (in culture immersed hyphae usually smooth or almost so, aerial hyphae verruculose). Stromata lacking to well-developed, pigmented. Conidiophores solitary, arising from superficial hyphae, lateral, occasionally terminal, in vivo (in plant pathogenic taxa) sometimes also fasciculate, arising from internal hyphae or stromata, semimacronematous to macronematous, in culture occasionally micronematous, cylindrical, filiform, subuliform, straight to strongly geniculate-sinuous, mostly unbranched, aseptate, i.e. reduced to conidiogenous cells, to pluriseptate, subhyaline to pigmented, pale olivaceous to medium dark brown, wall thin to somewhat thickened, smooth to verruculose; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, occasionally intercalary, rarely pleurogenous, or conidiophores reduced to conidiogenous cells, mostly polyblastic, sympodial, conidiogenous loci conspicuous, somewhat thickened and darkened-refractive, planate. Conidia solitary or catenate, in simple or branched acropetal chains, shape and size variable, ranging from amero- to scolecosporous, aseptate to transversely plurieuseptate, subhyaline to pigmented, pale olivaceous to brown, wall thin to somewhat thickened, smooth or almost so to usually distinctly verruculose (in plant pathogenic species without superficial mycelium always verruculose), hila somewhat thickened and darkened-refractive, planate, conidial secession schizolytic.

Stenella Syd., Ann. Mycol. 28: 205 (1930).

Type species: Stenella araguata Syd. 1930.

Description: Morphologically agreeing with plant pathogenic Zasmidium species, except for pileate conidiogenous loci. Phylogenetically belonging in the Teratosphaeriaceae (in its current circumscription monotypic). Stenella araguata was redescribed in Ellis (1971).

Tentatively Recognised Cercosporoid Genera

Asperisporium Maubl., Lavoura 16: 212, “1912” (1913) and Bull. Trimestriel Soc. Mycol. France 29: 357 (1913).

Type species: Asperisporium caricae (Speg.) Maubl. 1913.

Literature: Ellis (1971: 273–274; 1976: 240–243), Sutton (1975: 182–185), von Arx (1983), Braun (1995a: 40), Braun & Mel’nik (1997: 14), Crous & Braun (2003: 13), Minnis et al. (2011), Seifert et al. (2011: 95).

Description: Usually foliicolous, leaf-spotting hyphomycetes, Mycosphaerellaceae. Mycelium in vivo internal; hyphae branched, septate, colourless to pigmented, thin-walled, smooth or almost so. Stromata usually well-developed, substomatal to intraepidermal, often somewhat erumpent, pigmented. Conidiophores macronematous, usually densely fasciculate, forming sporodochial conidiomata, continuous to septate, pigmented, wall thin to slightly thickened, smooth or almost so; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal or conidiophores reduced to conidiogenous cells, usually polyblastic, sympodial, but mostly not strongly geniculate, conidiogenous loci conspicuous, thickened and darkened. Conidia solitary, amero- to phragmosporous (non-scolecosporous), mostly ellipsoid-ovoid, obovoid, fusiform to short cylindrical or obclavate, mostly with 0–3 eusepta, sometimes with a single or several oblique or longitudinal septa, pigmented, distinctly verruculose to coarsely verrucose, basal hilum thickened and darkened, conidial secession schizolytic.

Notes: Asperisporium is morphologically very close to Passalora, as already emphasized by Crous & Braun (2003), except for verrucose conidia. The phylogenetic position of A. caricae, its type species, has recently been elucidated in Minnis et al. (2011), based on DNA sequences from the ITS region and nLSU, showing that this species clusters within the Mycosphaerellaceae clade close to several Passalora species, including P. brachycarpa. According to this result, Asperisporium is undoubtedly a potential synonym of Passalora. However, as Passalora is still para- or even polyphyletic and the phylogenetic position of its type species is still unknown, a formal reassessment of Asperisporium was postponed by Minnis et al. (2011) until the whole Passalora complex will be phylogenetically examined and reassessed in detail. However, the postponed reassessment of the genus name Asperisporium does only concern its type species. Other species assigned to Asperisporum have to be individually reassessed, if possible based on molecular sequence data. Asperisporium sequoiae and A. juniperinum, two species on Gymnosperms with relatively delicately rough-walled conidia, are typical examples. Sequences of the two species are rather similar, cluster with other species of Passalora s. lat., but they are only distantly related to the type species of Asperisporium (Solheim 2013). Therefore, these species are better assigned to the polyphyletic Passalora in its current circumscription. Comprehensive phylogenetic examinations of the whole complex of asperisporium- and passalora-like hyphomycetes are necessary to reach a better more natural genus concept in this group of cercosporoid hyphomycetes. The surface sculpture of the conidia as character for the discrimination of Asperisporium from Passalora is undoubtedly unreliable, at least species with delicately verruculose conidia may belong to Passalora, which is supported by phylogenetic data.

Cladosporiella Deighton, Mycol. Pap. 101: 34 (1965). Type species: Cladosporiella cercosporicola Deighton 1965.

Literature: Deighton (1969: 33–39), Ellis (1971: 303), Braun (1995a: 39), Seifert et al. (2011: 145).

Notes: Morphologically close to Cladosporium and mycovellosiella-like Passalora species (with superficial hyphae, conidiophores fasciculate or solitary, arising from superficial hyphae, conidiogenous loci conspicuous, thickened and darkened, conidia catenate, pigmented), but the loci and hila are not cladosporium-like (not coronate) and all species assigned to this genus are hyperparasitic. The hyperparasitic habit as single character is barely acceptable and usable to discriminate this genus from Passalora, but since the phylogenetic position of Cladosporiella and its relation to the Mycosphaerellaceae are still unclear and unproven, we tentatively prefer to maintain it as separate genus.

Denticularia Deighton, Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc. 59: 421 (1972).

Type species: Denticularia modesta (Syd.) Deighton 1972.

Literature: Ellis (1976: 182–183), Braun (1995a: 42), Crous & Braun (2003: 23), Seifert et al. (2011: 176).

Notes: Morphologically close to Pseudocercospora (leaf spotting hyphomycetes with unthickened, not darkened conidiogenous loci and hila), but the conidiogenous loci are distinctly denticle-like, and the catenate conidia are non-scolecosporous, only with 0–1(−3) septa.

Cultures of the type species of this genus and results of molecular sequence analyses are necessary to resolve its phylogenetic position and clarify its relation to Pseudocercospora. It is still unclear and unproven if this genus belongs in the Mycosphaerellaceae. Therefore, Denticularia is tentatively retained as genus on its own.

Elletevera Deighton, Mycol. Pap. 118: 17 (1969).

Type species: Elletevera parasitica (Ellis & Everh.) Deighton 1969.

Literature: Braun (1995a: 37), Crous & Braun (2003: 17), Seifert et al. (2011: 193).

Description: Fungicolous, hyperparasitic dematiaceous hyphomycetes. Mycelium immersed; hyphae hyaline to faintly pigmented; stromata lacking; conidiophores macronematous, erect, laxly fasciculate, frequently branched, septate, faintly pigmented, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal or formed as lateral branchlets, conidiogenous loci neither thickened nor darkened, but distinct by being denticle-like and somewhat refractive; conidia solitary, rarely catenate, phragmo- to scolecosporous, pigmented, with slightly refractive basal hilum.

Notes: This genus was introduced for hyperparasitic cercosporoid hyphomycetes with “distinct” conidiogenous loci, morphologically resembling species of the former genus Mycovellosiella. However, the re-examination of several collections of the type species of Elletevera showed that Deighton’s (1969) original description of the conidiogenous loci (scars) is misleading (Crous & Braun 2003). Due to denticle-like loci with unthickened, not darkened walls, Elletevera is possibly related to Pseudocercospora or perhaps not cercosporoid at all. But this question cannot be answered without knowledge of the phylogenetic affinity of this genus, which is still unproven and unclear. The hyperparasitic habit alone is insufficent to uphold Elletevera as separate genus, but until its phyologenetic position is proven the latter genus is tentatively maintained.

Eriocercospora Deighton, Mycol. Pap. 118: 5 (1969). Type species: Eriocercospora balladynae (Hansf.) Deighton 1969.

Literature: Ellis (1971: 248–249), Rao et al. (1982: 1155), Braun (1995a: 39), Seifert et al. (2011: 199).

Description: Fungicolous, hyperparasitic dematiaceous hyphomycetes. Mycelium superficial; hyphae branched, septate, pigmented, thin-walled, smooth. Stromata lacking. Conidiophores macronematous, mononematous, solitary, in vivo arising from superficial hyphae, lateral, erect, usually unbranched, continuous to septate, pigmented, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal and intercalary, sympodially proliferating, but usually not distinctly geniculate, conidiogenous loci subconspicuous, i.e. unthickened, not or barely protuberant, not or only slightly darkened-refractive. Conidia solitary, scolecosporous, transversely euseptate, pigmented, thin-walled, smooth or almost so, hila unthickened, not or barely darkened-refractive.

Notes: Crous & Braun (2003) re-examined type material and numerous other collections of E. balladynae and found that Deighton’s (1969) original description of the conidiogenous loci (scars), which were compared with those of the former genus Mycovellosiella, are misleading. The loci are neither thickened nor conspicuously darkened (at most they are only slightly darkened-refractive), i.e. they are rather Pseudocercospora-like. In E. olivacea, another hyperparasitic species, the loci and hila are quite unthickened and also not darkened-refractive. Eriocercospora websteri and E. moghaniae are two excluded plant pathogenic species that were reallocated to Pseudocercospora (Braun 2002, Crous & Braun 2003). Eriocercospora is possibly a synonym of Pseudocercospora, but without proof based on molecular DNA sequence analyses a final decision has to be postponed. Stenospora (type species: Stenospora uredinicola, Deighton 1969) is very close to Eriocercospora but mucedinaceous (colourless).

Eriocercosporella R. Kumar, A.N. Rai & Kamal ex U. Braun, Monogr. Cercosporella, Ramularia 2: 398 (1998).

Type species: Eriocercosporella indica R. Kumar, A.N. Rai & Kamal ex U. Braun 1998.

Synonym: Eriocercosporella R. Kumar, A.N. Rai & Kamal, Indian Phytopathol. 47: 127 (1994), nom. inval.

Literature: Seifert et al. (2011: 199).

Description: Foliicolous hyphomycetes, associated with leaf spots. Mycelium internal and external, superficial hyphae emerging through stomata, branched, pigmented, septate, thin-walled, smooth. Stromata lacking. Conidiophores macronematous, mononematous, in vivo solitary, arising from superficial hyphae, lateral, simple, occasionally branched, pigmented, septate, thick-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, uni- to multilocal, sympodially or occasionally percurrently proliferating, loci truncate, flat, broad, neither thickened nor darkened, conidiogenesis thalloblastic, i.e. at first blastic, then thallic (base of conidia ± agreeing in width with the diameter of the broad conidiogenous loci). Conidia solitary, cylindrical to subclavate, occasionally disarticulating, plurieuseptate, occasionally with 1–2 additional distosepta, thick-walled, brown, smooth, not attenuated at the base, hila truncate, broad, width ± agreeing with the diameter of the conidiogenous loci, neither thickened nor darkened, conidial secession schizolytic.

Notes: Due to the conidiogenesis, the structure of the conidiogenous cells and the thick-walled conidia, this genus seems to be allied to the Sporidesmium complex, but an affinity to Pseudocercospora can also not be excluded with certainty. However, the phylogenetic affinity of Eriocercosporella and its relation to the Mycosphaerellaceae are currently quite unclear. Molecular examinations of the phylogenetic position of the type species of this genus are necessary to decide if Eriocercosporella belongs to the cercosporoid or to the sporidesmioid complex. Therefore, this genus is only tentatively treated in the present context of cercosporoid genera.

Pantospora Cif., Ann. Mycol. 36: 242 (1938). Type species: Pantospora guazumae Cif. 1938.

Dictyocephala A.G. Medeiros, Publ. Univ. Recife Inst. Micol. 373: 13 (1962) [type species: D. ulmifoliae (Obreg.-Bot.) A.G. Medeiros 1962].

Literature: Deighton (1976: 156–159), Crous & Braun (2003: 23), Minnis et al. (2011), Seifert et al. (2011: 325).

Description: Foliicolous hyphomycetes, associated with leaf spots, Mycosphaerellaceae. Mycelium internal; hyphae colourless or almost so. Stromata developed, pigmented. Conidiophores macronematous, in dense coremioid fascicles or synnemata, septate, pigmented, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, proliferation sympodial and percurrent, conidiogenous loci planate to slightly convex, neither thickened nor darkened (pseudocercospora-like). Conidia formed singly, shape variable, ellipsoid-ovoid, fusiform, clavate to obclavate, didymo- to scolecosporous, with 1–11 transverse eusepta and often a single or few oblique to longitudinal septa, hila neither thickened nor darkened.

Notes: The genus Pantospora was described by Ciferri (1938). Pantospora guazumae, the type species, is a leaf-spotting hyphomycete on Guazuma ulmifolia. Dictyocephala, based on Cercospora ulmifolia described from Colombia on G. ulmifolia, is undoubtedly a synonym of Pantospora as already pointed out by Deighton (1976), who recognised the latter genus although its type species is very similar to the type species of Pseudocercospora by forming conidiophores in dense coremioid fascicles or distinct synnemata and sympodially to percurrently proliferating conidiogenous cells with unthickened, not darkened conidiogenous loci. The regular formation of oblique to longitudinal conidial septa was considered to be the only difference, although a few nonhorizontal septa may also occur in some Pseudocercospora species, including P. vitis, its type species. As there is no rational base for a morphological discrimination between the two genera, Crous & Braun (2003) reduced Pantospora to synonymy with Pseudocercospora. However, sequence analyses based on data from the rDNA ITS and nLSU region, recently carried out by Minnis et al. (2011), showed that Pantospora guazumae did neither cluster within the Pseudocercospora s. str. clade [= clade 16, including the type species P. vitis, according to Crous et al. (2009b)] nor in clade 14 with other pseudocercospora-like species. The closest relatives were rather passalora-like. These results suggest that Pantospora cannot be considered a synonym of Pseudocercospora. This genus is, at least tentatively, maintained as separate genus until a better resolution of the assemblage of species around P. guazumae will be available.

Paracercospora Deighton, Mycol. Pap. 144: 47 (1979).

Type species: Paracercospora egenula (Syd.) Deighton 1979.

Literature: Crous & Braun (2003: 22), Crous et al. (2012).

Description: Dematiaceous hyphomycete genus morphologically barely distinguishable from Pseudocercospora, but phylogenetically distinct; Mycosphaerellaceae. Mycelium in vivo internal. Conidiophores macronematous, fasciculate, pigmented; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal or conidiophores reduced to conidiogenous cells, conidiogenous loci subconspicous by being circular with very slightly thickened and darkened-refractive rim. Conidia solitary, scolecosporous, subhyaline to very pale olivaceous, hila very slightly thickened and darkened-refractive along the rim.

Notes: The phylogenetic position and taxonomy of Paracercospora is complicated and not yet fully understood. Based on early phylogenetic analyses, Stewart et al. (1999) considered Paracercospora a synonym of Pseudocercospora and concluded that conidiogenous loci (scars) only slightly thickened and darkened around the rim are not sufficiently different from quite unthickened loci to be used as distinctive character on generic level, which was supported by additional rDNA ITS examinations (Crous et al. 2000, 2001). Therefore, Crous & Braun (2003) followed this conclusion and treated Paracercospora as synonym of Pseudocercospora. However, the reassessment of Paracercospora was based on data derived from non-type species, mainly P. fijiensis and P. basiramifera (Crous 1998, Arzanlou et al. 2008), which indeed cluster within the big Pseudocercospora clade. Paracercospora egenula, the type species of Paracercospora, has recently been included in molecular sequence analyses, but clustered apart of the Pseudocercospora clade in a not yet fully understood clade together with Passalora brachycarpa, a species with catenate conidia, Pseudocercospora tibuchinigena, which is morphologically indistinguishable from genuine Pseudocercospora spp., and several Mycosphaerella spp. (Crous et al. 2012). Hence, Paracercospora is currently confined to its type species, characterised by circular conidiogenous loci with slightly thickened, darkened-refractive rim and very pale conidia. Since such paracercosporoid loci as well as subhyaline or pale conidia are also known in several genuine Pseudocercospora species, there is no rational base for a morphological discrimination of the two genera, i.e. Paracercospora s. str. is currently just a phylogenetically differentiated monotypic genus.

Parastenella J.C. David, Mycol. Res. 95: 124 (1991). Type species: Parastenella magnoliae (Weedon) J.C. David 1991.

Synonym: Stenellopsis Morgan-Jones, Mycotaxon 10: 405 (1980), nom illeg. (Art. 53.1).

Literature: Braun (1995a: 41), Seifert et al. (2011: 330).

Description: Dematiaceous hyphomycete genus resembling Zasmidium (in vivo with superficial mycelium, hyphae, conidiophores and solitary conidia pigmented, distinctly verruculose to verrucose), but the conidiogenous cells are terminal and intercalary, denticulate, with lateral short peg-like protuberances, conidiogenous loci inconspicuous, neither thickened nor darkened.

Notes: The phylogenetic position of this genus is unknown. It is quite unclear if it is part of the Capnodiales and Mycosphaerellaceae at all.

Pseudoasperisporium U. Braun, Schlechtendalia 5: 72 (2000).

Type species: Pseudoasperisporium tupae (Speg.) U. Braun 2000.

Literature: Seifert et al. (2011: 363).

Notes: Morphologically close to Asperisporium, but the conidiogenous loci and hila at the base of conidia are unthickened and not darkened. Species of Pseudoaspersporium are distinguished from superficially similar Fusicladium species (Venturiaceae) by having coarsely verruculose conidia. The phylogenetic affinity of this genus is, however, unclear and unproven.

Pseudocercosporidium Deighton, Mycol. Pap. 133: 55 (1973).

Type species: Pseudocercosporidium venezuelanum (Syd.) Deighton 1973.

Literature: Ellis (1971: 297–299), Braun (1995a: 37), Crous & Braun (2003: 14), Seifert et al. (2011: 367).

Description: Foliicolous, plant pathogenic, leaf spotting hyphomycetes, teleomorph unknown. Mycelium internal. Stromata lacking. Conidiophores in vivo solitary or in small loose fascicles (groups) emerging through stomata, laxly erect, macronematous, frequently branched, septate, pigmented (very pale brown), thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, intercalary or pleurogenous (as lateral branchlets), sympodial, polyblastic, conidiogenous loci conspicuous, protruding, convex (papilla-like), but wall of the loci neither thickened nor darkened, only somewhat refractive. Conidia solitary, didymo- to scolecosporous, pigmented (deeper in pigmentation than the conidiophores), thin-walled, smooth or almost so, hila neither thickened nor darkened.

Notes: The phylogenetic affinity of P. venezuelanum and its relation to the Mycosphaerellaceae are unknown. Pseudocercosporidium resembles Passalora, but the structure of the conidiogenous loci is quite distinct and closer to scars of genera like Neoovularia and Pseudodidymaria (Braun 1998).

Quasiphloeospora B. Sutton, Crous & Shamoun, Mycol. Res. 100: 979 (1996).

Type species: Quasiphloeospora saximontanensis (Deighton) B. Sutton, Crous & Shamoun 1996.

Literature: Deighton (1983: 7–8), Braun (1998: 400–401), Crous & Braun (2003: 14), Seifert et al. (2011: 376–377).

Description: Cercosporoid hyphomycetes characterised by forming large immersed sporodochium-like conidiomata with filiform, somewhat pigmented, irregularly verruculose conidiophores, aseptate, i.e. reduced to conidiogenous cells, monoblastic, determinate or sympodially to percurrently proliferating, with slightly thickened and darkened conidiogenous loci, and very pale to somewhat pigmented scolecosporous conidia formed singly.

Notes: Quasiphloeospora is a cercosporoid genus with intricate morphology and complex morphological relations to several other genera, including Cercospora, Passalora and Pseudocercospora (Crous & Braun 2003), but due to very pale, almost colourless structures also to genera like Pseudocercosporella. Sutton et al. (1996) classified the conidiomata as acervuli, although they may better be referred to as sporodochia. The particular characters of Q. saximontanensis, above all the structure of the conidiogenous loci, are intermediate between the three similar genera cited above. A clear affiliation to one of these genera, just based on morphology, is not possible. It is also possible that this species is unrelated to any of the cercosporoid genera. Affinity and position of Quasiphloeospora can only be proven by means of results of molecular sequence analyses, which are, however, not yet available. This genus might belong in the Mycosphaerellaceae, but this is unproven. Thus, Quasiphloeospora is only tentatively maintained as separate cercosporoid genus.

Scolecostigmina U. Braun, New Zealand J. Bot. 37: 323 (1999).

Type species: Scolecostigmina mangiferae (Koord.) U. Braun & Mouch. 1999.

Stigmina p.p. [see Braun (1999), Crous et al. (2013)].

Literature: Crous & Braun (2003: 24), Crous et al. (2013: 74–75), Seifert et al. (2011: 396).

Description: Scolecostigmina is morphologically close to Pseudocercospora, above all to former Cercostigmina species (leaf spotting dematiaceous hyphomycetes with sporodochial conidiomata, macronematous densely fasciculate conidiophores, percurrently proliferating conidiogenous cells, neither thickened nor darkened applanate loci, and scolecosporous, plurieuseptate, pigmented conidia formed singly), but the wall of the conidiophores is somewhat thickened and mostly verruculose, possesses conspicuous, coarse annellations and the conidia are transversely and occasionally also obliquely or longitudinally septate.

Notes: S. mangiferae, the type species, which belongs in the Mycosphaerellaceae, does not cluster within the Pseudocercospora clade, i.e. it is phylogenetically distinct, supporting Scolecostigmina as separate genus. The correct placement of numerous additional species in Scolecostigmina is, however, phylogenetically unproven and quite unclear. Sequence data derived from cultures of Scolecostigmina chibaensis on Pinus spp. in Japan (Nakashima et al. 2007) have been analysed and showed that this species is not allied to the type species of Scolecostigmina and does not belong to the Mycosphaerellaceae at all. It takes an isolated position with unclear affinity on family level, and does not belong to any other families containing cercosporoid hyphomycetes as for instance Cladosporiaceae, Dissoconiaceae or Teratosphaericeae (Nakashima, unpubl. data). Due to the phylogenetic position of Cercospora cryptomeriicola within the Pseudocercospora clade, this species has been reallocated to the latter genus, although its morphology is rather scolecostigmina-like. The conidiomata are sporodochial, conidiogenous cells proliferate percurrently with conspicuous annellations, and the walls of the conidia are thickened (Nakashima et al. 2007). These data indicate that the typical “Scolecostigmina” morphology is unreliable, i.e. all species assigned to Scolecostigmina have to be re-examined and reassessed once molecular data are available.

Semipseudocercospora J.M. Yen, Mycotaxon 17: 361 (1983).

Type species: Semipseudocercospora peristrophes-acuminatae (J.M. Yen) J.M. Yen 1983.

Description: Morphologically close to Pseudocercospora (leaf spotting hyphomycetes with unthickened, not darkened conidiogenous loci and hila), but the conidiogenous cells are not geniculate, i.e. not distinctly sympodially proliferating, the conidiogenous loci are distinctly denticle-like, and the solitary conidia are didymo- to phragmosporous, i.e. not scolecosporous.

Notes: The phylogenetic position of the type species of this genus and its relation to the Mycosphaerellaceae as well as to the genus Pseudocercospora are still unknown and unproven. Therefore, Semipseudocercospora is only tentatively maintained as separate cercosporoid genus.

Sirosporium Bubák & Serebrian., Hedwigia 52: 272 (1912).

Type species: Sirosporium antenniforme (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Bubák & Serebrian. 1912.

Literature: Ellis (1963: 2–11; 1971: 288–290; 1976: 299–303), Braun (1995a: 39), Mel’nik (2000: 284–288), Crous & Braun (2003: 18), Seifert et al. (2011: 404).

Description: Morphologically close to Passalora, i.e. above all mycovellosiella-like (leaf spotting dematiaceous hyphomycetes with internal and external mycelium, superficial hyphae giving rise to solitary conidiophores, lateral and terminal, conidiophores may also be formed in fascicles, conspicuous conidiogenous loci and hila, thickened and darkened, conidia solitary, size, shape and septation variable), but the conidia are relatively thick-walled and at least partly dictyosporous.

Notes: The morphological differentiation between Sirosporium and mycovellosiella-like Passalora species is vague. The phylogenetic meaning and value of thick conidial walls and oblique to longitudinal septa as distinguishing characters between Sirosporium and Passalora is unclear. The phylogenetic position of the type species of Sirosporium is still unknown. As already proposed in Braun (1995a) as well as Crous & Braun (2003), Sirosporium is tentatively treated as separate genus and should be confined to species with dictyosporous conidia with thick walls.

Doubtful and Excluded Genera

Several hyphomycete genera have previously been considered to be and treated as cercosporoid genera, but based on modern phylogenetic examinations they are not part of the family Mycosphaerellaceae and the corresponding clade, i.e. they belong elsewhere and are not cercosporoid s. str. Species of such genera are not treated here:

Miuraea Hara, Byochugai-Hoten (Manual of Pests and Diseases): (260), 779 (1948).

Type species: Miuraea degenerans (Syd. & P. Syd.) Hara 1948.

Literature: von Arx (1983: 39), Braun (1995a: 218–223), Seifert et al. (2011: 293), Crous et al. (2013: 69).

Notes: Statements that Miuraea is associated with mycosphaerella-like teleomorphs and belongs to the Mycosphaerellaceae were based on Miuraea persicae (sexual morph: Mycosphaerella pruni-persicae). This species clusters together with Pseudocercosporella species within the Mycosphaerellaceae (Crous et al. 2013) and should rather be assigned to the latter genus, which is in its current circumscription non-monophyletic. It is quite unclear and phylogenetically unproven if M. persicae is congeneric with M. degenerans, the type species of Miuraea. The latter species differs from M. persicae in having thin-walled, hyaline hyphae and conidia, which become thick-walled and pigmented with age. Longitudinal and oblique septa are rather common. Miuraea s. str. does possibly not belong to the Mycosphaerellaceae at all, but this is not yet proven. Miuraea asiminae, another species treated under Miuraea in Braun (1995a), was later reallocated to Pseudocercospora (Braun & Crous 2008).

Phaeomycocentrospora Crous, H.D. Shin & U. Braun, Stud. Mycol. 75: 61 (2012) [2013] [Pleosporales]

Type species: Phaeomycocentrospora cantuariensis (E.S. Salmon & Wormald) Crous, H.D. Shin & U. Braun 2013.

Notes: The type species, originally described as species of Cercospora, was later reallocated to Pseudocercospora (Braun 1993). However, based on molecular sequence analyses, recently carried out by Crous et al. (2013), it was demonstrated that it represents an undescribed genus belonging to the Pleosporales.

Thedgonia B. Sutton, Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc. 61: 426 (1973) [Helotiales]

Type species: Thedgonia ligustrina (Boerema) B. Sutton 1973.

Literature: von Arx (1981, 1983), Braun (1990: 71; 1995a: 211–215), Crous & Braun (2003: 22), Seifert et al. (2011: 437), Crous et al. (2013: 61).

Notes: Thedgonia was previously considered a cercosporoid genus with a type species originally assigned to Cercospora s. lat. (von Arx 1983, Braun 1995a), which was seemingly supported by the finding of the sexual morph of T. lupini, described as Mycosphaerella lupini (Kaiser & Crous 1998), and the phylogenetic position of this species in the Mycosphaerellaceae (Crous & Braun 2003). However, T. ligustrina, the type species of Thedgonia, and T. lupini are not congeneric and phylogenetically distinct since T. ligustrina clusters within the Helotiales (Crous et al. 2009a, 2013). Thedgonia lupini has to be reassessed and reallocated to a genus within the Mycosphaerellaceae, maybe to the non-monophyletic genus Pseudocercosporella to which this species roughly fits. The affinity of other species assigned to Thedgonia is unclear and unproven.

Xenostigmina Crous, Mycol. Mem. 21: 154 (1998) [Pleosporales, Phaeosphaeriaceae]

Type species: Xenostigmina zilleri (A. Funk) Crous 1998.

Notes: Xenostigmina and its synasexual morphs in Mycopappus belong to the Pleosporales (Crous et al. 2013), i.e. they are not part of the Mycosphaerellaceae, in contrast to Stigmina s. str. which has been reduced to synonym with Pseudocercospora (Crous et al. 2006).

Key to Currently Recognised Cercosporoid Genera

Expanded keys to cercosporoid genera and morphologically similar and confusable genera have been published in Braun (1995a: 23–36), Crous & Braun (2003: 28–32) and Braun in Seifert et al. (2011: 887–893).

  1. 1

    Saprobic or biotrophic, plant pathogenic hyphomycetes, causing various lesions, mostly leaf-spotting ................ 2

    Hyperparasitic (pathogenic on other fungi) or strictly fungicolous ................ 23

  2. 2 (1)

    Very large immersed sporodochium-like conidiomata, about 40–130 µm diam, with filiform, somewhat pigmented, irregularly verruculose conidiophores, aseptate, i.e. reduced to conidiogenous cells, monoblastic, determinate or sympodially to percurrently proliferating, with slightly thickened and darkened conidiogenous loci, and pale (subhyaline) to somewhat pigmented scolecosporous conidia formed singly; on Ribes saximontanensis in North America ................ Quasiphloeospora

    With other characters or combinations of characters ................ 3

  3. 3 (2)

    Stromata lacking; conidiophores in vivo solitary or in small loose fascicles (groups) emerging through stomata, laxly erect, frequently branched, very pale brown; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, intercalary or pleurogenous (as lateral branchlets), conidiogenous loci conspicuous, protruding, convex (papilla-like), but wall of the loci neither distinctly thickened nor darkened, only somewhat refractive; conidia solitary, didymo- to scolecosporous, pigmented (deeper in pigmentation than the conidiophores), hila neither thickened nor darkened ................ Pseudocercosporidium

    With other characters or combinations of characters; conidiogenous loci different, not papilla-like, but truncate, either inconspicuous or more denticle-like, but always unthickened and not darkened, or with conspicuously thickened and darkened-refractive loci ................ 4

  4. 4 (3)

    Conidiogenous loci inconspicuous, neither thickened nor darkened or subconspicuous by being more rigid or denticle-like, but wall of the loci always unthickend and not darkened, at most somewhat refractive, or only slightly thickened and darkened around the rim (formed as minute somewhat darker rim visible as darker circle) ................ 5

    Conidiogenous loci conspicuous, thickened and darkened throughout, except for a very minute centre pore (in front view visible as minute dark circle) ................ 14

  5. 5 (4)

    Forming superficial mycelium in vivo, hyphae verruculose-verrucose; conidiogenous cells terminal and intercalary, denticulate, with lateral short peg-like protuberances, conidiogenous loci inconspicuous, neither thickened nor darkened ................ Parastenella

    Superficial hyphae in vivo lacking or, if present, smooth or almost so; with genuine conidiophores, at least not with consistently peg-like protuberances ................ 6

  6. 6 (5)

    Conidiophores in vivo in synnematous conidiomata ................ 7

    Conidiophores in vivo solitary, fasciculate or in sporodochia ................ 8

  7. 7 (6)

    Conidia often dictyosporous; on Guazuma ulmifolia, South America ................ Pantospora

    Conidia usually consistenty transversely septate; on other hosts ................ Pseudocercospora (synnematous species)

  8. 8 (6)

    Conidiophores in sporodochial conidiomata; wall of the densely arranged conidiophores somewhat thickened and mostly distinctly verruculose, forming conspicuous, coarse annellations; conidia transversely and occasionally also obliquely or longitudinally septate, wall often somewhat thickened ................ Scolecostigmina

    Conidiophores thin-walled, rarely somewhat thickened, but then always smooth, annellations lacking or if present fine and rather inconspicuous; conidia usually thin-walled and transversely septate ................ 9

  9. 9 (8)

    Conidiophores in dense fascicles or in sporodochial conidiomata, distinctly verruculose; conidia solitary, didymo- to phragmosporous, distinctly verruculose-verrucose ................ Pseudoasperisporium

    Conidiophores and conidia smooth or almost so, at most faintly rough-walled ................ ................ 10

  10. 10 (9)

    Conidiogenous cells with distinct denticles; conidia amero- to phragmosporous, i.e. not scolecosporous ................ 11

    Conidiogenous cells not denticulate or only subdenticulate (conidiogenous loci on shoulders caused by sympodial proliferation) and then scolecosporous ................ 12

  11. 11 (10)

    Conidiogenous cells not geniculate, i.e. not distinctly sympodially proliferating, conidiogenous loci formed as distinct terminal to lateral denticles; conidia solitary, didymo- to phragmosporous; on Peristrophe, Asia ................ Semipseudocercospora

    Conidiogenous cells sympodially proliferating; conidia catenate, 0–1(−3)-septate ................ Denticularia

  12. 12(10)

    Conidiophores fasciculate and solitary, arising from superficial hyphae; conidiogenesis thalloblastic; conidiogenous loci truncate, flat, broad, loci and conidium initials of similar width, conidial base not or barely constricted; conidia thick-walled; on Marsdenia in India ................ Eriocercosporella

    Conidiogenesis holoblastic; width of loci and conidium initials different, narrowed at the attachment point between conidiogenous cells and conidium initial ................ 13

  13. 13(12)

    Conidiophores solitary, arising from superficial hyphae, fasciculate, in sporodochia or even synnemata; conidiogenous loci inconspicuous or conspicuous by being more or less denticle-like, but locus wall always unthickened or almost so, usually neither darkened nor refractive, rarely more rigid and more conspicuous by being somewhat darkened-refractive or slightly thickened and darkened along the rim [loci ring-like, slightly thickened and darkened along the rim, on Solanum, see Paracercospora s. str.]; conidia solitary, rarely in short chains, usually scolecosporous, rarely amero- to phragmosporous, subhyaline to usually pigmented [in vitro without red crystals] ................ Pseudocercospora

    [On Colophospermum copane, South Africa; conidiogenous cells unilocal, determinate to percurrent, Cercostigmina-like; phylogenetically distinct from Pseudocercospora s. str., see Phaeocercospora] Conidiophores solitary or fasciculate; morphologically barely distinguishable from Pseudocercospora, but phylogenetically distinct and with red crystals in vitro (P. heimii complex) ................ Pallidocercospora

  14. 14 (4)

    In vivo with distinctly verruculose-verrucose superficial hyphae (aerial mycelium in vitro also verruculose); conidia smooth or almost so to mostly verruculose-verrucose as well ................ 15

    Superficial hyphae in vivo lacking or, if present, smooth or almost so ................ 16

  15. 15 (14)

    Conidiogenous loci pileate; conidiophores in vivo solitary as well as fasciculate; conidia catenate; on Pithecellobium, South America [Teratosphaeriaceae] ................ Stenella

    Conidiogenous loci planate (Cercospora-like) [Mycosphaerellaceae] ................ Zasmidium

  16. 16 (14)

    Conidiophores pigmented, rarely hyaline orsubhyaline [subgen. Hyalocercospora]; conidia always colourless, usually scolecosporous, acicular, filiform, obclavate-cylindrical, and pluriseptate, rarely amero- to phragmosporous ................ Cercospora

    Conidiophores and conidia pigmented, at least faintly olivaceous ................ 17

  17. 17 (16)

    Conidia consistently distoseptate; conidiophores mostly frequently branched ................ Distocercospora

    Conidia aseptate to euseptate or at most few distosepta mixed with eusepta ................ 18

  18. 18 (17)

    Conidia distinctly (usually coarsely) verruculose-verrucose ................ 19

    Conidia smooth or almost so ................ 20

  19. 19 (18)

    Conidiophores mostly numerous in dense sporodochial conidiomata; conidia solitary, usually amero- to phragmosporous, occasionally with longitudinal or oblique septa ................ Asperisporium

    Conidiophores fasciculate; conidia solitary, but scolecosporous, only transversely septate ................ Zasmidium (p.p., species without superficial hyphae in vivo)

  20. 20 (18)

    Conidia solitary, ± scolecosporous, fully developed conidia usually attenuated towards the tip, somewhat rostrate, often somewhat curved, wall thickened; conidiogenous loci subconspicuous, ranging from inconspicuous to conspicuous by being denticle-like or somewhat darkened-refractive, but always unthickened; in vivo without superficial mycelium ................ see Pseudocercospora p.p. (incl. Prathigada)

    Conidia solitary to catenate, amero- to scolecosporous, not rostrate, usually thin-walled; in vivo with or without superficial mycelium ................ 21

  21. 21 (20)

    In vivo with solitary conidiophores arising from superficial hyphae; conidia scolecosporous, fairly thick-walled, with transverse and occasionally also longitudinal and oblique septa ................ Sirosporium

    In vivo with internal or internal and external hyphae; conidia amero- to scolecosporous, thin-walled, transversely septate ................ 22

  22. 22 (21)

    Conidia solitary or catenate; conidiogenous loci and conidial hila always distinctly thickened and darkened ................ Passalora

    Conidia catenate; conidiogenous loci subconspicuous, ranging from inconspicuous to conspicuous by being somewhat darkened-refractive, but always unthickened ................ see Pseudocercospora p.p. (incl. Pseudophaeoramularia)

  23. 23 (1)

    Conidiophores laxly fasciculate, often branched; conidiogenous cells denticulate, but conidiogenous loci not thickened and not darkened; hyperparasitic on ascomycetes (Phyllachora) ................ Elletevera

    In vivo with solitary conidiophores arising from superficial hyphae; conidiogenous loci not denticle-like ................ 24

  24. 24 (23)

    Conidia catenate; conidiogenous loci somewhat thickened and darkened; on cercosporoid hyphomycetes and rusts ................ Cladosporiella

    Conidia solitary; conidiogenous loci subconspicuous, unthickened, not or only slightly darkened-refractive; on sooty moulds ................ Eriocercospora

Taxonomic Treatment

Fungicolous cercosporoid species

The genera Cladosporiella, Elletevera and Eriocercospora, which may have affinity to cercosporoid genera, are treated in this chapter. However, the phylogenetic positions of these genera are quite unclear. Molecular data are not yet known. Elletevera and Eriocercospora species are rather pseudocercospora-like, but might also be related to similar denticulate hyphomycete genera or to the Sporidesmium complex. Affinity and position of Cladosporiella, morphologically superficially similar to the Cladosporium complex, is also quite unclear. This genus is treated here due to rough similarity to phaeoramularia-like Passalora species. All hyperparasitic taxa are only tentatively included in this work on cercosporoids. The name Cercospora uredinophila (Deighton 1969) suggests a hyperparasitic habit, but proved to be a common phytopathogenic fungus on various Scirpus spp. A comprehensive treatment of this species with full synonymy was published in Braun (1995a). Cercospora uromycestri and C. acori, reallocated to Passalora in Crous & Braun (2003), seems to be the only true cercosporoid species hyperparasitic or at least fungicolous on rust fungi.

Cladosporiella

Key to the species of Cladosporiella

  1. 1

    Conidiophores very long, about 25–500 µm; on rust fungi .................. 2

    Conidiophores much shorter, about 8–40 µm; on cercosporoid hyphomycetes .................. 3

  2. 2 (1)

    Stromata lacking; conidia (7−)15–40(−50) × 3.5–4.5 µm, (0−)1–2(−5)-septate .................. C. uredinicola

    Stromata well-developed and large, 20–90(−150) µm diam; conidia broader, 4–6.5 µm, (0−)1(−3)-septate .................. C. uredines

  3. 3 (1)

    Conidia 20–135 × 2–5 µm, 0–9-septate .................. C. cercosporicola

    Conidia much shorter, 9–15 × 3–4 µm, 0–3-septate .................. C. deightonii

List of Cladosporiella species

Cladosporiella cercosporicola Deighton, Mycol. Pap. 101: 35(1965).

(Fig. 2)

Figs 2–5
figure 2

2. Cladosporiella cercosporoides (K(M) IMI 107538b). 3. C. deightonii (HAL 1649 F). 4. C. uredinicola (K(M) IMI 43280b). 5. C. uredinis (K(M) IMI 16432b). A. Solitary conidiophores arising from superficial hyphae. B. Superficial hyphae. C. Conidia. D. Conidiophore fascicles. E. Conidiophore tips. Bar = 10 µm.

Illustrations: Deighton (1965: 36, fig. 14), Ellis (1971: 303, fig. 209), Seifert et al. (2011: 709, fig. 227B).

Literature: Ellis (1971: 303).

Description: Colonies hyperparasitc on Passalora koepkei, loosely floccose, pale. Mycelium superficial, some pale hyphae tightly coiled around conidiophores and conidia, branched, septate, thin-walled, smooth. Stromata none. Conidiophores arising from superficial hyphae, erect, straight to flexuous, unbranched, 8–40 × 3–4 µm, continuous or sparingly septate, pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal or conidiophores reduced to conidiogenous cells, about 5–20 µm long, conidiogenous loci conspicuous, slightly thickened and darkened, small, about 0.8–1 µm diam. Conidia catenate, in branched chains, subcylindrical to filiform or somewhat obclavate, 20–135 × 2–4.5(−5) µm, 0–9-septate, pale olivaceous, smooth, thin-walled, ends short obconical, occasionally slightly swollen, hila slightly thickened and darkened.

Holotype: Sabah: on Passalora koepkei, Mycosphaerellaceae, on Saccharum officinarum, Poaceae, 1964, J. Solomon (K(M) IMI 107538b).

Host range and distribution: Only known from the type collection.

Cladosporiella deightonii R.F. Castañeda & U. Braun, Cryptog. Bot. 1: 43(1989).

(Fig. 3)

Illustration: Castañeda & Braun (1989: 45, fig. 9).

Description: Colonies on leaf spots of and associated with Cercospora coffeicola, hypophyllous, pale. Mycelium superficial; hyphae flexuous, richly branched, 1–4 µm wide, pale olivaceous-brown, septate, thin-walled, smooth. Stromata lacking. Conidiophores arising from superficial hyphae, lateral, erect, almost straight to geniculate-sinuous, narrowed towards the apex, unbranched, 8–30 × 2–3 µm, aseptate, rarely with 1–2 septa, olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth; conidiophores usually reduced to conidiogenous cells, rarely with integrated, terminal conidiogenous cells, conidiogenous loci conspicuous, minute, about 1 µm diam, slightly thickened and darkened, often situated on short peg-like protuberances or shoulders caused by sympodial proliferation near the apex. Conidia formed singly or in short chains, ellipsoid, subcylindrical, subclavate, 9–15 × 3–4 µm, 0–3-septate, pale olivaceous to brownish, thin-walled, smooth, ends rounded to attenuated, hila slightly thickened and darkened, about 1–1.5 µm wide.

Types: Cuba: Los Corrales de Guisa, Granma, on Cercospora coffeicola, Mycosphaerellaceae, on Coffea arabica, Rubiaceae, 24 June 1987, R. F. Castañeda (INIFAT C87/171 — holotype; HAL 1649 F — isotype).

Host range and distribution: Only known from the type collection.

Cladosporiella uredinicola Deighton, Mycol. Pap. 118: 33(1969).

(Fig. 4)

Illustration: Deighton (1969: 34–35, figs 1920).

Description: Colonies on uredosori, effuse, subvelutinous, grey-brown to brown. Mycelium immersed in the sori as well as superficial; hyphae 2–3 µm wide, sparingly branched, olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth. Stromata lacking. Conidiophores arising from superficial hyphae, lateral or sometimes terminal, erect, straight to curved or somewhat geniculate-sinuous, unbranched or branched, 25–500 × 2.5–4 µm, pluriseptate, moderately olivaceous, paler towards the tip, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal to intercalary, about 10–30 µm long, proliferation sympodial; conidiogenous loci conspicuous, mostly slightly prominent or on peg-like protuberances, slightly thickened and darkened. Conidia in simple or occasionally branched chains, ellipsoid-ovoid, subcylindrical, fusiform, obclavate, (7−)15–40(−50) × (3.5−)4–4.5 µm, (0−)1–2(−5)-septate, pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth, ends rounded to narrowed, hila slightly thickened and darkened.

Holotype: Sierra Leone: Dodo, on uredosori of Puccinia eucomi, Pucciniaceae, on Andropogon auriculatus, Poaceae, 15 Apr. 1940, F. C. Deighton (K(M) IMI 43280b).

Host range and distribution: On uredo- and teleutosori of rust fungi, on Puccinia eucomi, Pucciniaceae, and Ravenelia zygiae, Raveneliaceae, Africa (Sierra Leone).

Cladosporiella uredinis Deighton, Mycol. Pap. 118: 36 (1969).

(Fig. 5)

Illustrations: Deighton (1969: 37–38, figs 2122).

Exsiccatae: Sydow, Fungi Exot. Exs. 444.

Description: Colonies on uredo- and teleutosori, pale to deep grey-green, short and densely velutinous-floccose to densely floccose, sometimes forming dense round to elliptic masses up to 4 mm diam. Mycelium immersed within the sori and extending into the surrounding leaf-tissue; hyphae branched, 1.5–2 µm diam, septate, pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth, sometimes completely suppressing the formation of uredospores. Stromata small to well-developed, immediately above the sori hyphae aggregated, forming dense stromata, often 25–80 µm wide and 20–90 µm deep, occasionally up to 150 µm diam, composed of densely packed, ascending, sparingly branched hyphae developing to conidiophores. Conidiophores in smaller to mostly large or very large, dense fascicles, arising from stromata, laxly erect, straight or almost so to flexuous, filiform, simple or occasionally with short branchlets, 60–350 × 2.5–4 µm, pluriseptate, pale yellowish olivaceous to medium olivaceous, paler towards the tip, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal to intercalary, conidiogenous loci truncate, occasionally subdenticulate, 1–1.5(−2) µm diam, very slightly thickened and darkened-refractive. Conidia in simple or branched acropetal chains, ellipsoid-ovoid, fusiform, subcylindrical, straight to somewhat curved, (12−)15–35(−45) × 4–6.5 µm, (0−)1(−3)-septate, pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth, primary conidia with broadly rounded apex, otherwise both ends short obconically truncate, hila 1–1.5 µm wide, very slightly thickened, darkened-refractive.

Types: Philippines: on uredosori (Uredo sp.) on Scirpus grossus, Cyperaceae, 20 Mar. 1913, P. W. Graff, Sydow, Fungi Exot. Exs. 444 (p.p.) (K(M) IMI 164332b — holotype; Sydow, Fungi Exot. Exs. 444 (e.g. BPI 420980) — isotypes).

Host range and distribution: On uredo- and teleutosori of rust fungi, on Puccinia (polygoni-amphibi, scleriae, solmsii, thaliae) and Uredo sp., Pucciniaceae, Asia (India, Malaysia, Philippines), West Indies (Trinidad).

Excluded Cladosporiella species

Cladosporiella foliicola R.F. Castañeda, Fungi Cubenses 3: 3 (1988).

Illustration: Castañeda (1988: fig. 2).

Holotype: Cuba: Prov. Pinar del Rio: Soroa, on living leaves of Blechnum occidentale L., Blechnaceae, 11 Mar. 1987, R. F. Castañeda (INIFAT C87/82).

Notes: This is a foliicolous species with very long, simple or branched, pigmented, 8–15-septate conidiophores, 180–300 × 6–7 µm, ramoconidia and extremely long, brown conidia, 100–310 × 4–5 µm, with 15–30(−35) septa. The generic affinity of this unusual species is quite unclear.

Elletevera

Key to the species of Elletevera

  1. 1

    Conidiophores very long, 100–250 µm, frequently branched; conidia 12–60 × (4−)5–7.5(−10) µm, (0−)2–4(−6)-septate, very pale olivaceous; on Phyllachora parasitica and Phyllachora sp., Africa, North and South America ............... E. parasitica

    Conidiophores shorter, 85–120 µm, unbranched; conidia 17–23 × 7–9 µm, (1–)2(−3)-septate, pale olivaceous-ochraceous; on Phyllachora shiraiana, Asia, Japan ............... E. ochracea

List of Elletevera species

Elletevera ochracea Katum., Bull. Fac. Agric. Yamaguchi Univ. 35:110 (1988).

(Fig. 6)

Fig. 6
figure 6

Elletevera ochracea (YAM 24294). A. Conidiophores arising from stroma cells. B. Conidiophores. C. Conidiophore tip. D. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Illustration: Katumoto (1988: 110, fig. 2).

Description: Colonies hypophyllous, on stromata of Phyllachora shiraiana, ochraceous to brownish, elliptical to oblong in shape, 1.5–7 × 1.5–3.5 mm. Mycelium immersed; hyphae 2.5–3 µm wide, branched, septate, subhyaline to very pale olivaceous. Conidiophores numerous, arising from superficial stromata, flat, pseudoparenchymatous, 35–40 µm diam, olivaceous-ochraceous, erect, divergent, cylindrical, straight to sinuous, sometimes geniculate in the upper portion, unbranched, 85–120 × 4.5–6.5 µm, attenuated towards the tip (to about 2.5 µm), 1–2-septate in the lower portion, pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, long, conidiogenous loci visible, subdenticulate. Conidia solitary, short cylindrical-obovoid to oblong, straight to slightly curved, 17–23 × 7–9 µm, (1−)2(−3)-septate, pale olivaceous-ochraceous, thin-walled, smooth, apex broadly rounded, base short obconically truncate, hila 0.8–1 µm wide.

Holotype: Japan: Yamaguchi Pref.: Nishiki-cho, Mt. Jakuchi, on stromata of Phyllachora shiraiana, Phyllachoraceae, on leaves of Sasa palmata, Poaceae, 6 May 1985, K. Katumoto (YAM 24294).

Host range and distribution: Only known from the type collection.

Elletevera parasitica (Ellis & Everh.) Deighton, Mycol. Pap. 118: 19(1969).

(Fig. 7)

Fig. 7
figure 7

Elletevera parasitica (NY, holotype). A. Conidiophores. B. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Basionym: Pyricularia parasitica Ellis & Everh., Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 45: 462 “1893” (1894).

Synonym: Pyricularia grisea var. parasitica Ellis & Everh., in Sumstine, Mycologia 41: 13 (1949), nom. nud.

Illustrations: Deighton (1969: 19, fig. 11 and pl. 1), Seifert et al. (2011: 701, fig. 219C).

Exsiccatae: Davis, Fungi Wiscon. Exs. 152.

Description: Colonies amphigenous, mainly hypophyllous, on and around Phyllachora spp., pale greenish, floccose, often contiguous. Mycelium immersed in ascomata of the host fungus; hyphae 1.5–3 µm wide, branched, septate, subhyaline to faintly olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth. Stromata formed by aggregated pale olivaceous, ascending hyphae, about 3–4 µm wide, in ostioles of the ascomata, 40–50 µm diam. Conidiophores numerous, in divergent floccose fascicles, arising from stromata, through ostioles, also erumpent through the wall of ascomata and from repent external hyphae, erect, cylindrical-filiform, 100–250 × 4–5 µm, sometimes narrowed towards the tip and 2.5–4 µm wide, simple or branched, with 1–2 main branches and short lateral branchlets, about 20–25 µm long, pluriseptate, very pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, conidiogenous loci neither thickened nor darkened, but distinct by being denticle-like and somewhat refractive, about 1–1.5 µm diam. Conidia solitary, broadly ellipsoid-ovoid, obovoid, fusiform, obclavate, cylindrical-clavate, occasionally rostrate, straight to somewhat curved, 12–60 × (4−)5–7.5(−10) µm, (0−)2–4(−6)-septate, very pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth, apex broadly rounded, more attenuated in conidia with rostrate apex, base short obconically truncate, hila about 1–2 µm wide.

Holotype: USA: Wisconsin: Kenosha Co., on Phyllachora graminis, on leaves of Elymus virginicus, 13 Aug. 1883, J. J. Davis 9311 (NY).

Host range and distribution: On Phyllachora (graminis, vulgata, Phyllachora sp.), Phyllachoraceae, on Beckeropsis uniseta, Elymus (canadensis, hystrix, virginicus), Muhlenbergia sp. and Paspalum virgatum, Poaceae, Africa (Zambia), North America (USA, Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, Oregon, Wisconsin), South America (Venezuela).

Notes: Most collections have been made in the USA on Phyllachora graminis on Elymus ssp. and Muhlenbergia sp. Other collections have been made on Phyllachora sp. in Zambia on Beckeropsis uniseta (Deighton 1969) and Venezuela on Paspalum virgatum (Urtiaga 1986). A collection of this species on Musa paradisiaca from Sierra Leone (K(M) IMI 45910) is unclear and unproven.

Eriocercospora

Key to the species of Eriocercospora

  1. 1

    Conidiophores up to 600 µm long and (3.5−)5–9(−13) µm wide; conidia (3.5−)5–9(−13) µm wide; on various hosts belonging to the Asterinaceae, Englerulaceae and Parodiopsidaceae ................... E. balladynae

    Conidiophores shorter, up to 120 µm long, and only 2.5–4 µm wide; conidia narrower, only up to 4.5 µm; on Meliolina molle, Meliolinacea ................... E. olivacea

List of Eriocercospora species

Eriocercospora balladynae (Hansf.) Deighton, Mycol. Pap. 118: 6 (1969).

(Fig. 8)

Fig. 8
figure 8

Eriocercospora balladynae (K(M) IMI 562c). A. Conidiophores. B. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Basionym: Helminthosporium balladynae Hansf., Proc. Linn. Soc. London 157: 39 (1945).

Synonyms: Cercospora schiffnerulae Hansf., Mycol. Pap. 15: 216 (1946).

Cercospora balladynae Hansf., Proc. Linn. Soc. London 158: 50 (1947).

Literature: Ellis (1971: 248–249).

Illustrations: Deighton (1969: 7–15, figs 29), Ellis (1971: 249, fig. 170), Seifert et al. (2011: 693, fig. 211D).

Fig. 9
figure 9

Eriocercospora olivacea (K(M) IMI 120229b). A. Superficial hyphae. B. Conidiophores. C. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Description: Colonies overgrowing those of the host fungi, olivaceous, velutinous to wooly. Mycelium superficial; hyphae growing between host hyphae, branched, 2–3.5 µm diam, occasionally swollen, up to 5 µm wide, septate, pale olivaceous, darker around conidiophores. Conidiophores arising from superficial hyphae, erect or almost so, straight to curved, flexuous, sinuous or somewhat geniculate, simple or branched, length very variable, 15–600 × 4–7.5(−10.5) µm, width often variable throughout their length, pluriseptate, pale to medium olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal or intercalary, about 10–30 µm long, conidiogenous loci subconspicuous, i.e. unthickened, not or barely protuberant, not or only slightly darkened-refractive, about 1.5–2.5 µm diam. Conidia solitary, shape rather variable, ellipsoid-ovoid, obovoid, fusiform, subclavate to obclavate, (15−) 25–70(−135) × (3.5−)5–9(−13) µm, (1−)3–6(−9)-septate, occasionally slighty constricted at the septa, very pale olivaceous to medium pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth, apex obtuse, broadly rounded to somewhat attenuated, base obconically truncate, hila about 1–2.5 µm wide, not to slightly darkened-refractive, barely thickened.

Holotype: Uganda: Entebbe road, on Balladynopsis entebbeensis, on leaves of Grumilea succulenta, Nov. 1943, C. G. Hansford 3264 (K(M) IMI 562c).

Host range and distribution: On Asterina sp., Asterinaceae; Balladyna (tenuis, velutina, Balladyna sp.), Balladynocallia glabra, Balladynopsis entebbeensis, Parodiopsidaceae; Clypeolella (camelliae, Clypeolella sp.), Schiffnerula (hippocrateae, mirabilis, periplocae, toddaliae, Schiffnerula sp.), Englerulaceae, Africa (Ghana, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Uganda), Asia (Malaysia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea), Central America (Costa Rica, Panama).

Eriocercospora olivacea Piroz., Kavaka 2: 38 (1974). (Fig. 9)

Illustration: Pirozynski (1974: 39, fig. 3).

Description: Colonies confined to colonies of Meliolina molle, olivaceous, felty, 1–2 mm thick, completely obscuring the host fungus. Mycelium superficial; hyphae appressed to host hyphae but not penetrating them, often toruloid, 2.5–5 µm wide, septate, pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth. Conidiophores arising from superficial hyphae, lateral, occasionally terminal, erect, geniculate-sinuous, simple or branched, up to 120 µm long and 2.5–4 µm wide, pluriseptate, pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal and intercalary, 10–20 µm long; conidiogenous loci truncate, about 1.8–2.5 µm diam, neither thickened nor darkened or at most refractive or very slightly darkened. Conidia solitary, long, cylindrical-vermiform or filiform to somewhat obclavate, up to 150 µm long and 4.5 µm wide, pluriseptate (up 22 septa), pale olivaceous to olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth, apex obtuse, rounded, base truncate to short obconically truncate, about 2–2.5 µm, hila neither thickened nor darkened.

Types: India: Tamil Nadu: Nilgiris, Gudalpur, on Meliolina molle, Meliolinacea, on Syzygium cf. grande (S. cf. montanum), Myrtaceae, 22 Feb. 1966, K. A. Pirozynski (K(M) 120229b — holotypes; DAOM 145763 — isotype).

Host range and distribution: Only known from the type collection.

Excluded Eriocercospora species

Eriocercospora moghaniae Suj. Singh, Indian Phytopathol. 33: 610 “1980” (1981).

Synonym: Stenella moghaniae (Suj. Singh) Kamal & Narayan, Indian Phytopathol. 39: 201 (1987).

= Pseudocercospora moghaniae (Suj. Singh) U. Braun & Crous, in Crous & Braun, Mycosphaerella and Anam. 1: 18 (2003).

Eriocercospora palustris R.F. Castañeda & W.B. Kendr., Univ. Waterloo Biol. Ser. 35: 52 (1991).

Notes: This is a saprobic mucedinaceous hyphomycete of unknown generic affinity, in any case not belonging to Eriocercospora. It is superficially somewhat reminiscent of plant pathogenic species of Pseudocercosporella.

Eriocercospora websteri P. Rag. Rao, Manohar. & P. Ram Rao, Curr. Sci. 51: 1155 (1982).

= Pseudocercospora websteri (P. Rag. Rao, Manohar. & P. Ram Rao) U. Braun, Schlechtendalia 8: 36 (2002).

Fungiicolous Passalora Species

Key to fungiicolous Passalora species

  1. 1

    Mycelium internal and external, superficial; stromata lacking; conidiophores consistently solitary, arising from superficial hyphae; on Uromyces sparganii, Asia ............... P. acori

    Mycelium immersed; stromata present, dark brown, columnar, globose to linear, often confluent to form continuous stromatic areas over and within aecia; conidiophores arising from stromatic structures, in small to moderately large fascicles; on aecia of Uromyces cestri, North America ............... P. uromycestri

List of fungiicolous Passalora species

Passalora acori (J.M. Yen) U. Braun & Crous, in Crous & Braun, Mycosphaerella and Anam. 1: 43 (2003). (Fig. 10)

Fig. 10
figure 10

Passalora acori (PC, holotype). A. Hyphae in uredo spores. B. Solitary conidiophores arising from a superficial hypha. C. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Basionym: Cercospora acori J.M. Yen, Rev. Mycol. 29: 209 (1964).

Synonym: Mycovellosiella acori (J.M. Yen) J.M. Yen, Bull. Trimestriel Soc. Mycol. France 97: 131 (1981).

Description: Yen & Lim (1980: 154).

Illustration: Yen & Lim (1980: 205, fig. 8).

Description: Leaf spots indistinct, sometimes forming dark grey specks. Colonies on uredospores, amphigenous, effuse, dark brown. Mycelium internal and external, hyphae branched, septate, 2.5–5 µm wide, yellowish brown to brown, thin-walled, smooth. Conidiophores consistently solitary, arising from superficial hyphae, erect, cylindrical, not geniculate, unbranched, 20–190 × 4–5 µm, 2–6(−8)-septate, brown to dark brown, tips rounded to conical; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, with several minute brown conidiogenous loci. Conidia solitary, obclavate to obclavate-subacicular, 40–120 × 2–2.5 µm, 4–9(−12)-septate, pale olivaceous-brown, thin-walled, smooth, apex pointed, base obconically truncate, hila slightly thickened and darkened.

Holotype: Singapore: Botanic Gardens, on uredospores of Uromyces sparganii [probably U. sparganii subsp. acoriU. acori], Pucciniaceae, on Acorus calamus, Acoraceae, 26 Jan. 1964, S. H. Yen, No. 7 (PC).

Host range and distribution: Only known from the type collection.

Passalora uromycestri (Pollack) U. Braun & Crous, in Crous & Braun, Mycosphaerella and Anam. 1: 417 (2003).

(Fig. 11)

Fig. 11
figure 11

Passalora uromycesti (BPI 71801). A. Stroma. B. Conidiophore fascicle. C. Conidiogenous cells. D. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Basionym: Cercospora uromycestri Pollack, Mycologia 63: 691 (1971).

Illustrations: Pollack (1971: 690, figs 18).

Description: Colonies formed as dark brown to blackish felt-like

Cercosporoid Species On Ferns (Pteridophyta)

Cercospora

Tabular key to Cercospora species on ferns

Most species on ferns belong to the Cercospora apii complex (sensu Crous & Braun 2003), i.e. they are morphologically very similar and morphologically little differentiated, so that it is barely possible to key out the species concerned just based on morphology. Phylogenetic data are not yet available. Therefore, we prefer to list these species in form of a tabular key based on host genera and families.

Adiantaceae = Pteridaceae subfam. Vittarioideae

Aspleniaceae
  1. 1

    Conidia acicular, base truncate; on Asplenium spp., Europe, North America ............... C. asplenii

    Conidia narrowly obclavate-filiform, base obconically truncate; on Asplenium radicans ............... Cercospora camptosori

Cheilanthaceae = Pteridaceae subfam. Cheilanthoideae

Cyatheaceae

On Alsophila, North America ............... C. asplenii

Dryopteridaceae
  1. 1

    Stromata 20–50 µm diam; conidia 30–125 × 1.5–3.5 µm, base obconically truncate, 1–2 µm wide; on Dryopteris sp., North America ............... C. camptosori

    Stromata lacking or very small; conidia 95–250 × 3.5–5 µm, base truncate, wider, about 3–4 µm wide; on Dryopteris polypodioides, China ............... C. dryopteridis

Lygodiaceae

On Lygodium japonicum, India ............... C. lygodiicola

Marsileaceae

On Marsilea quadrifolia, India ............... C. marsileae

Polypodiaceae
  1. 1

    Stromata lacking or almost so; on Platycerium spp., North America ............... P. platycerii

    Stromata 20–45 µm diam; on Microsorum membranaceum (Pleopeltis membranacea), Asia (India) ............... P. pleopeltidis

Pteridaceae subfam. Cheilanthoideae (= Cheilanthaceae)

On Aleuritopteris farinosa (Cheilanthes farinosa), India ............... C. cheilanthis

Pteridaceae subfam. Vittarioideae (= Adiantaceae)
  1. 1

    Conidia broadly obclavate-cylindrical, short conidia sometimes fusiform, 40–90 × (4−)5–8 µm; on Adiantum, Tanzania ............... C. adiantigena

    Conidia acicular, only 2–5 µm wide 2

  2. 2 (1)

    Conidia 145.5–455.5 × 3.5–5 µm; on Adiantum, India ............... C. pteridigena

    Conidia much shorter and narrower, up to 120 µm long and 2–4 µm wide ............... 3

  3. 3 (2)

    Stromata lacking or very small; on Adiantum, Asia ............... C. adianticola

    Stromata well-developed, up to 75 µm diam; on Adiantum, North America ............... C. asplenii

Selaginellaceae

On Selaginella spp., Europe, North America ............... C. selaginellarum

Thelypteridaceae
  1. 1

    Conidia long, 60–400 × 2–4 µm, 1–35-septate; on Abacopteris, Singapore ............... C. abacopteridis

    Conidia shorter, 50–110 × 3–4 µm, usually4–10-septate; on Cyclosorus, India, Taiwan ............... C. cyclosori

Woodsiaceae
  1. 1

    Conidia acicular, 20–90 µm long, base truncate; on Diplazium esculentum, Philippines ............... C. athyrii

    Conidia acicular to narrowly obclavate, 45–155(−230) µm, base truncate to short obconically truncate; on Diplazium esculentum, India ............... C. diplaziicola

List of Cercospora species on ferns

Cercospora abacopteridis J.M. Yen & Lim, Cah. Pacifique 17: 96 (1973).

(Fig. 12)

Fig. 12
figure 12

Cercospora abacopteridis (PC, holotype). A. Conidiophore fascicle. B. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Literature: Yen & Lim (1980: 154), Crous & Braun (2003: 37).

Illustrations: Yen & Lim (1980: 204, fig. 7C–E).

Description: Leaf spots amphigenous, vein-limited, brown, later confluent. Caespituli hypophyllous, inconspicuous. Mycelium internal. Stromata lacking. Conidiophores in relatively small fascicles, 2–18, divergent or somewhat denser, arising from internal hyphae, emerging through stomata, erect, straight, subcylindrical to somewhat sinuous, 0–2 times geniculate above, unbranched, 15–120 × 4–5 µm, 1–5-septate, dark brown, paler towards the tip, wall thin to slightly thickened, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, occasionally intercalary, conidiogenous loci conspicuous, 2–2.5 µm wide, darkened and thickened. Conidia solitary, acicular to filiform, straight to somewhat curved, 60–400 × 2–4 µm, 1–35-septate, hyaline, thin-walled, smooth, apex acute, base truncate, hilum about 2–3 µm wide, thickened and darkened.

Holotype: Singapore: on Abacopteris urophylla, Thelypteridaceae, 3 Mar. 1972, G. Lim (PC).

Host range and distribution: Only known from the type collection.

Cercospora adianticola R.K. Srivast., A.K. Srivast. & Kamal, Kavaka 20/21: 38 “1992/1993” (1995); as “adiantiicola”.

(Fig. 13)

Fig. 13
figure 13

Cercospora adianticola (K(M) IMI 243785). A. Conidiophore fascicle. B. Conidiogenous cells. C. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Literature: Crous & Braun (2003: 44), Kamal (2010: 13).

Illustration: Srivastava et al. (1995: 38, fig. 1).

Description: Leaf spots amphigenous, 0.5–3 mm diam, irregular, streak-like, sometimes confluent, spread over the whole leaf surface. Mycelium internal; hyphae septate, branched. Stromata lacking or poorly developed. Conidiophores in small fascicles, erect, straight, subcylindrical to 1–3 times geniculate, unbranched, 70–140 × 3–6 µm, septate, olivaceous; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal and intercalary, conidiogenous loci conspicuous, 2–4.5 µm diam, thickened and darkened. Conidia solitary, acicular, 50–100 × 2–4 µm, 3–11-septate, hyaline, thin-walled, smooth, apex acute, base truncate or slightly atenuated, hila about 1.5–2.5 µm wide, thickened and darkened.

Holotype: India: U.P.: Maharaj Ganj, Nepal, Pakari Forest, Narayan Ghat, on Adiantum venustum, Pteridaceae subfam. Vittarioideae (= Adiantaceae), Nov. 1989, V. P. Pandey (K(M) IMI 243785).

Host range and distribution: only known from the type collection.

Notes: This species belongs to the C. apii s. lat. complex. Thaung (1984) recorded “Cercospora asplenii” on Adiantum sp. from Myanmar, but this collection seems to belong to C. adianticola.

Cercospora adiantigena U. Braun & Crous, in Crous & Braun, Mycosphaerella and Anam. 1: 44 (2003). (Fig. 14)

Fig. 14
figure 14

Cercospora adiantigena (K(M) IMI 106709b). A. Conidiophore fascicle. B. Conidiogenous cells. C. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Literature: To-anun et al. (2011: 32), Begum et al. (2012).

Illustrations: Crous & Braun (2003: 45, fig. 2), To-anun et al. (2011: 32, fig. 14).

Description: Leaf spots amphigenous, oblong, linear, spread between veins, 2–15 × 0.5–1.5 mm or confluent, forming larger patches, brown. Caespituli amphigenous, punctiform to subeffuse, greyish brown to dingy greyish white. Mycelium internal. Stromata well-developed, immersed, 10–50 µm diam, subhyaline to pale olivaceous-brown. Conidiophores in small to moderately large fascicles, loose to fairly dense, arising from stromata, erumpent, erect, straight, subcylindrical to moderately geniculate-sinuous, unbranched, 25–150 × 4–10 µm, pluriseptate, subhyaline, occasionally with a faintly greenish to olivaceous tinge, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal or occasionally intercalary, 10–35 µm long, conidiogenous loci conspicuous, planate, thickened and darkened throughout, 2.5–4 µm diam. Conidia solitary, broadly obclavate-cylindrical, short conidia sometimes fusiform, 40–90 × (4−)5–8 µm, (1−)3–6(−8)-septate, colourless, thin-walled, smooth, apex obtuse, base short obconically truncate, 3–4 µm wide, hila thickened and darkened.

Holotype: Tanzania: Kigoma, Kakombe, on Adiantum philippense, 21 Feb. 1964, K. A. Pirozynski (K(M) IMI 106709b).

Host range and distribution: On Adiantum philippense and Doryopteris sp., Pteridaceae subfam. Vittarioideae (Adiantaceae), Africa (Tanzania), Asia (Philippines, Thailand).

Notes: This species is reminiscent of Cercosporella, but the conidiogenous loci are planate, thickened and darkened throughout, i.e. they are cercosporoid. Thus this species rather pertains to Cercospora subgen. Hyalocercospora.

Cercospora asplenii Jaap, Ann. Mycol. 14: 43 (1916). (Fig. 15)

Fig. 15
figure 15

Cercospora asplenii (HBG, holotype). A. Conidiophore fascicle. B. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Synonym: Mycosphaerella asplenii Thirum. & Govindu, Sydowia 8: 345 (1954), nom. illeg., (Art. 53.1).

Literature: Chupp (1954: 454), Vassiljevsky & Karakulin (1937: 219), Vasudeva (1963: 43–44), Crous & Braun (2003: 69), Kamal (2010: 19), Motohashi et al. (2010).

Exsiccatae: Jaap, Fungi Sel. Exs. 616. Petrak, Mycoth. Gen. 327.

Description: Leaf spots variable in shape and size, small to relatively large, pale to dark brown or almost blackish, centre later paler, pale brown to dingy grey. Caespituli amphigenous. Stromata subglobose, small to large, up to 75 µm diam, brown to almost blackish brown. Conidiophores in small to moderately large fascicles, 2–20, occasionally solitary, divergent, straight, subcylindrical to geniculate-sinuous, 0–5 times geniculate, usually unbranched, 20–120 × 4–5.5 µm, pluriseptate, medium olivaceous-brown throughout, wall slightly thickened, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, mostly terminal, conidiogenous loci conspicuous, thickened and darkened. Conidia solitary, acicular, 20–120 × 2–4 µm, indistinctly pluriseptate, hyaline, thin-walled, smooth, apex subacute, base truncate, hilum about 2–2.5 µm wide, thickened and darkened.

Holotype: Croatia: Dalmatia, Lapad near Ragusa, on Asplenium trichomanes, 18 Mar. 1914, O. Jaap (HBG).

Host range and distribution: On ?Adiantum sp., Pteridaceae subfam. Vittarioideae (Adiantaceae); ?Alsophila australis, Cyatheaceae; Asplenium (nidus [antiquum], trichomanes, Asplenium sp.), Aspleniaceae; North America (Canada, USA, Florida), Asia (India, Japan, Myanmar), Europe (Czech Republic, Germany, Croatia, Switzerland).

Cercospora athyrii Mendoza, Philipp. J. Sci. 75: 165 (1941).

Literature: Chupp (1954: 454), Crous & Braun (2003: 70).

Description: Leaf spots subcircular, 1–8 mm diam, brown, somewhat sunken on the upper surface. Mycelium internal. Stromata small, only filling the substomatal cavity, brown. Conidiophores in dense fascicles, arising from stromata, emerging through stomata, erect, subcylindrical or somewhat attenuated towards the tip, or only 1–2 times geniculate, unbranched, 30–105 × 3.5–5 µm, pluriseptate, medium to dark olivaceous-brown, paler towards the tip; conidiogenous loci conspicuous, thickened and darkened. Conidia solitary, acicular, straight to curved, 20–90 × 3–5 µm, distinctly pluriseptate, hyaline, thin-walled, smooth, apex acute, base truncate.

Holotype: Philippines: Luzon, Manila, on Diplazium esculentum (Athyrium esculentum), Woodsiaceae, Mendoza, No. 55483 (not seen).

Host range and distribution: Only known from the type collections.

Cercospora camptosori Davis, Trans. Wisconsin Acad. Sci. 18: 267 (1915).

(Fig. 16)

Fig. 16
figure 16

Cercospora camptosori (BPI 433994). A. Conidiophore fascicle. B. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Literature: Chupp (1954: 455), Crous & Braun (2003: 98).

Description: Leaf spots amphigenous, circular to angular-irregular, small to large, sometimes covering large leaf segments, brown, margin indefinite. Caespituli amphigenous, punctiform. Mycelium internal. Stromata 20–50 µm diam, dark brown. Conidiophores in dense fascicles, arising from stromata, erect, subcylindrical or somewhat attenuated towards the tip, straight to somewhat geniculate near the apex, unbranched, 20–60 × 4–5 µm, septate, pale olivaceous-brown, paler towards the tip, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, conidiogenous loci conspicuous, thickened and darkened, 1–2 µm diam. Conidia solitary, narrowly obclavate-filiform, 30–125 × 1.5–3.5 µm, indistinctly pluriseptate, hyaline, thin-walled, smooth, apex acute or subacute, base obconically truncate, 1–2 µm wide, hila somewhat thickened and darkened.

Lectotype (designated here, MycoBank, MBT176146): USA: Wisconsin: Grant County, Marquette State Park, on

Asplenium radicans (Camptosorus rhizophyllus), 1 Aug. 1914, J. J. Davis (WIS). Isolectotype: BPI 433994.

Host range and distribution: On Asplenium radicans, Aspleniaceae; ?Dryopteris sp., Dryopteridaceae; North America (USA, ?Florida, Wisconsin).

Notes: This species differs from fern-inhabiting species belonging to the C. apii complex in having narrowly obclavate-filiform conidia with obconically truncate base and narrow conidiogenous loci and hila, only 1–2 µm diam.

Cercospora cheilanthis Chowdhry, D. Gupta & Padhi, Indian Phytopathol. 36: 624 (1983); as “cheilanthei”.

(Fig. 17)

Fig. 17
figure 17

Cercospora cheilanthis (based on the original illustration). A. Conidiophore fascicle. B. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Literature: Chupp & Braun (2003: 118), Kamal (2010: 31).

Illustration: Chowdhry et al. (1983: 625, fig. 1).

Description: Leaf spots amphigenous, circular to elongated, 1–3 mm diam, blackish brown, Caespituli amphigenous, mainly epiphyllous. Mycelium internal. Stromata well-developed, 15–45 µm diam, globular, dark brown. Conidiophores in large, dense fascicles, arising from stromata, about 10–40, erect, straight to somewhat curved, cylindrical, 1–3 times geniculate above, unbranched, 30–165 × 3–5.5 µm, 2–6-septate, deep olivaceous-brown; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal and intercalary, conidiogenous loci conspicuous, thickened and darkened. Conidia solitary, acicular, about 10–130 × 1.5–3 µm, 1–19-septate, hyaline, thin-walled, smooth, apex acute, base truncate, hila thickened and darkened.

Holotype: India: Odisha (Orissa): Bhubaneswar, on leaves of Aleuritopteris farinosa (Cheilanthes farinosa), Pteridaceae subfam. Cheilanthoideae (= Cheilanthaceae), 30 Nov. 1977, D. Gupta (HCIO 32848).

Host range and distribution: Only known from the type collection.

Note: This species belongs to Cercospora apii s. lat. (sensu Crous & Braun 2003).

Cercospora cyclosori Goh & W.H. Hsieh, Trans. Mycol. Soc. Republ. China 4: 26 (1989). (Fig. 18)

Fig. 18
figure 18

Cercospora cyclosori (K(M) IMI 312082). A. Conidiophore fascicle. B. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Synonym: Cercospora cyclosori Sarbajna & Chattopadh, J. Mycopathol. Res. 28: 14 (1990), nom. illeg. (Art. 53.1) [type: on Cyclosorus sp., India, West Bengal, Hooghly, Mankundu, 28 Aug. 1986, K. K. Sarbajna (K(M) IMI 311128)].

Literature: Hsieh & Goh (1990: 327).

Illustration: Hsieh & Goh (1990: 329, fig. 249).

Description: Leaf spots irregularly shaped, 1–4 mm diam, often confluent and larger, dark brown, margin indefinite. Caespituli amphigenous. Mycelium internal. Stromata lacking or small, only formed as small aggregation of swollen hyphal cells, substomatal or intraepidermal, dark brown. Conidiophores solitary or in small, loose fascicles, 2–8, arising from stromata, erect, straight or almost so, subcylindrical or somewhat geniculate, above all in the upper half, unbranched, uniform in width or somewhat attenuated towards the apex, 25–160 × 4–5 µm, 0–4-septate, brown, paler towards the apex; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, conidiogenous loci conspicuous, about 2–2.5 µm diam, thickened and darkened. Conidia formed singly, acicular, 50–110 × 3–4 µm, indistinctly pluriseptate (about 4–10), hyaline, thin-walled, smooth, apex acute or subacute, base truncate, 2.5–3 µm wide, hila somewhat thickened and darkened.

Type: Taiwan: Hwalien Hsien, Fengpin, on Cyclosorus acuminatus, 30 Aug. 1984, T. K. Goh (NCHUPP-37a — holotype; K(M) IMI 312082 — isotype)..

Host range and distribution: On Cyclosorus (acuminatus, Cyclosorus sp.), Thelypteridaceae, Asia, (India, Taiwan).

Notes: Type material of C. cyclosori (Sarbajna & Chattopadhyay 1990) has been examined and proved to be identical with C. cyclosori Goh & W.H. Hsieh. To-anun et al. (2011: 75, fig. 58) described and illustrated a Cercospora collection on Pteris biaurita from Thailand and referred it to C. cyclosori. This identification is, however, doubtful. Cyclosorus is part of the Thelypteridaceae whereas Pteris belongs in the Pteridaceae. Several Cercospora spp. have been described from other hosts of the Pteridaceae. Furthermore, C. cyclosori, to which this collection was assigned, is morphologically C. apii-like.

Cercospora diplaziicola A.K. Das, Indian J. Mycol. Res. 27: 37 (1989).

(Fig. 19)

Fig. 19
figure 19

Cercospora diplaziicola (K(M) IMI 292584). A. Conidiophore fascicle. B. Conidiogenous cells. C. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Literature: Crous & Braun (2003: 163), Kamal (2010: 41), Phengsintham et al. (2010b, 2013a).

Illustrations: Das (1989: 38, fig. 1), Phengsintham et al. (2013a: 38, figs 2021).

Fig. 20
figure 20

Cercospora dryopteridis (HMAS 73548). A. Conidiophore fascicle. B. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Fig. 21
figure 21

Cercospora marsileae (based on the original illustration). A. Conidiophore fascicle. B. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Description: Leaf spots subcircular to irregular, 1–5 mm diam, grey-brown to dark brown in the centre, margin indefinite to dark brown. Caespituli amphigenous, scattered, dark brown. Mycelium internal; hyphae branched, 2–3 µm wide, septate, constricted at the septa, distance between septa 5–10 µm, brownish or green-hyaline, wall thin, smooth, forming plate-like plectenchymatous stromatic hyphal aggregations. Stromata small to well-developed, oval to ellipsoidal, 15–25 µm diam, brown, substomatal or intraepidermal, composed of swollen hyphal cells, subglobose, rounded to angular in outline, 6–17 µm wide, brown to dark brown, wall thin. Conidiophores formed singly or fasciculate, arising from stromata (2–12 per fascicle), emerging through stomata, unbranched, straight to curved, cylindrical, 40–190 × 4–6.5 µm, 2–8-septate, distance between septa 8–28 µm long, medium brown or olivaceous-brown, paler at the apex, wall 0.5–0.8 µm wide, smooth, slightly to strongly geniculate, width ± uniform; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal or intercalary, cylindrical, 10–20 × 3–5 µm, pale brown; conidiogenous loci conspicuous, subcircular, 2–3 µm wide, brown. Conidia solitary, acicular to narrowly obclavate, straight to curved, 45–155(−230) × 3–5(−6) µm, 3–20-septate, hyaline, thin-walled, smooth, tip acute, base truncate to short obconically truncate, 2–3 µm wide, hila thickened and darkened.

Holotype: India: West Bengal: Jalpaiguri, Baradighi, on Diplazium esculentum, 10 Oct. 1983, A. K. Das PCC 3669 (K(M) IMI 292584).

Host range and distribution: On Diplazium esculentum, Woodsiaceae, Asia (India, Laos, Thailand).

Notes: Cercospora diplaziicola with acicular to obclavate conidia is very close to C. athyrii, which was described to have acicular conidia. However, type material of the latter species could not be traced, is probably not maintained and thus cannot be re-examined to prove the variation of the conidial shape. It is possible that the two species described from Diplazium esculentum in Asia are conspecific. Cercospora diplaziicola is only tentatively maintained as separate species.

Cercospora dryopteridis Y.L. Guo, Mycosystema 16: 1 (1997).

(Fig. 20)

Literature: Crous & Braun (2003: 166), Zhuang (2005).

Illustration: Guo (1997: 2, fig. 1).

Description: Leaf spots amphigenous, subcircular to angular-irregular, 1–3 mm diam, often confluent, greyish white to pale yellowish brown, with dark brown halo on the upper side, paler on the lower side. Caespituli mainly hypophyllous. Mycelium internal. Stromata lacking or only with a few aggregated swollen hyphal cells. Conidiophores solitary or in small fascicles, 2–12, divergent, erect, straight, subcylindrical to 1–4 times geniculate, usually unbranched, 40–150(−210) × 4–6 µm, 1–5-septate, olivaceous-brown to medium brown, paler towards the tip; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal and intercalary, conidiogenous loci conspicuous, thickened and darkened, 2.5–3.5 µm diam. Conidia solitary, acicular, 95–250 × 3.5–5 µm, pluriseptate, hyaline, thin-walled, smooth, apex acute, base truncate, about 3–4 µm wide, hila somewhat thickened and darkened.

Holotype: China: Prov. Shaanxi: Foping, on Dryopteris polypodioides, Dryopteridaceae, 27 Nov. 1991, Y. L. Guo 3139 (HMAS 73548).

Host range and distribution: Only known from the type collection.

Note: This species is part of the Cercospora apii complex.

Cercospora lygodiicola Lall, J.N. Kapoor & Munjal, Indian Phytopathol. 17:181 (1964).

Literature: Crous & Braun (2003: 258), Kamal (2010: 61).

Illustration: Lall et al. (1964: 182, fig. 1).

Description: Leaf spots amphigenous, irregularly shaped, 2–15 mm diam, fuliginous, margin paler, sometimes covering the whole surface of leaflets. Caespituli amphigenous. Stromata lacking or small, composed of a few swollen hyphal cells.

Conidiophores solitary or few to many in loose fascicles, arising from internal hyhae or small stromatic hyphal aggregations, erect, subcylindrical to somewhat geniculate, unbranched, about 15–50 × 4–5 µm, continuous to sparingly septate, olivaceous-brown below, paler towards the apex; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal or conidiophores reduced to conidiogenous cells, conidiogenous loci thickened and darkened. Conidia solitary, narrowly obclavate, 25–130 × 3–4 µm, indistinctly pluriseptate, subhyaline, thin-walled, smooth, apex subacute or acute, base short obconically truncate.

Holotype: India: Punjab: Kulu, Manali, on Lygodium japonicum, Lygodiaceae, 9 Nov. 1962, V. S. Sharma (HCIO 28172).

Host range and distribution: Only known from the type collection.

Cercospora marsileae Ragunathan, Prasad & Purushot., Curr. Sci. 39: 305 (1970).

(Fig. 21)

Literature: Thaung (1984: 441), Crous & Braun (2003: 268), Kamal (2010: 63).

Illustration: Ragunanthan et al. (1970: 305, figs 12).

Description: Leaf spots brown to rusty brown, with chlorotic halo, 2–14 mm in length, sometimes spreading over the whole leaflet. Caespituli amphigenous. Mycelium internal. Stromata well-developed, consisting of brown cells. Conidiophores in fascicles, 2–10, erect, straight, subcylindrical, unbranched, apical part geniculate, about 50–110 × 3.5–5 µm, 1–3-septate, brown, paler towards the tip, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, conidiogenous loci thickened and darkened. Conidia formed singly, acicular, about 45–225 × 3–5.5 µm, 4–26-septate, hyaline, thin-walled, smooth, apex pointed, base truncate.

Holotype: India: Tamil Nadu: Annamalainagar, on living leaves of Marsilea quadrifolia, 5 Nov. 1965, V. Ragunathan (HCIO 29330).

Host range and distribution: On Marsilea quadrifolia, Marsileaceae, Asia (India, Myanmar).

Note: This species belongs to the Cercospora apii complex.

Cercospora platycerii Chupp, A monograph of the fungus genus Cercospora: 456 (1954).

(Fig. 22)

Fig. 22
figure 22

Cercospora platycerii (CUP, holotype). A. Conidiophore fascicle. B. Conidiogenous cells. C. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Literature: Raabe et al. (1981), Crous & Braun (2003: 327), Phengsintham et al. (2010b), To-anun et al. (2011: 73).

Illustration: To-anun et al. (2011: 74, fig. 57).

Description: Leaf spots amphigenous, subcircular, 10–30 mm diam, dark brown to blackish, zonate, margin slightly raised and centre depressed or vice versa. Caespituli hypophyllous. Mycelium internal. Stromata lacking or small, only with small aggregations of a few swollen hyphal cells, substomatal, brown. Conidiophores solitary or in small fascicles, 2–9, divergent, arising from internal hyphae or hyphal aggregations, through stomata, erect, straight, subcylindrical, geniculate above, unbranched, 30–200 × 3–5 µm, pluriseptate, pale to medium olivaceous-brown, wall slightly thickened, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, conidiogenous loci conspicuous, thickened and darkened, 2–3.5 µm diam. Conidia solitary, acicular, straight to somewhat curved, 40–150 × 2.5–5 µm, pluriseptate, hyaline, thin-walled, smooth, apex subacute, base truncate, 2–4 µm wide, hila somewhat thickened and darkened.

Holotype: USA: New Jersey: East Orange, on Platycerium sp., 21 Sep. 1933, D. L. Gill (CUP).

Host range and distribution: on Platycerium (bifurcacum, grande, Platycerium sp.), Polypodiaceae, Asia (Thailand), North America (USA, Florida, New Jersey), Hawaii.

Cercospora pleopeltidis Chidd., Mycopathol. Mycol. Appl. 17: 73(1962).

(Fig. 23)

Fig. 23
figure 23

Cercospora pleopeltidis (K(M) IMI 83185). A. Conidiophore fascicle. B. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Synonym: Cercospora microsori P. Kumar & Kamal, Curr. Sci. 50: 509 (1981); as “microsorii” [type: on Microsorum membranaceum, India, U.P., Gorakhpur, Feb. 1978, P. Kumar 96 (K(M) IMI 230606b)].

Literature: Crous & Braun (2003: 275, 328), Kamal (2010: 65, 76).

Illustrations: Chiddarwar (1962: pl. I, figs 79), Kumar & Kamal (1981:509, fig. 2).

Description: Leaf spots amphigenous, circular to oval, confluent, forming irregular patches, pale brow to brown. Caespituli amphigenous. Mycelium internal. Stromata substomatal, subglobose, 20–45 µm diam, brown. Conidiophores 5–16, in loose fascicles, arising from stromata, through stomata, erect, straight, subcylindrical to distinctly geniculate-sinuous, unbranched, 20–110(−150) × 3–4.5(−5) µm, 2–7-septate, pale to brown, wall somewhat thickened, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal or intercalary, with conspicuous conidiogenous loci, about 2–2.5 µm wide, thickened and darkened. Conidia solitary, acicular to somewhat obclavate, straight to curved, 15–150 × 3–4 µm, 2–16-septate, hyaline, thin-walled, smooth, apex acute or subobtuse, base truncate or slightly attenuated at the very base, 2–2.5 µm wide, hila somewhat thickened and darkened.

Types: India: Bombay, Mahabaleshwar, on leaves of Microsorum membranaceum, 14 Oct. 1955, P. P. Chiddarwar (K (M) IMI 83185 — holotype; BPI 439783 — isotype).

Host range and distribution: on Microsorum membranaceum (Pleopeltis membranacea), Polypodiaceae, Asia (India, M.S., U.P.).

Notes: A morphologically similar Cercospora was found on Nephrolepis cordifolia (Polypodium cordifolium), Davalliaceae, in Venezuela (Lara, La Cuchilla, Dec. 2006, R. Urtiaga, HAL 2601 F, deposited as Cercospora sp.). The sample concerned is, however, too meager for a final determination and description.

Cercospora pteridigena M.K. Khan, R.K. Verma & Kamal, Indian Phytopathol. 45: 26 (1994).

(Fig. 24)

Fig. 24
figure 24

Cercospora pteridigena (K(M) IMI 321263). A. Conidiophore arising from a stroma. B. Conidiogenous cells. C. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Literature: Crous & Braun (2003: 340), Kamal (2010: 78).

Illustration: Khan et al. (1992: 27, fig. 1).

Description: Lesions amphigenous, mainly on young leaves and leaflets, 2.5–15 mm diam, scattered, sometimes covering the whole leaf surface, light yellow to dark brown. Mycelium internal; hyphae up to 2.5 µm wide, septate, smooth. Stromata lacking or only poorly developed, small aggregations of swollen hyphal cells, about 10–20 µm diam, olivaceous. Conidiophores solitary or in small fascicles, arising from internal hyphae or small stromata, erect, straight to somewhat geniculate, unbranched, about 80–205 × 6.5–7 µm, pluriseptate, pale brown, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal or intercalary, with conspicuously thickened and darkened conidiogenous loci, 4–5.5 µm diam. Conidia solitary, acicular, very rarely branched, 145.5–495.5 × 3.5–5 µm, 10–25-septate, hyaline, base truncate, about 3–4 µm wide, apex pointed, hila thickened and darkened.

Types: India: U.P.: Baharaich, on leaves of Adiantum venustum, 14 Nov. 1987, M. K. Khan, (GPU, KS 239 — holotype; K(M) IMI 3212623 — isotype).

Host range and distribution: On Adiantum (philippense [lunulatum], venustum), Pteridaceae subfam. Vittarioideae (Adiantaceae), Asia (India).

Note: An additional collection of this species from India on Adiantum philippense is deposted at K (IMI 136020).

Cercospora selaginellarum P. Joly, Rev. Mycol. 30: 228 “1965” (1966).

Literature: Farr & Horner (1968).

Illustration: Cour & Joly (1965: 227, pl. 1–4, 229, fig. 1).

Description: Lesions formed as small leaf spots. Mycelium internal; hyphae 4–7 µm wide, brown. Stromata composed of aggregated swollen hyphal cells, 15–40 µm diam, brown. Conidiophores loosely fasciculate, 2–20, arising from stromata, erect, unbranched, straight to geniculate-sinuous, length variable, about 150–400 µm long and 4.5–6 µm wide, pluriseptate, brown; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal and intercalary, conidiogenous loci conspicuous, thickened and darkened. Conidia solitary, acicular, up to 300 µm long, pluriseptate, hyaline, thin-walled, apex pointed, base truncate, hila thickened and darkened.

Syntypes: France: on leaves of Selaginella denticulata and S. helvetica (details not indicated).

Host range and distribution: on leaves of Selaginella (apoda, helvetica, kraussiana [denticulata]), Selaginellaceae, Europe (France), North America (USA, Minnisota).

Notes: This species belongs to the C. apii complex. Cour & Joly (1965) compared C. selaginellarum with the latter species and discussed the morphological similarity of the two species. Type material was not indicated in the original publication, and two different host species were cited, Selaginella helvetica and S. denticulata. Original material could not be traced. Jaap, Fungi Sel. Exs. 619, issued as Leptosphaeria helvetica var. major, on Selaginella helvetica, Italy, Liguria, Portofino, 26 Mar. 1913, O. Jaap (material deposited at HAL examined) contains conidiophores and conidia of Cercospora sp., but the latter material does not belong to C. selaginellarum. The conidia are much shorter, narrower and obclavate, and the conidiogenous loci are rather small, 1.5–2 µm diam (stromata immersed, about 10–40 µm diam, brown; conidiophores fasciculate, straight, subcylindrical, 80–150 × 3–6 µm, pluriseptate, medium to darker brown, tips much paler, conidiogenous loci 1.5–2 µm wide, slightly thickened and darkened; conidia solitary, obclavate, about 40–90 × 4–5 µm, 3–8-septate, hyaline or almost so, smooth, apex subobtuse, base rounded to short obconically truncate, 2 µm wide, hila slighty thickened and darkened). However, the material from Italy is not sufficient for a final taxonomic conclusion.

Passalora

Key to the species of Passalora on ferns
  1. 1

    Conidiophores 30–80 × 3–5 µm; conidia obclavate, long and narrow, 40–210 × 2–4 µm, subhyaline to pale olivaceous; on Pteridium aquilinum, widespread ................... P. pteridis

    Conidiophores longer and broader, about 25–350 × 4–7.5 µm; conidia obclavate-cylindrical, shorter and broader, 25–100 × 4–6 µm, olivaceous-brown or brown; on Pyrrosia lingua, Japan ................... P. pyrrosiae

List of Passalora species on ferns

Passalora pteridis (Siemaszko) U. Braun & Crous, in Crous & Braun, Mycosphaerella and Anam. 1: 340 (2003).

(Fig. 25)

Fig. 25
figure 25

Passalora pteridis (MA, holotype of Cercospora pteridicola). A. Superficial hypha. B. Solitary conidiophore arising from a superficial hypha. C. Conidiophore fascicle. D. Conidiogenous cells. E. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Basionym: Cercospora pteridis Siemaszko, Arch. Nauk. Biol. Towarz. Nauk. Warszaw. 1: 57 (1923).

Synonyms: Pseudocercospora pteridis (Siemaszko) Y.L. Guo & X.J. Liu, Acta Mycol. Sin. 11: 298 (1992) [misapplied].

Mycovellosiella pteridis (Siemaszko) U. Braun, Trudy Bot. Inst. Im. V.L. Komarova 20: 83 (1997).

Cercospora pteridicola Gonz.Frag., Mem. Real. Acad. Ci. Exact. Madrid, Ser. 2, 6: 227 (1927) [holotype: on Pteridium aquilinum, Spain, near San Filipe de Ballaróls, Fuente de la Salud, Gerona, 16 Nov. 1920, Sennen (MA)].

Literature: Chupp (1954: 457), Vassiljevsky & Karakulin (1937: 219), Lall et al. (1964: 182–183), Greene (1960), Saccardo (1972: 1382), Crous & Braun (2003: 340), Kamal (2010: 133).

Illustrations: Lall et al. (1964: 182, fig. 3), Braun & Mel’nik (1997: 121, fig. 49).

Description: Leaf spots amphigenous, formed as irregular discolorations, yellowish brown, brown, later darker, margin indefinite. Caespituli hypophyllous, subeffuse, not very conspicuous. Mycelium internal and external; superficial hyphae branched, septate, 2–6 µm wide, smooth, thin-walled, subhyaline to olivaceous. Stromata lacking or only formed as small substomatal hyphal aggregations. Conidiophores in small, loose fascicles, arising from internal hyphae or hyphal aggregations, or solitary, arising from superficial hyphae, erect to decumbent, flexuous, simple or occasionally branched, subcylindrical to somewhat clavate, to geniculate-sinuous, 20–100 × 5–10 µm, continuous to pluriseptate, olivaceous to brownish, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, often somewhat swollen, subclavate, about 20–40 µm long, conidiogenous loci conspicuous, somewhat thickened and darkened. Conidia solitary, broadly obclavate-subcylindrical, (30−)40–120(−140) × 5–8 µm, pluriseptate, hyaline, subhyaline to pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth, apex obtuse, base obconically truncate, hila slightly thickened and darkened.

Holotype: Russia: Pskhu, Caucasus Mts., on Pteridium aquilinum, 1917, W. Siemaszko (not seen).

Host range and distribution: On Pteridium (aquilinum, Pteridium sp.), Dennstaedtiaceae, Asia (India, Japan), Caucasus (Georgia), Europe (Russia, Spain), North America (USA, Wisconsin).

Notes: Type material of C. pteridis could not be traced in Siemaszko’s herbarium at WA. The reallocation of this species to Mycovellosiella and Passalora, respectively, was based on the examination of type material of Cercospora pteridicola. The identity of a Japanese collection on Pteridium aquilinum subsp. japonicum (P. aquilinum var. latiusculum), Iwate, 31 Aug. 1947, K. Sawada (IUM-FS79), recorded by Sawada (1958) as Cercospora pteridis, is unclear and remains unproven as this sample is devoid of any fructification, which has been confirmed by a recently made re-examination. Records of this species from India and Myanmar on Pteridium sp. (Lall et al. 1964, Thaung 1984) are also unclear and unproven. Material was not available for a re-examination. A previous record from Colombia on Pteris sp. (Chupp 1954) was based on a misidentification and belongs to a Pseudocercospora described in this paper as P. pteridigena.

Passalora pyrrosiae (Togashi & Katsuki) C. Nakash. & I. Araki, Mycoscience 49: 144 (2008).

(Fig. 26)

Fig. 26
figure 26

Passalora pyrrosiae (TFM: FPH-7852). a. Drawing (A. Conidiophore fascile, B. Conidia). b. Micrograph of conidiophores (SEM). c. Micrograph of conidiophores (light microscopy).

Basionym: Pseudocercospora pyrrosiae Togashi & Katsuki, J. Jap. Bot. 28: 287 (1953).

Literature: Katsuki (1965: 76).

Illustration: Motohashi et al. (2008: 143, fig. 6).

Description: Lesions indistinct or with distinct discolorations, 3–8 mm diam, greyish brown to reddish brown above, with darker border line and greyish brown or brown below, sometimes covering the whole surface. Caespituli hypophyllous, fuliginous. Mycelium internal. Stromata intraepidermal, small to large, up to 135 µm diam, olivaceous-brown to dark brown. Conidiophores solitary or in moderately large fascicles, 2–18, loose to dense, arising from stromata, erumpent, erect, straight to slightly curved, subcylindrical to geniculate-sinuous, unbranched, about 25–350 × 4–7.5 µm, 4–10-septate, pale olivaceous-brown to brown, thick-walled, asperulate; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, sympodially or percurrently proliferating, conidiogenous loci thickened and darkened, 2.5–5 µm diam. Conidia solitary, obclavate-cylindrical, straight to curved, 25–100 × 4–6 µm, 1–11-euseptate, rarely distoseptate, occasionally constricted at the septa, olivaceous-brown or brown, wall thickened, asperulate, base obconically truncate, apex obtuse, hila somewhat thickened and darkened.

Types: Japan: Pref. Kagoshima, Kosugidani, Yaku I., on Pyrrosia lingua, 7 Aug. 1951, K. Togashi & S. Katsuki (holotype not preserved); neotype (designated in Motohashi et al. 2008), Aichi Pref., Nagoya, Chikusa, Higashiyama Botanical Garden, on Pyrrosia lingua, 6 June 2005, I. Araki (TFM : FPH-7852, ex-neotype culture: MAFF 240280).

Host range and distribution: On Pyrrosia lingua, Polypodiaceae; Asia (Japan).

Pseudocercospora

Key to the species of Pseudocercospora on ferns
  1. 1

    Mycelium internal and external; superficial hyphae usually with solitary conidiophores ................... 2

    Mycelium internal; superficial hyphae with solitary conidiophores lacking ................... ................... 14

  2. 2(1)

    Stromata lacking; conidiophores only solitary, arising from superficial hyphae ................... 3

    Stromata mostly present, small to large; conidiophores fasciculate, arising from internal hyphae or stromata as well as solitary, arising from superficial hyphae ................... 6

  3. 3 (2)

    Conidiophores very long, 100–300 µm, pluriseptate (10–30 septa); conidia subcylindrical, ellipsoid to short obclavate-obovoid, 12–25 × 4.5–6 µm, (2−)3–4(−5)-septate; on Dicranopteris linearis, Africa, Gabon ................... P. gleicheniae

    Conidiophores much shorter, 2–40 µm, 0–2-septate; conidia acicular-filiform or narrowly obclavate-cylindrical, much longer and narrower; on other hosts ................... 4

  4. 4 (3)

    Conidia narrowly cylindrical to obclavate-cylindrical, 30–80 × 2–3 µm; on Abacopteris urophylla, Singapore ................... P. abacopteridis

    Conidia acicular-filiform, 60–120 × 2–3.5 µm; on other hosts ................... 5

  5. 5 (4)

    Conidia 3–3.5 µm wide, hila 2.5–3 µm wide; on Rumohra adiantiformis, Taiwan ................... P. rumohrae

    Conidia narrower, 2–3 µm, hila 1.5–2 µm wide; on Ptisana salicina, New Zealand ................... P. ptisanae

  6. 6 (2)

    Stromata lacking; forming fasciculate conidiophores arising from internal hyphae, emerging through stomata; conidia short, only 10–35 × 1.5–4 µm, 1–3-septate; on Lygodium japonicum, Asia ................... P. lygonii

    Stromata developed, giving rise to fasciculate conidiophores; conidia longer, pluriseptate ................... 7

  7. 7 (6)

    Stromata very large, up to 150 µm diam; on Nephrolepis falcata, Australia ................... P. nephrolepidicola

    Stromata much smaller, 10–80 µm diam ................... 8

  8. 8 (7)

    Superficial hyphae present, but without solitary conidiophores; on Davallia fejeensis, Brazil ................... P. davalliicola

    Superficial hyphae with solitary conidiophores present and usually abundant ................... 9

  9. 9 (8)

    Conidia narrow, only 2–4 µm wide; on Lygodium, Nephrolepis or Pteris spp ................... 10

    Conidia wider, 3–5.5 µm; on other hosts ................... 13

  10. 10 (9)

    Conidiophores very long, 30–150 µm; conidia acicular to narrowly obclavate, very long, 40–250 µm; on Pteris sp., Colombia ................... P. pteridigena

    Conidiophores much shorter, 5–70 µm; conidia much shorter, up to 125 µm ................... 11

  11. 11 (10)

    Conidia acicular to narrowly cylindrical, base truncate; on Nephrolepis spp., Asia ................... P. nephrolepidigena

    Conidia obclavate-cylindrical, base obconically truncate; on Lygodium or Pteris spp ................... ................... 12

  12. 12 (11)

    Hyphae subhyaline; conidiophores thin-walled; on Pteris spp., Asia ................... P. pteridicola

    Hyphae subhyaline, but distinctly pigmented where conidiophores arise; wall of longer conidiophores somewhat thickened; on Lygodium sp., Asia ................... P. lygodiigena

  13. 13 (9)

    Leafspots lacking or indistinct; colonies hypophyllous; stromata small, 10–20 µm diam; conidiophores upto150×7 µm; on Adiantum, Asia, South America ................... P. adianti

    Leafspots developed; colonies amphigenous; with large epiphyllous stromata, 20–60 µm diam; conidiophores upto100×5 µm; on Lonchitis hirsuta, Venezuela ................... P. lonchitidis

  14. 14 (1)

    Stromata lacking or almost so ................... 15

    Stromata developed, 10–110 µm diam ................... 16

  15. 15 (14)

    Conidiophores 60–180 × 4–7 µm; conidia 3–5 µm wide; on Plagiogyria euphlebia, Taiwan ................... P. plagiogyriae

    Conidiophores much shorter and narrower, 7–35 × 2.5–3 µm; conidia only 2–3 µm wide; on Nephrolepis auriculata, Taiwan ................... P. nephrolepidis

  16. 16 (14)

    Stromata epiphyllous, immersed, very large, 60–110 µm diam; on Cyathea sp., Japan ................... P. cyatheae

    Stromata much smaller, 10–75 µm diam ................... 17

  17. 17(16)

    Conidia acicular-filiform ................... 18

    Conidia obclavate-cylindrical ................... 22

  18. 18 (17)

    Conidia very narrow, 1–1.5 µm wide; on Cyclosorus acuminatus, Taiwan ................... P. pteridophytophila

    Conidia wider, 1.5–4 µm; on other hosts ................... 19

  19. 19(18)

    Conidiophores relatively short, 5–30 µm; on Arachniodes or Microsorum spp ................... 20

    Conidiophores longer, up to 70 µm; on other hosts ................... 21

  20. 20 (19)

    Colonies hypophyllous; conidiophores usually aseptate; on Arachniodes sp., China ................... P. arachniodis

    Colonies amphigenous; conidiophores 1–5-septate; on Microsorum ................... P. microsori

  21. 21 (19)

    Conidiophores usually aseptate; conidia 50–120 µm long; on Metathelypteris laxa, Taiwan ................... P. thelypteridis

    Conidiophores 0–2-septate; conidia 60–80 µm long; on Deparia japonica, Taiwan ................... P. athyrii

  22. 22 (17)

    Conidiophores very short, 9–14 × 2–4 µm; on Christella parasitica, Thailand................... P. christellae

    Conidiophores longer, (5−)10–280 µm; on other hosts ................... 23

  23. 23 (22)

    Conidiophores very long, 160–280 µm; on Lygodium sp., India ................... P. polypodiacearum

    Conidiophores shorter, 5–150 µm; on other hosts ................... 24

  24. 24 (23)

    Conidiophores long, up to 150 µm; on Angiopteris or Pityrogramma ................... 25

    Conidiophores shorter, 10–75 µm; on other hosts ................... 26

  25. 25 (24)

    Conidiophores 2–6 µm wide; conidia 30–60 × 3–5 µm; on Angiopteris sp., Asia ................... P. angiopteridis

    Conidiophores 5–7 µm wide; condia 25–200 × 5–7.5 µm; on Pityrogramma, Ecuador ................... (?) Cercospora trismeriae (see “Doubtful, excluded and insufficiently known species”)

  26. 26 (24)

    Superficial hyphae present, but without solitary conidiophores; on Davallia fejeensis, Brazil ................... P. davalliicola

    Superfial hyphae lacking ................... 27

  27. 27 (26)

    Conidia narrow, 2–4 µm ................... 28

    Conidia wider, 3–6 µm ................... 30

  28. 28 (27)

    Conidia 20–80 µm long, only 3–5-septate; on diverse ferns of different families; North and South America and Europe (introduced) ................... P. phyllitidis

    Conidia 20.5–110 µm long, 2–12-septate ................... 29

  29. 29 (28)

    Conidia never acicular, base short obconically truncate; on Odontosoria chinensis, India ................... P. davalliae

    Conidia acicular to somewhat obclavate-cylindrical, base mostly truncate or only slightly obconically truncate; on Microsorum pustulatum, Australia ................... P. microsori

  30. 30(27)

    Stromata 20–75 µm diam; conidiophores 10–70 µm long, 0–3-septate; conidia 4–7 µm wide; on Tectaria zeylanica, Asia ................... P. helminthostachydis

    Stromata smaller, 10–40 µm diam; conidiophores 15–40 µm long, 0–1-septate; conidia 3–5 µm wide; on Lygodium japonicum, China ................... P. lygodiicola

Tabular key to Pseudocercospora species on ferns

Adiantaceae (Pteridaceae subfam. Vittarioideae)

Athyriaceae

On Deparia japonica (Athyrium japonicum), Taiwan ................... P. athyrii

Cyatheaceae
  1. 1

    Distinct leafspots formed; colonies epiphyllous; stromata very large, 60–110 µm diam; conidiophores 25–50 × 3–5 µm; conidia cylindrical-obclavate, 30–50 × 3.5–5.5 µm, base rounded to distinctly obconically truncate; on Cyathea sp., Japan ................... P. cyatheae

    On dead fronds; colonies amphigenous; stromata smaller, up to 60 µm diam; conidiophores longer and narrower, 30–70 × 2–3 µm; conidia subcylindrical or subacicular, width often irregular, base truncate to somewhat obconically truncate; on Cyathea australis, Australia ................... P. cyatheicola

Davalliaceae
  1. 1

    Superficial hyphae with solitary conidiophores present ................... 2

    Superficial hyphae lacking, if present without solitary conidiophores ................... 3

  2. 2 (1)

    Stromata large, up to 130 µm diam; on Nephrolepis falcata, Australia ................... P. nephrolepidicola

    Stromata smaller, 10–80 µm diam; on Nephrolepis biserrata and Nephrolepis sp., Brunei, Thailand ................... P. nephrolepidigena

  3. 3 (1)

    Stromata lacking or small, up to 35 µm diam; conidia subcylindrical-acicular, usually 65–100 µm long, base truncate; on Nephrolepis auriculata, Taiwan ................... P. nephrolepidis

    Stromata larger, up to 75 µm diam; conidia obclavate-subcylindrical, 12–80 µm long, base obconically truncate ................... 4

  4. 4 (3)

    Mycelium internal and external, but superficial hyphae without solitary conidiophores; conidia 3–5 µm wide, hila (1.5−)2(−2.5) µm diam; on leaves of Davallia fejeensis, Brazil ................... P. davalliicola

    Mycelium only internal; conidia 2–3.5 µm wide, hila 1–1.5 µm diam; on Davallia trichomanoides and Nephrolepis exaltata, North America ................... P. phyllitidis

Dennstadtiaceae

On Lonchitis hirsuta, Venezuela ........... P. lonchitidis

Dryopteridaceae
  1. 1

    Stromata lacking; with solitary conidiophores arising from superficial hyphae; conidia acicular, 60–120 µm long; on Rumohra adiantiformis, Taiwan ................ P. rumohrae

    Stromata small to well-developed; solitary conidiophores lacking ................ 2

  2. 2 (1)

    Conidiophores 6.5–30 µm long; fully developed conidia acicular, short conidia sometimes obclavate; on Arachniodes sp., China ................ P. arachniodis

    Conidiophores 10–75 µm long; conidia always obclavate; on Rumohra adiantiformis, North America ................ P. phyllitidis

Gleicheniaceae

On Dicranopteris linearis, Africa, Gabon ................ P. gleichneniae

Lindsaeaceae

On leaves of Odontosoria chinensis [Davallia tenuifolia], India ................ P. davalliae

Lygodiaceae
  1. 1

    Superficial hyphae present ................ 2

    Mycelium only internal, superficial hyphae lacking ................ 3

  2. 2 (1)

    Stromata lacking; conidia small, 10–35 × 1.5–4 µm, 1–3-septate; on Lygodium spp ................ P. lygodii

    Stromata present; conidia 40–115.5 µm long, pluriseptate; on Lygodium sp ................ P. lygodiigena

  3. 3 (1)

    Conidiophores short, 15–40 µm, 0–1-septate; on leaves of Lygodium japonicum ................ P. lygodiicola

    Conidiophores much longer, 160–280 µm, pluriseptate; on Lygodium sp., India ................ P. polypodiacearum

Marattiaceae
  1. 1

    Superficial mycelium with solitary conidiophores developed; stromata lacking; conidia acicular-filiform; on Ptisana salicina, New Zealand ................ P. ptisanae

    Superficial mycelium with solitary conidiophores lacking; stromata well-developed; conidia obclavate-cylindrical ................ 2

  2. 2(1)

    Conidia 3–5 µm wide, hila (1.5−)2(−2.5) µm wide; on Angiopteris spp., Asia ................ P. angiopteridis

    Conidia narrower, 2–3.5 µm, hila 1–1.5 µm wide; on Angiopteris sp., North America ................ P. phyllitidis

Osmundaceae

On Osmunda regalis, North America ................ P. phyllitidis

Plagiogyriaceae

On Plagiogyria euphlebia, Taiwan ................ P. plagiogyriae

Polypodiaceae
  1. 1

    Conidia distinctly obclavate, base distinctly obconically truncate, 20–80 × 2–3.5 µm, 3–5-septate; on Campyloneurum phyllitidis and Polypodium polypodioides, North America ................ P. phyllitidis

    Conidia acicular to somewhat obclavate-cylindrical, base usually truncate or only slightly obconically truncate, longer, 50–110 µm, with 2–12 septa; on Microsorum pustulatum, Australia ................ P. microsori

Pteridaceae subfam. Pteridoideae
  1. 1

    Mycelium internal; superficial hyphae with solitary conidiophores lacking; conidiophores only in fascicles ................ 2

    Mycelium internal and external; superficial hyphae with solitary conidiophores present ................ 3

  2. 2 (1)

    Conidiophores upto150 × 7 µm; conidia up to 200 µm long and 5–7.5 µm wide; on Pityrogramma, Ecuador .....(?) Cercospora trismeriae (see “Doubtful, excluded and insufficiently known species”)

    Conidiophores up to100 × 3–5 µm; conidia 20–80 × 2–5 µm; on Pteris spp., North America ................ P. phyllitidis

  3. 3

    Conidiophores 10–70 µm long, pale olivaceous, olivaceous-brown to medium brown, thin-walled; conidia 40–125 µm long; on Pteris spp., Asia ................ P. pteridicola

    Conidiophores longer, 30–150 µm, medium dark brown, wall somewhat thickened; conidia longer, 40–250 µm; on Pteris sp., Colombia ................ P. pteridigena

Pteridaceae subfam. Vittarioideae (= Adiantaceae)

On Adiantum spp., Asia (India), South America (Venezuela) ................ P. adianti

Tectariaceae

On Tectaria zeylanica (Helminthostachys zeylanica), Asia ................ P. helminthostachydis

Thelypteridaceae
  1. 1

    Stroma lacking; superficial hyphae developed, giving rise to solitary conidiophores, fasciculate conidiophores not formed; on Abacopteris urophylla, Singapore ................ P. abacopteridicola

    Stroma developed; superficial hyphae and solitary conidiophores lacking; conidiophores fasciculate ................ 2

  2. 2 (1)

    Conidia acicular-filiform, base ± truncate ................ 3

    Conidia obclavate, base distinctly obconically truncate ................ 4

  3. 3 (2)

    Conidia narrow, 30–70 × 1–1.5 µm, hyaline; on Cyclosorus acuminatus, Taiwan ................ P. pteridophytophila

    Conidia longer and wider, 50–120 × 2.5–3 µm, subhyaline to pale olivaceous; on Metathelypteris laxa (Thelypteris laxa), Taiwan ................ P. thelypteridis

  4. 4 (2)

    Caespituli epiphyllous; conidiophores very short, 9–15 µm, 0–1-septate; conidia long, 50–105 µm; on leaves of Christella parasitica, Thailand ................ P. christellae

    Caespituli hypophyllous; conidiophores longer, 10–75 µm, aseptate orwith several septa; conidia shorter, 20–80 µm; on Thelypteris tetragona, North America ................ P. phyllitidis

List of Pseudocercospora species on ferns

Pseudocercospora abacopteridicola (J.M. Yen & Lim) J.M. Yen, in Yen & Lim, Gard. Bull., Singapore 33: 168 (1980).

(Fig. 27)

Fig. 27
figure 27

Pseudocercospora abacopteridicola (PC, holotype). A. Solitary conidiophores arising from superficial hyphae emerging through a stoma. B. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Basionym: Cercospora abacopteridicola J.M. Yen & Lim, Can. Pacifique 17: 97 (1973).

Literature: Crous & Braun (2003: 37).

Illustration: Yen & Lim (1980: 204, fig. 7 A–B).

Description: Leaf spots amphigenous, vein-limited, brown, later confluent. Caespituli hypophyllous, vein-limited, brown, later confluent. Mycelium internal and external, superficial hyphae branched, septate, pale olivaceous-brown, 1.5–2.5 µm wide, thin-walled, smooth. Stromata lacking. Conidiophores solitary, arising from superficial hyphae, lateral, occasionally terminal, erect, straight, subcylindrical or slightly attenuated towards the tip, unbranched, short, about 5–15 × 2.5–3 µm, 0–1-septate, concolorous with the hyphae, thin-walled, smooth; conidiophores reduced to conidiogenous cells, conidiogenous loci inconspicuous, neither thickened nor darkened. Conidia solitary, narrowly cylindrical to obclavate-cylindrical, 30–80 × 2–3 µm, 1–7(−9)-septate, pale olivaceous-brown, thin-walled, smooth, tips obtuse or subobtuse, base truncate, hilum neither thickened nor darkened.

Holotype: Singapore: on Abacopteris urophylla, Thelypteridaceae, 3 Mar. 1972, G. Lim (PC).

Host range and distribution: Only known from the type collection.

Pseudocercospora adianti (Syd.) Deighton, Mycol. Pap. 140: 135 (1976).

(Fig. 28)

Fig. 28
figure 28

Pseudocercospora adianti (HBG, lectotype). A. Superficial hyphae. B. Solitary conidiophore arising from a superficial hypha. C. Conidiophore fascicle. D. Conidiogenous cells. E. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Basionym: Cercospora adianti Syd., Ann. Mycol. 28: 206 (1930).

Literature: Chupp (1954: 453), Das (1989), Crous & Braun (2003: 44), Kamal (2010: 145).

Exsiccatae: Syd., Fungi Exot. Exs. 884.

Description: Leaf spots lacking or indistinct, diffuse brown discolorations on the upper side. Colonies hypophyllous, effuse, often covering the whole lower surface, dark olivaceous to blackish. Mycelium internal and external, superficial hyphae branched, septate, 1–3.5 µm wide, subhyaline to pale olivaceous-brown, thin-walled, smooth. Stromata lacking or only formed as small aggregations of swollen hyphal cells, about 10–20 µm diam, substomatal to intraepidermal. Conidiophores in small to moderately large fascicles, 2–20, loose to rather dense, erect to decumbent, arising from internal hyphae or small stromata, through stomata or erumpent, or conidiophores solitary, arising from superficial hyphae, lateral, straight, subcylindrical to usually distinctly to strongly geniculate-sinuous, sometimes tortuous, usually unbranched, 20–150 × 4–7 µm, continuous to pluriseptate, mostly 2–8-septate, pale to medium brown, wall thin to slightly thickened, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal to intercalary, 10–35 µm long, conidiogenous loci inconspicuous to distinctly denticle-like, but wall always unthickened and not darkened. Conidia solitary, obclavate to cylindrical-obclavate, occasionally broadly subacicular, straight to curved, occasionally sinuous-sigmoid, 40–120 × 4–5.5 µm, 5–15-septate, subhyaline to pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth, apex obtuse to subacute, base short obconically truncate, about 2–2.5 µm wide, hila neither thickened nor darkened.

Lectotype (designated here, MycoBank, MBT176147): Venezuela: El Limon, near Puerto La Cruz, on Adiantum tetraphyllum, 15 Jan. 1928, H. Sydow, Syd., Fungi Exot. Exs. 884 (HBG). Isolectotypes: Syd., Fungi Exot. Exs. 884 (e.g. B, BPI 432406, CUP, MICH 15252, S, UPS, etc.).

Host range and distribution: On Adiantum (latifolium, lunulatum, tetraphyllum, Adiantum sp.), Pteridaceae subfam. Vittarioideae (= Adiantaceae), Asia (India, Maharashtra, West Bengal), South America (Venezuela).

Pseudocercospora angiopteridis Goh & W.H. Hsieh, Trans. Mycol. Soc. Republ. China 4(2): 27 (1989).

(Fig. 29)

Fig. 29
figure 29

Pseudocercospora angiopteridis (L 53845). A. Conidiophore fascicles. B. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Synonym: Cercospora angiopteridis Boedijn, Nova Hedwigia 3: 424 (1961) [types: on Angiopteris evecta, Indonesia, Java, Bogor, Hortus Bogoriensis, 27 July 1953, Boedijn (L 53845 — holotype; K(M) IMI 91584 — isotype)].

Literature: Hsieh & Goh (1990: 222), Guo & Hsieh (1995: 15), Guo et al. (1998: 26–27), Braun (2001: 420), Crous & Braun (2003: 57).

Illustration: Boedijn (1961: Tab. 109), Hsieh & Goh (1990: 223, fig. 172), Guo & Hsieh (1995: 16, fig. 15), Guo et al. (1998:27, fig. 15).

Description: Leaf spots amphigenous, subcircular to angular-irregular, often confluent, forming larger patches, up to 10 mm diam, brown, margin indefinite. Caespituli epiphyllous, punctiform, dark brown to blackish. Mycelium internal. Stromata immersed, well-developed, 20–70 µm diam, dark brown. Conidiophores in larger fascicles, loose to dense, erect, straight, subcylindrical to sinuous or somewhat geniculate, unbranched, 10–140 × 2–6 µm, continuous to pluriseptate, brown throughout or paler towards the tip, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, about 10–30 µm long, conidiogenous loci inconspicuous, neither thickened nor darkened. Conidia solitary, obclavate-cylindrical, straight to somewhat curved, 30–60 × 3–5 µm, 3–6-septate, subhyaline to pale olivaceous or olivaceous-brown, thin-walled, smooth, apex obtuse to subacute, base obconically truncate, (1.5−)2(−2.5) µm wide, hila neither thickened nor darkened.

Types: Taiwan: Hwalien Hsieh, Taluke, on Angiopteris lygodiifolia, 1 Feb. 1985, T. K. Goh (NCHUPP-148a — holotype; K(M) IMI 312070 — isotype).

Host range and distribution: On Angiopteris (evecta, lygodiifolia), Marattiaceae, Asia (Indonesia, Taiwan).

Notes: Braun (2001) re-examined type material of Cercospora angiopteridis and reduced this species to synonym with Pseudocercospora angiopteridis.

Pseudocercospora arachniodis Y.L. Guo, Mycosystema 6: 103 (1993).

(Fig. 30)

Fig. 30
figure 30

Pseudocercospora arachniodis (HMAS 62750). A. Conidiophore fascicles. B. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Literature: Guo & Hsieh (1995: 89), Guo et al. (1998: 103–104).

Illustrations: Guo (1993: 104, fig. 1), Guo & Hsieh (1995: 88, fig. 80), Guo et al. (1998: 104, fig. 84).

Description: Leaf spots amphigenous, at first elliptical to angular, 0.5–1 mm diam, later oblong, 1–4 × 0.5–1 mm, often confluent, reddish brown, with dark brown halo on the upper side, paler brown below. Caespituli hypophyllous. Mycelium internal. Stromata substomatal, small, composed of a few swollen, olivaceous-brown cells or globose, 10–30 µm diam. Conidiophores in small to moderately large fascicles, usually dense, arising from stromata, emerging throught stomata, straight to curved, subcylindrical, rarely geniculate, unbranched, 6.5–30 × 2.5–4 µm, 0(−1)-septate, uniformly pale olivaceous to olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth, apex conic to conically truncate; conidiophores usually reduced to conidiogenous cells, conidiogenous loci inconspicuous, unthickened and not darkened, sometimes visible as truncate tip. Conidia solitary, acicular, shorter conidia obclavate, 30–110 × 1.5–3 µm, 3–11-septate, pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth, apex obtuse to subacute, base truncate to short obconically truncate, about 1–2 µm wide, hila unthickened, not darkened.

Holotype: China: Shaanxi Province: Xian, on leaves of Arachniodes sp., Dryopteridaceae, 17 Jul. 1973, J. Y. Li & T. Y. Zhang 5046 (HMAS 62750).

Host range and distribution: Only known from the type collection.

Pseudocercospora athyrii Goh & W.H. Hsieh, Trans. Mycol. Soc. Republ. China 4(2): 27 (1989).

(Fig. 31)

Fig. 31
figure 31

Pseudocercospora athyrii (NCHUPP-228). A. Conidiophore fascicle. B. Conidiogenous cells. C. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Literature: Hsieh & Goh (1990: 38), Guo & Hsieh (1995: 32), Guo et al. (1998: 45).

Illustrations: Hsieh & Goh (1990: 38, fig. 23), Guo & Hsieh (1995: 34, fig. 32), Guo et al. (1998: 45, fig. 32).

Fig. 32
figure 32

Pseudocercospora christellae (MFLU10-0405). A. Conidiophore fascicle. B. Conidiophore tips. C. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Description: Leaf spots amphigenous, angular-irregular, up to 3 mm diam, brown, margin indefinite. Caespituli epiphyllous, punctiform, dark brown to blackish. Mycelium internal. Stromata epiphyllous, immersed to somewhat erumpent, subcircular to irregularly shaped, 20–50 µm diam, dark brown. Conidiophores numerous, in dense fascicles arising from stromata, erect, subcylindrical-filiform, geniculate-sinuous, usually simple, rarely branched, 10–70 × 2–3 µm, 0–2-septate, subhyaline to pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal or conidiophores reduced to conidiogenous cells, 10–25 µm long, conidiogenous loci inconspicuous, neither thickened nor darkened. Conidia solitary, acicular, almost straight to usually curved-sinuous, 60–80 × 2–3 µm, indistinctly pluriseptate, subhyaline, thin-walled, smooth, apex acute, base truncate, 2–2.5 µm wide, hila neither thickened nor darkened.

Holotype: Taiwan: Taipei, Yangmingshan, on Deparia japonica (Athyrium japonicum), Athyriaceae, 30 Aug. 1986, T. K. Goh (NCHUPP-228).

Host range and distribution: Only known from the type collection.

Pseudocercospora christellae Phengsintham, McKenzie, K.D. Hyde & U. Braun, Mycosphere 1: 207 (2010).

(Fig. 32)

Illustrations: Phengsintham et al. (2010a: 208–209, figs 67; 2013a:61–62, figs 6061).

Literature: Phengsintham et al. (2013a: 60–61).

Description: Leaf spots subcircular to irregular, 3–9 mm diam, at first brownish, later becoming brown to dark yellowish brown at the margin. Caespituli epiphyllous, conspicuous. Mycelium internal; hyphae branched, 2–3 µm wide, septate, constricted at the septa, distance between septa 6–8 µm, subhyaline to brownish, wall 0.3–0.5 µm wide, smooth, forming plate-like plectenchymatous stromatic hyphal aggregations. Stromata oval to ellipsoidal, 20–40 µm diam, brown to dark brown, stroma cells oval, ellipsoidal and angular, 3–10 µm wide, dark brown, wall 0.5–0.8 µm wide, smooth. Conidiophores fasciculate, arising from stromata (3–16 per fascicle), geniculate, unbranched, 9–15 × 2–4 µm, 0–1-septate, slightly constricted at the septa, distance between septa 3–12 µm, uniformly pale to medium brown, paler and narrower towards the tip, wall 0.3–0.5 µm wide, smooth. Conidiogenous cells terminal, 8–12 × 2–4 µm, obtuse; conidiogenous loci inconspicuous, unthickened, not darkened. Conidia solitary, obclavate, straight to slightly curved, 50–105 × 2–4 µm, 3–9-septate, pale olivaceous-brown, wall 0.3–0.5 µm wide, smooth, tip subacute, base obconically truncate, hila 1–2 µm wide.

In vitro: Colonies on PDA after 3 wk at 25 C dark grey, reaching 10–15 mm diam, hyphae 2–7 µm wide, septate, constricted at the septa, distance between septa 9–19 µm, brownish or subhyaline, wall 0.3–0.8 µm wide, smooth. Colonies sterile.

Holotype: Thailand: Chiang Rai Province: Muang District, Mae Chan Village, on leaves of Christella parasitica, Thelypteridaceae, 18 July 2010, P. Phengsintham (MFLU10-0405).

Host range and distribution: Only known from the type collection.

Pseudocercospora cyatheae C. Nakash. & S. Inaba, Mycoscience 47: 48 (2006).

(Fig. 33)

Fig. 33
figure 33

Pseudocercospora cyatheae (NBRC-H-12398). a. drawing (A. Conidiophore fascicle, B. Conidia, U. Braun del.). b. Conidium (light microscopy). c. Conidiophore fascicle (light microscopy). Bar = 10 µm.

Illustration: Nakashima et al. (2006: 49, fig. 1).

Description: Leaf spots distinct, irregularly shaped, brown to dark brown, 2–5 mm diam, margin indistinct or distinct. Caespituli epiphyllous, punctiform, dark. Mycelium internal. Stromata well-developed, immersed, globose, 60–110 µm diam, pale brown to brown. Conidiophores in large, dense fascicles, arising from stromata, erumpent, erect, straight to somewhat sinuous, subcylindrical or attenuated towards the tip, unbranched, 25–50 × 3–5 µm, 0–3-septate, pale brown to brown, paler towards the tip, thin-walled, smooth; conidiophores reduced to conidiogenous cells or conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, proliferation sympodial or sometimes percurrent, conidiogenous loci inconspicuous, unthickened, not darkened or rim-like. Conidia solitary, cylindrical to obclavate, mildly curved to sigmoid, 30–50 × 3.5–5.5 µm, 3–8-septate, pale brown, thin-walled, smooth, apex attenuated, obtuse to subacute, base rounded to obconically truncate, hila unthickened, not darkened.

Holotype: Japan: Okinawa Pref.: Ishigaki, Tomigusuku, on leaves of Cyathea sp., Cyatheaceae, 28 Mar. 2003, S. Inaba (NBRC H-12398, culture ex-type: NBRC 101080).

Host range and distribution: Only known from the type collection.

Pseudocercospora cyatheicola Crous & R.G. Shivas, Persoonia 26: 121 (2011); as “cyathicola”.

(Fig. 34)

Fig. 34
figure 34

Pseudocercospora cyatheicola (CBS H-20580). A. Conidiophore fascicles. B. Conidiophore tip. C. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Illustration: Crous et al. (2011: 120).

Description: On dead fronds, associated with a mycosphaerella-like teleomorph. Mycelium internal; hyphae septate, branched, 2.5–3 µm wide, pale brown, smooth, thin-walled. Stromata amphigenous on fronds, well-developed, erumpent, up to 60 µm diam and 40 µm high, brown. Conidiophores arising from stromata, in loose to rather dense well-developed fascicles, erect, subcylindrical, straight to geniculate-sinuous, unbranched, 30–70 × 2–3 µm, 1–3-septate, pale to medium brown, smooth, thin-walled; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, pale brown, proliferation sympodial and percurrent, conidiogenous loci visible as truncate ends, unthickened and not darkened, 1.5–2 µm wide. Conidia solitary, subcylindrical to subacicular, somewhat irregular in width, straight to irregularly curved, (35−)60–80(−90) × (2−)3(−3.5) µm, 3–9-septate, pale brown, smooth, thin-walled, guttulate, apex obtuse to subacute, base truncate to somewhat obconically truncate, hila about 2 µm wide, unthickened, not darkened.

In vitro (in the dark, 25 °C after 1 mo): Colonies spreading, somewhat erumpent, with moderate aerial mycelium and smooth, lobate margins, reaching 35–45 mm diam. On malt extract agar surface olivaceous-grey, with patches of smoke-grey, reverse iron-grey; on potato-dextrose agar surface pale olivaceous-grey, margin olivaceous-grey, reverse iron-grey; on oatmeal agar surface pale olivaceous-grey, margin olivaceous-grey.

Holotype: Australia: Queensland: Brisbane, Botanical Garden, on fronds of Cyathea australis, Cyatheaceae, 14 Jul. 2009, P. W. Crous & R. G. Shivas (CBS H-20580, culture ex-type: CBS 129520).

Host range and distribution: Only known from the type collection.

Pseudocercospora davalliae (A.K. Kar & M. Mandal) U. Braun & Crous, in Crous & Braun, Mycosphaerella and Anam. 1: 154 (2003).

(Fig. 35)

Fig. 35
figure 35

Pseudocercospora davalliae (K(M) IMI 135178). A. Conidiophore fascicles. B. Conidiophore tips. C. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Basionym: Cercospora davalliae A.K. Kar & M. Mandal, Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc. 53: 355 (1969).

Literature: Crous & Braun (2003: 154), Kamal (2010: 170).

Illustration: Kar&Mandal (1969: 355, fig. 17).

Description: Leaf spots amphigenous, irregular in shape, 1–5 mm diam, dingy brown to darker brown, margin indefinite. Mycelium internal. Stromata substomatal, 15–50 µm diam, dark olivaceous, composed of swollen hyphal cells, about 2–5 µm diam. Conidiophores fasciculate, in small to moderately large, loose to dense fascicles, arising from stromata, emerging through stomata, erect, straight, subcylindrical to attenuated towards the tip, mostly geniculate-sinuous, unbranched, about 5–65 × 2.5–5.5 µm, 0–6-septate, uniformly very pale olivaceous-brown, thin-walled, smooth; conidiophores reduced to conidiogenous cells or conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, occasionally intercalary, about 5–25 µm long, conidiogenous loci inconspicuous or visible by being truncate or rarely subdenticulate. Conidia solitary, narrowly obclavate-subcylindrical or linear, 20.5–105.5 × 2–3.5 µm, 2–11-septate, pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth, apex obtuse to subacute, base short obconically truncate, about 1–1.5 µm wide, hila unthickened, not darkened.

Types: India: West Bengal: Darjeeling, Kalimpong, 1372 m alt., on leaves of Odontosoria chinensis (Davallia tenuifolia), Lindsaeaceae, 8 May 1967, A. K. Kar & M. Mandal (K(M) IMI 135178 — holotype; BPI 435482 — isotype).

Host range and distribution: Only known from the type collection.

Notes: Braun & Freire (2004: 229–230) recorded this species on Davallia fejeensis from Brazil, which represents, however, a distinct species described below as Pseudocercospora davalliicola.

Pseudocercospora davalliicola U. Braun, sp. nov. MycoBank MB805524

(Fig. 36)

Fig. 36
figure 36

Pseudocercospora davalliicola (HAL 2589 F). A. Solitary conidiophores arising from superficial hyphae. B. Conidiophore tips. C. Conidiophores. D. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Etymology: Derived from its host genus (inhabitant of Davallia).

Exsiccatae: U. Braun, Fungi Sel. Exs. 14.

Diagnosis: Pseudocercosporae davalliae similis, sed hyphis superficialibus cum conidiophoris solitariis formantibus, conidiophoris saepe 0–1-septatis et conidiis brevioribus, 12–70 µm, solitariis vel brevicatenatis.

Description: Leaf spots absent or irregular in shape and size, formed as brown discolorations, margin indefinite, later large leaf segments or entire leaves becoming necrotic. Caespituli amphigenous, mostly hypophyllous, punctiform, scattered, dark greyish brown. Mycelium internal and external; superficial hyphae emerging through stomata, sparingly branched, septate, 1.5–3 µm wide, subhyaline to pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth. Stromata substomatal, 10–50 µm diam, olivaceous-brown, composed of swollen hyphal cells, about 2–5 µm diam. Conidiophores in small to moderately large fascicles, loose to mostly dense, arising from stromata, through stomata, erect, straight, subcylindrical to distinctly geniculate-sinuous, unbranched, 5–40 × 2–4.5 µm, 0–1(−2)-septate, subhyaline to pale olivaceous or olivaceous-brown, thin-walled, smooth; conidiophores reduced to conidiogenous cells or conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, 5–25 µm long, conidiogenous loci inconspicuous. Conidia solitary or in short chains, occasionally even in branched chains, short conidia subcylindrical-fusoid, longer conidia narrowly obclavate-cylindrical, 12–70 × 2–4 µm, 1–7-septate, subhyaline to pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth, apex obtuse to pointed, base obconically truncate, 1–1.5 µm wide, hila unthickened, not darkened.

Types: Brazil: Ceará: Ubajara city, on leaves of Davallia fejeensis, Davalliaceae, 10 Oct. 2002, F. Freire (HAL 2589 F — holotype; U. Braun, Fungi Sel. Exs. 14 (as “Pseudocercospora davalliae”), BPI, GZU, HMAS, K(M) IMI, KR, KUS, LE, PDD, VPIR — isotypes).

Host range and distribution: Only known from the type collection.

Notes: Braun & Freire (2004) recorded this collection as Pseudocercospora davalliae. Davallia fejeensis and the type host of the latter species, Odontosoria chinensis [Davallia tenuifolia] are, however, not allied and belong in different families. Furthermore, there are various morphological differences between collections on the two hosts. The conidia in P. davalliae are consistently formed singly and much longer, up to about 100 µm, and pluriseptate. The conidiophores are also longer and up to 6-septate, and superficial hyphae with solitary conidiophores are lacking.

Pseudocercospora gleicheniae (J.M. Yen) U. Braun, comb. nov.

MycoBank MB805525

(Fig. 37)

Fig. 37
figure 37

Pseudocercospora gleicheniae (PC, holotype). A. Hyphae emerging through a stoma. B. Conidiophore base. C. Conidiophore tips. D. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Basionym: Cercospora gleicheniae J.M. Yen, Bull. Trimestriel Soc. Mycol. France 90: 41 (1974).

Literature: Crous & Braun (2003: 198).

Illustration: Yen (1974: 42, fig. 1).

Description: Lesions lacking. Caespituli hypophyllous. Mycelium internal and external; hyphae emerging through stomata, superficial, branched, septate, pale olivaceous-brown, 1.5–2 µm wide, thin-walled, smooth. Stromata lacking or small, substomatal, somewhat pigmented. Conidiophores solitary, arising from superficial hyphae, lateral or occasionally terminal, erect, very long and filiform, straight to somewhat sinuous, unbranched or branched, about 100–300 µm long and 3.5–5 µm wide, pluriseptate throughout (about 10–30 septa), dark brown, wall thickened, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal or intercalary, 10–30 µm long, conidiogenous loci subconspicuous to conspicuous by being ± denticle-like, but wall neither thickened nor darkened, about 1–2 µm broad. Conidia solitary, subcylindrical, ellipsoid, short subclavate-obovoid, 12–25 × 4.5–6 µm, (2−)3–4(−5)-septate, subhyaline, pale olivaceous to olivaceous-brown, thin-walled, smooth or almost so, apex rounded, base short obconically truncate to somewhat peg-like, hila neither thickened nor darkened.

Holotype: Gabon: Libreville, 16.3 km sur route de Kongo, on Dicranopteris linearis, Gleicheniaceae, 23 Feb. 1969, G. Gilles 139 (PC).

Host range and distribution: Only known from the type collection.

Notes: This is a very unusual species. The generic affinity is not quite clear. Crous & Braun (2003) excluded this species. Denticulate conidiogenous cells and phragmosporous conidia resemble species of the Dactylaria complex. However, the very long thick-walled conidiophores are not dactylarioid. The type of loci (neither thickened nor darkened, subdenticulate loci caused by geniculation due to sympodial proliferation to distinctly denticle-like) are within the range of Pseudocercospora loci. Phragmosporous conidia are unusual for the latter genus but may occur. Therefore, this species is tentatively assigned to Pseudocercospora.

Pseudocercospora helminthostachydis (Henn.) Deighton, Mycol. Pap. 140: 145 (1976).

(Fig. 38)

Fig. 38
figure 38

Pseudocercospora helminthostachydis (B, holotype). A. Conidiophore fascicles. B. Conidiophore tips. C. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Basionym: Cercospora helminthostachydis Henn., Hedwigia 47: 265 (1908).

Literature: Saccardo (1913: 1424), Chupp (1954: 424), Bhurgava & Misra (1961), Thaung (1984), Crous & Braun (2003: 215), Kamal (2010: 182).

Description: Leaf spots amphigenous, small indistinct or irregular spots on the upper side, 2–5 mm diam, on the lower side dark, blackish by dense colonies. Caespituli hypophyllous, pustulate, dark brown to black. Mycelium internal. Stromata small to well-developed, substomatal to intraepidermal, 20–75 µm diam, brown, composed of swollen hyphal cells, 2–7 µm diam. Conidiophores in moderately large to large fascicles, arising from stromata, emerging through stomata or erumpent, dense, sometimes very dense, erect, unbranched, straight, subcylindrical to somewhat attenuated towards the tip, slightly geniculate-sinuous, 10–70 × 3–6 µm, 0–3-septate, pale to medium olivaceous-brown, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, 10–30 µm long, conidiogenous loci unthickened, not darkened. Conidia solitary, obclavate-cylindrical, straight to somewhat curved, 40–100 × 4–6 µm, 3–7-septate, olivaceous to olivaceous-brown, thin-walled, smooth, apex obtuse, rounded, base short obconically truncate, hila 1.5–2 µm wide, neither thickened nor darkened.

Types: Philippines: Mindanao, Davao, on Tectaria zeylanica, 15 Mar. 1904, E. B. Copeland 543 (B — holotype; BPI 437080 — isotype [date given as “15 Mar. 1906”]).

Host range and distribution: On Tectaria zeylanica (Helminthostachys zeylanica), Tectariaceae, Asia (India, Philippines, Myanmar).

Pseudocercospora lonchitidis (Chupp) U. Braun & Crous, in Crous & Braun, Mycosphaerella and Anam. 1: 255 (2003).

(Fig. 39)

Fig. 39
figure 39

Pseudocercospora lonchitidis (CUP-VZ-3385). A. Superficial hyphae. B. Solitary conidiophores arising from superficial hyphae. C. Conidiophore fascicle. D. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Basionym: Cercospora lonchitidis Chupp, A monograph of the fungus genus Cercospora: 455 (1954).

Literature: Crous & Braun (2003: 255).

Description: Leaf spots amphigenous, irregularly shaped, 3–8 mm diam, dull red above, below often only with a narrow marginal line surrounding a greenish area. Caespituli amphigenous, punctiform on the upper side, effuse below, grey to dark brown. Mycelium internal and external, superficial hyphae only formed on the lower side, branched, septate, subhyaline to pale olivaceous, 1–4 µm diam, thin-walled, smooth. Stromata only epiphyllous, immersed, subglobose, 20–60 µm diam, brown to dark brown. Conidiophores on the upper side in larger fascicles, loose to mostly dense, arising from stromata, erumpent, on the lower side in small, loose fascicles and solitary, arising from superficial hyphae, lateral or occasionally terminal, conidiophores erect, straight, subcylindrical to geniculate-sinuous, unbranched or occasionally branched, 10–100 × 3–5 µm, continuous to pluriseptate throughout, subhyaline to pale olivaceous-brown throughout, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, about 10–30 µm long, conidiogenous loci inconspicuous to subdenticulate, but always unthickened and not darkened. Conidia solitary, acicular to obclavate, 30–160 × 3–5 µm, 3- to pluriseptate, subhyaline to pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth, apex obtuse to subacute, base truncate to slightly obconically truncate, about 2–3.5 µm wide, hila neither thickened nor darkened.

Holotype: Venezuela: Aragua, road Maracaya Choroni, on Lonchitis hirsuta, Dennstadtiaceae, 9 Apr. 1939, H. H. Whetzel & A. S. Muller(CUP-VZ-3385).

Host range and distribution: Only known from the type collection.

Pseudocercospora lygodii Goh & W.H. Hsieh, Trans. Mycol. Soc. Republ. China 2(2): 131 (1987).

(Fig. 40)

Fig. 40
figure 40

Pseudocercospora lygodii (NTU-PPE, holotype). A. Small conidiophore fascicle. B. Solidary conidiophores arising from superficial hyphae. C. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Synonym: Cercospora lygodii Sawada, Rep. Taiwan Agric. Res. Inst. 87: 83, 1944, nom. inval. (ICN, Art. 39.1).

Literature: Hsieh & Goh (1990: 305–306), Guo & Hsieh (1995: 187), Guo et al. (1998: 199), Crous & Braun (2003: 258), Phengsintham et al. (2013a: 66–67).

Illustrations: Hsieh & Goh (1990: 306, fig. 232), Guo & Hsieh (1995: 187, fig. 160), Guo et al. (1998: 199, fig. 165), Phengsintham et al. (2013a: 67, figs 70–71).

Description: Leaf spots amphigenous, circular to elliptical, scattered, 2–30 mm diam, greyish to dark brown, centre becoming paler, margin indefinite. Colonies amphigenous, mainly hypophyllous. Mycelium internal and external; superficial hyphae creeping and climbing setae of the leaf surface, branched, septate, 2–5 µm wide, olivaceous to pale brown, thin-walled, smooth. Stromata lacking. Conidiophores in small fascicles (2–10), divergent, arising from internal hyphae, emerging through stomata, or solitary, arising from superficial hyphae, lateral, erect, straight, subcylindrical to slightly geniculate-sinuous, unbranched, 20–90 × 3–4 µm, 2–7-septate, yellowish ochraceous to medium brown, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, conidiophores occasionally reduced to conidiogenous cells, about 20–35 µm long, conidiogenous loci inconspicuous to subdenticulate, but always unthickened and not darkened. Conidia solitary, obclavate-cylindrical, straight to somewhat curved, 10–35 × 1.5–4 µm, 1–3-septate, colourless, thin-walled, smooth, apex acute to subobtuse, base obconically truncate, about 1–2 µm wide, hila unthickened, not darkened.

Holotype: Taiwan: Hsinchu Hsien, Hsinpu, on Lygodium japonicum, 2 May 1920, K. Sawada (NTU-PPE).

Host range and distribution: On Lygodium (flexuosum, japonicum [microstachyum]), Lygodiaceae, Asia (Taiwan, Thailand).

Pseudocercospora lygodiicola Y.L. Guo & U. Braun, sp. nov.

MycoBank, MB805526

(Fig. 41)

Fig. 41
figure 41

Pseudocercospora lygodiicola (HMAS 59148). A. Conidiophore fascicle. B. Conidiophore tips. C. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Pseudonym: Pseudocercospora polypodiacearum sensu Guo & Liu (1992: 298), Guo & Hsieh (1995: 188) and Guo et al. (1998: 199–200).

Etymology: Epithet derived from its host genus (inhabitant of Lygodium).

Illustrations: Guo & Hsieh (1995: 189, fig. 161), Guo et al. (1998:200, fig. 166).

Diagnosis: Pseudocercosporae polypodiacearum similis, sed conidiophoris brevioribus, 15–40 µm, 0–1-septatis, apice non inflatis.

Description: Leaf spots amphigenous, irregularly shaped, 1–6 mm diam, often confluent and larger, covering up to half of a leaf, greyish brown above, greyish black below. Caespituli amphigenous, mainly hypophyllous. Mycelium immersed. Stromata substomatal, subglobose, 10–40 µm diam, dark brown. Conidiophores in dense fascicles, arising from stromata, through stomata, erect, straight, subcylindrical to geniculate-sinuous, 15–40 × 2.5–5 µm, 0–1-septate, uniformly olivaceous to olivaceous-brown, thin-walled, smooth, apex obtuse to conic; conidiophores reduced to conidiogenous cells or conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, about 10–25 µm long, conidiogenous loci inconspicuous or subdenticulate, but always unthickened and not darkened. Conidia solitary, obclavate, occasionally subcylindrical, 40–115 × 3–5 µm, 3–13-septate, olivaceous-brown, thin-walled, smooth, apex obtuse to subacute, base subtruncate to usually short obconically truncate, about 1.5–2 µm wide, hila unthickened, not darkened.

Types: China: Guangdong Province: Guangzhou, on leaves of Lygodium japonicum, Lygodiaceae, 8 VI 1962, Q. M. Ma & X. J. Liu 1439 (HMAS 59148 — holotype; BPI 1109717 — isotype).

Host range and distribution: Only known from the type collection.

Notes: This species was previously recorded, described and illustrated from China as Pseudocercospora polypodiacearum (Guo & Hsieh 1995, Guo et al. 1998), but differs from the latter species in having much shorter, 0–1-septate, apically usually not inflated conidiophores, and is thus better considered a separate species.

Pseudocercospora lygodiigena U. Braun, nom. nov. MycoBank MB806067

(Fig. 42)

Fig. 42
figure 42

Pseudocercospora lygodiigena (K(M) IMI 288612). A. Conidiophores arising from superficial hyphae. B. Fasciculate conidiophores. C. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Basionym: Stenella lygodii Sarbajna, J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. 14: 489 (1990), non Pseudocercospora lygodii Goh & W.H. Hsieh, 1987.

Synonym: Zasmidium lygodii (Sarbajna) Kamal, Cercosporoid fungi India: 245 (2010).

Illustration: Sarbajna (1990: 488, fig. 1).

Description: Leaf spots amphigenous, subcircular to angular-irregular, 1–4 mm diam., sometimes vein-limited, centre greyish, margin darker, brown. Caespituli amphigenous, mostly hypophyllous, punctiform, scattered to aggregated, brown or greyish by abundant sporulation. Mycelium internal and external; superficial hyphae emerging through stomata, branched, 1–4 µm wide, septate, pigmented near conidiophores, otherwise hyaline, subhyaline or very pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth or almost so, occasionally faintly rough-walled. Stromata lacking to well-developed, mostly substomatal, 10–30 µm diam., pigmented. Conidiophores in small to moderately large, loose fascicles, 3–30, arising from internal hyphae or stromata and solitary, arising from superficial hyphae, lateral, erect, straight, subcylindrical to somewhat sinuous or subgeniculate, unbranched, 5–55 × 2–4 µm, 0–3(−5)-septate, pale to medium brown or olivaceous-brown, wall thin to somewhat thickened, up to 0.8 µm, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, 5–25 µm long, conidiogenous loci inconspicuous, neither thickened nor darkened. Conidia solitary, narrowly obclavate-subcylindrical, occasionally subacicular, straight to curved, 30–115.5 × 2–4 µm, 2–14-septate, hyaline to faintly pigmented, thin-walled, smooth or almost so to somewhat rough, apex subobtuse to pointed, base short obconically truncate, 1–1.5 µm wide, hila neither thickened nor darkened.

Neotype (designated here, MycoBank, MBT176675): India: West Bengal: Baruipur, on Lygodium sp., Lygodiaceae, 15 Jul. 1984, A.K. Das 3623 (K(M) IMI 288612).

Host range and distribution: On Lygodium sp., Lygodiaceae, Asia (India).

Notes: This species does neither belong to Stenella nor to Zasmidium. Due to inconspicuous conidiogenous loci and unthickened, non-pigmented hila of the conidia, it has to be reallocated to Pseudocercospora. Sarbajna (1990) cited IMI 288612 as number of the holotype, but the data (locality, collector and date) specified in the original description for the holotype do not agree with the data on the label of the material deposited at Kew (K) under this number. The search for another collection of this species (under another IMI number) corresponding to the data cited in Sarbajna (1990) failed. Thus, type material of this species is undoubtedly not preserved. The material deposited as Stenella lygodii under IMI 288612 agrees with Sarbajna’s (1990) original description, but it cannot be considered the holotype. Therefore, we propose to designate this material as neotype of S. lygodii.

Pseudocercospora microsori R.G. Shivas, A.J. Young & B.C. McNeil, Persoonia 25: 157 (2010).

(Fig. 43)

Fig. 43
figure 43

Pseudocercospora microsori (BRISP 53617). A. Conidiophore fascicle. B. Conidiophore tips. C. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Illustration: Shivas et al. (2010: 156).

Description: Leaf spots on fonds, amphigenous, scattered to confluent, often covering much of the fond surface, circular to irregular, 5–15 mm diam, dark reddish brown, centre becoming grey, margin conspicuous, uneven, with chlorotic halo, vein-limited. Caespituli amphigenous. Mycelium internal. Stromata well-developed, 20–60 µm diam, substomatal, brown. Conidiophores in loose to dense fascicles, 5–30, arising from stromata, through stomata, forming sporodochial conidiomata, erect, unbranched, geniculate-sinuous, 30–65 × 3–5 µm, reddish brown, paler towards the apex, 1–5-septate, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, subcylindrical, 10–35 × 2.5–4 µm, conidiogenous loci inconspicuous or visible as truncate tip, unthickened, not darkened. Conidia solitary, acicular to narrowly obclavate-subcylindrical, curved to flexuous, 50–110 × 2.5–4 µm, 2–12-septate, pale brown, thin-walled, smooth, apex rounded or subacute, base truncate to slightly obconically truncate, hila neither thickened nor darkened.

Holotype: Australia: Queensland: Brisbane, West End, Doris Street, on Microsorum pustulatum Copel., Polypodiaceae, 6 Aug. 2010, B. C. McNeil (BRISP 53617).

Host range and distribution: Only known from the type collection.

Pseudocercospora nephrolepidicola Crous & R.G. Shivas, Persoonia 25: 139 (2010).

(Fig. 44)

Fig. 44
figure 44

Pseudocercospora nephrolepidicola (CBS H-20492). A. Conidiophore fascicle. B. Conidiophore tips. C. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Illustration: Crous et al. (2010: 138).

Description: Leaf spots amphigenous, shape and size irregular, 2–12 mm diam, medium brown, margin indefinite. Mycelium internal and external; hyphae branched, 2–3 µm wide, septate, brown, thin-walled, smooth. Stromata well-developed, subepidermal, up to 150 µm diam and 50 µm high, medium brown. Conidiophores arising from stromata in loose fascicles, or solitary, arising from superficial hyphae, erect, subcylindrical, irregularly geniculate-sinuous, unbranched or branched below, 25–45(−90) × 2.5–3(−3.5) µm, 1–4-septate, medium brown, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, subcylindrical, 15–25(−40) × (2−)2.5(−3) µm, sympodially and 1–2 times percurrently proliferating, conidiogenous loci neither thickened nor darkened. Conidia solitary, subcylindrical-filiform, occasionally slightly aciculare (somewhat attenuated towards the tip), straight to irregularly flexuous, (40−)50–60(−95) × (2.5−)3.5(−4) µm, 3–6(−9)-septate, pale brown, thin-walled, smooth, apex obtuse, rounded, base truncate, hila neither thickened nor darkened. Ascomata globose, erumpent, up to 80 µm diam, brown, with a central ostiole; asci subcylindrical to narrowly obovoid, 35–50 × 8–10 µm. Ascospores fusiform-ellipsoid, widest in the middle of the apical cell, tapering towards both ends, 9–11 × 2.5–3.5 µm, colourless, apex acutely rounded, constricted at the septum.

In vitro (in the dark at 25 °C, after 2 wk): Colonies spreading, erumpent, with folded surface and even, lobate margins, up to 15 mm diam. On potato-dextrose agar surface smoke-grey with patches of grey-olivaceous, iron-grey in reverse; on oatmeal agar olivaceous-grey with patches of pale olivaceous-grey.

Holotype: Australia: Queensland: Brisbane Botanical Garden, on fronds of Nephrolepis falcata, Davalliaceae, 14 Jul. 2009, P. W. Crous & R. G. Shivas (CBS H-20492); ex-type culture: CBS 128211.

Host range and distribution: Only known from the type collection.

Notes: Pseudocercospora nephrolepidis, described from Taiwan on Nephrolepis auriculata, differs from P. nephrolepidicola in lacking or much smaller stromata, lacking superficial hyphae, shorter, only 0–1-septate conidiophores and shorter conidia.

Pseudocercospora nephrolepidigena U. Braun, Meeboon & C. Nakash., sp. nov. MycoBank MB805527

(Fig. 45)

Fig. 45
figure 45

Pseudocercospora nephrolepidigena (HAL 2602 F). a. Based on type material. b. Based on material from Brunei at HAL. A. Solitary conidiophores arising from superficial hyphae. B. Superficial hyphae. C. Conidiophore fascicles. D. Conidiophores. E. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Etymology: Derived from its host genus, Nephrolepis.

Literature: Braun & Sivapalan (1999: 21, as “P. thelypteridis”), Nakashima et al. (2007: 265, as “P. phyllitidis”), Meeboon et al. (2007, as “P. phyllitidis”).

Illustration: Braun & Sivapalan (1999: 20, fig. 12, as “P. thelypteridis”).

Diagnosis: Pseudocercosporae nephrolepidis et P. phyllitidis similis, sed hyphis superficialibus cum conidiophoris solitariis crescentibus.

Description: Leaf spots amphigenous, subcircular to angular-irregular, 1–15 mm diam, or oblong, up to 20 mm, sometimes confluent, forming large blotches or entire leaf segments becoming necrotic, pale to dark brown, margin indefinite or somewhat darker, sometimes with yellowish halo, occasionally somewhat zonate. Caespituli amphigenous, conspicuous on the upper side, punctiform, scattered, blackish or greyish by abundant conidial formation, less conspicuous on the lower side. Mycelium internal and external; superficial hyphae amphigenous, abundant on the lower side, less developed but also present on the upper side, branched, 1.5–4.5 µm wide, septate, subhyaline to pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth. Stromata small to well-developed, immersed, 10–80 µm diam, pale to dark olivaceous-brown, cells 2.5–8 µm diam. Conidiophores in small to rather large, loose to mostly dense fascicles, arising from stromata, erumpent, or solitary, arising from superficial hyphae, lateral, erect, straight, subcylindrical or somewhat attenuated towards the tip, unbranched, occasionally somewhat geniculate, 5–50 × 1.5–4 µm (with attached persistent conidia up to about 80 µm long), 0–3-septate, subhyaline to pale olivaceous or brownish, thin-walled, smooth; conidiophores often aseptate, i.e. reduced to conidiogenous cells, or conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, 5–25 µm long, often monoblastic, determinate, sometimes polyblastic, sympodially proliferating, conidiogenous loci inconspicuous or visible as truncate tips, about 1.5–2.5 µm wide, neither thickened nor darkened. Conidia solitary, persistent, i.e. attached to the conidiogenous cells for a longer time, cylindrical, long conidia filiform to subacicular, i.e. somewhat attenuated towards the tip, straight to somewhat curved, 25–115 × (1.5−)2–3.5(−4) µm, 2–10-septate, septa not very distinct, subhyaline to very pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth, apex obtuse to subacute, base truncate, about 1.5–2.5 µm wide, hila neither thickened nor darkened.

Types: Thailand: Chiang Mai Province: Suthep-Pui National Park, on Nephrolepis biserrata, 31 May 2013, J. Meeboon (HAL 2602 F — holotype; U. Braun, Fungi Sel Exs. 208, BPI, BRIP, GZU, HAL, HMAS, K (M), KR, KUS, LE, M, PDD — isotypes). Paratypes: Thailand: Chiang Mai Province: Suthep-Pui National Park, 21 Nov. 2004, C. Nakashima & J. Meeboon (CMU 27962) and 10 Dec. 2006, I. Araki & J. Meeboon (CMU 28058).

Host range and distribution: On Nephrolepis (biserrata, cordifolia, Nephrolepis sp.), Davalliaceae, Asia (Brunei, Thailand).

Notes: Nakashima et al. (2007) recorded collections on this host from Thailand as Pseudocercospora phyllitidis, but the latter American species differs in lacking superficial hyphae and in having much longer conidiophores. Furthermore, the type host of P. phyllitidis, Campyloneurum phyllitidis, belongs to the Polypodiaceae. Pseudocercospora phyllitidis, recorded on various ferns belonging to different families, is probably heterogeneous. “Pseudocercospora thelypteridis” on Nephrolepis from Brunei, described and illustrated in Braun & Sivapalan (1999), agrees well with P. nephrolepidigena.

Pseudocercospora nephrolepidis R. Kirschner, Fungal Diversity 26: 223 (2007).

(Fig. 46)

Fig. 46
figure 46

Pseudocercospora nephrolepidis (TNM, holotype). A. Conidiophore fascicle. B. Conidiophores. C. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Illustration: Kirschner&Chen (2007: 224, fig. 2).

Description: Leaf spots amphigenous, on yellowing leaflets with green margin, 1–10 mm long and 3–4 mm wide, not passing the midrib of leaflets, shape irregular, medium brown. Caespituli hypophyllous. Mycelium internal; hyphae intercellular, 1–4 µm diam, pale brown, smooth. Stromata absent or small, within and just below stomata, shape irregular, rarely up to 35 µm diam, pale brown. Conidiophores fasciculate, up to 22, arising from internal hyphae or stromata, emerging through stomata, straight, subcylindrical to slightly geniculate, unbranched (7−)13–26(−35) × 2.5–3 µm, 0–1-septate, pale brown, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal or conidiophores mostly aseptate, i.e. reduced to conidiogenous cells, conidiogenous loci broadly truncate, neither thickened nor darkened. Conidia solitary, subcylindrical to acicular, i.e. somewhat tapering from base to top, straight to curved or sinuous, about (30−) 65–100(−115) × 2–3 µm, inconspicuously 2–9-septate, subhyaline to pale brown (paler than the conidiophores), thin-walled, smooth, apex subobtuse to subacute, base truncate, hila neither thickened nor darkened.

Holotype: Taiwan: Taipei County, Yangmingshan, ca. 800 m alt., on living leaves of Nephrolepis auriculata, 2 Mar. 2006, R. Kirschner 2555 (TNM).

Host range and distribution: on Nephrolepis auriculata, Davalliaceae, Asia (Taiwan).

Note: Differences between this species and the Australian P. nephrolepidicola are discussed under the latter species.

Pseudocercospora phyllitidis (H.H. Hume) U. Braun & Crous, in Crous & Braun, Mycosphaerella and Anam. 1: 321 (2003).

(Fig. 47)

Fig. 47
figure 47

Pseudocercospora phyllitidis (NY, lectotype). A. Conidiophore fascicles. B. Conidiophore tips. C. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Basionym: Cercospora phyllitidis H.H. Hume, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 27: 577 (1900).

Literature: Saccardo (1902: 1074), Chupp (1954: 456), Crous & Braun (2003: 321).

Description: Leaf spots amphigenous, angular-irregular, 2–18 mm diam, brown, margin usually indefinite. Caespituli hypophyllous. Mycelium internal; rarely with a few superficial hyphae, but without conidiophores. Stromata small to large, only filling the substomatal cavity or larger, 10–80 µm diam, subglobose, brown. Conidiophores in small to rather large fascicles, arising from stromata, emerging through stomata, erect, straight to somewhat curved or sinuous, subcylindrical, barely geniculate, unbranched, 10–75(−100) × 3–5 µm, continuous to pluriseptate, uniformly subhyaline, pale to medium olivaceous-brown or brown, wall thin to somewhat thickened, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal or conidiophores reduced to conidiogenous cells, conidiogenous loci inconspicuous, neither thickened nor darkened. Conidia solitary, obclavate, 20–80 × 2–5 µm, 3–5-septate, subhyaline to pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth, apex subacute or obtuse, base obconically truncate, about 1.5–2.5 µm wide, hila neither thickened nor darkened.

Lectotype (designated here, MycoBank, MBT176148): USA: Florida: east coast, Hobe Sound, on Campyloneurum phyllitidis (Polypodium phyllitidis), 14 Mar. 1900, H. H. Hume (NY). Isolectotype: BPI 439635.

Host range and distribution: On Angyopteris sp., Marattiaceae; Campyloneurum phyllitidis, Polypodium polypodioides, Polypodiaceae; Davallia trichomanoides, Nephrolepis exaltata, Davalliaceae; Osmunda regalis, Osmundaceae; Pteris (P. biaurita, P. ensifolia), Pteridaceae; Rumohra adiantiformis, Dryopteridaceae; Thelypteris tetragona, Thelypteridaceae; non-identified fern, North America (Canada; USA, Florida, Indiana), Jamaica, Panama, Puerto Rico, Europe (UK, in a botanical garden).

Notes: Records of this species from Asia, India (Lall et al. 1964, Kamal 2010) are doubtful and seem to belong to P. pteridicola. There are various records on ferns belonging to different families, suggesting that P. phyllitidis is probably heterogeneous.

Pseudocercospora plagiogyriae Goh & W.H. Hsieh, Trans. Mycol. Soc. Republ. China 2(2): 134 (1987). (Fig. 48)

Fig. 48
figure 48

Pseudocercospora plagiogyriae (NTU-PPE, holotype). A. Conidiophore fascicle. B. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Synonym: Cercospora plagiogyriae Sawada, Rep. Taiwan Agric. Res. Inst. 85: 119 (1943), nom. inval. (Art. 39.1).

Literature: Hsieh & Goh (1990: 263), Guo & Hsieh (1995: 251), Guo et al. (1998:262).

Illustrations: Hsieh & Goh (1990: 265, fig. 204), Guo & Hsieh (1995: 251, fig. 212), Guo et al. (1998: 262, fig. 218).

Description: Leaf spots amphigenous, subcircular, 7–10 mm diam, dark brown, centre becoming grey, zonate. Caespituli amphigenous. Mycelium internal. Stromata lacking or only few swollen hyphal cells in the substomatal cavity. Conidiophores fasciculate, 3–20, loose, arising from swollen substomatal hyhal cells, emerging through stomata, erect, straight to usually geniculate-sinuous, occasionally subnodulose, unbranched, 60–180 × 4–7 µm, indistinctly 3–8-septate, brown, paler towards the tip, almost hyaline at the apex, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal and intercalary, conidiogenous loci inconspicuous to visible by being truncate or subdenticulate. Conidia solitary obclavate, straight to somewhat curved, 50–85 × 3–5 µm, 5–7-septate, pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth, apex pointed, base short obconically truncate, about 1.5–2 µm wide, hila neither thickened nor darkened.

Types: Taiwan: Taipei Hsieh, Shihting, on Plagiogyria euphlebia, Plagiogyriaceae, 6 Nov. 1927, K. Sawada (NTU-PPE — holotype; HMAS 05180 — isotype).

Host range and distribution: Only known from the type collection.

Pseudocercospora polypodiacearum D.N. Shukla, A.K. Singh, P. Kumar & Kamal, Indian Phytopathol. 35: 86 (1982).

(Fig. 49)

Fig. 49
figure 49

Pseudocercospora polypodiacearum (K(M) IMI 242551). A. Conidiophore fascicle. B. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Synonyms: Cercospora dharwarensis Rangasw., Seshadri, Chann. & Raghun., Scheme Coll. Ident. Fungi S. India, Final Rep: 13 (1969), nom. inval., Art. 36.1) [type: on Lygodium flexuosum, India, Karnataka, Dandeli, 25 Nov. 1968, V.S. Seshadri].

Phaeoisariopsis lygodii M.K. Khan & Kamal, Mycotaxon 54: 28 (1995) [holotype: on Lygodium flexuosum, India, South Gorakhpur Forest Division, Dec. 1990, Kamal (HCIO 30794)].

Literature: Zhuang (2001), Kamal (2010: 210–211).

Illustration: Shukla et al. (1982: 85, fig. 1).

Description: Leaf spots hypophyllous, irregularly shaped, often effuse, olivaceous-brown. Caespituli hypophyllous. Mycelium internal. Stromata distinct, substomatal to subepidermal, subglobose, 10–45 µm diam, dark brown. Conidiophores in small to rather large, loose to sometimes dense, almost coremioid fascicles, arising from stromata, through stomata or erumpent, erect, straight to flexuous, geniculate-sinuous, unbranched, 60–280 × 3–7 µm, sometimes swollen at the apex, pluriseptate thoughout, brown, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, 10–30 µm long, mono- to polyblastic, sympodially proliferating, conidiogenous loci inconspicuous, unthickened, not darkened. Conidia solitary, obclavate-cylindrical, 30–130 × 3–7.5 µm, (1−)4–8(−12)-septate, pale olivaceous to light brown, thin-walled, smooth, apex obtuse to subacute, base obconically truncate, occasionally somewhat peg-like, 1.5–2.5 µm wide, hila unthickened, not darkened.

Types: India: U.P.: Gorakhpur, on leaves of Lygodium sp., Feb. 1980, D. N. Shukla (K(M) IMI 242551 — holotype; GPU 255 — isotype).

Host range and distribution: On Lygodium (flexuosum, sp.), Schizaeaceae, Asia (India, Karnataka, U.P.).

Notes: A Chinese collection on Lygodium japonicum was described and illustrated by Guo & Hsieh (1995) and Guo et al. (1998) as P. polypodiacearum. However, this collection is morphologically quite distinct by its much shorter, 0–1-septate and apically unswollen conidiophores, and thus better separated and described as new species (see P. lygodiicola).

Pseudocercospora pteridicola U. Braun & Y.L. Guo, in Braun & Mel’nik, Trudy Bot. Inst. Im. V.L. Komarova 20: 84(1997).

(Fig. 50)

Fig. 50
figure 50

Pseudocercospora pteridicola (HMAS 59158). A. Superficial hypha. B. Solitary conidiophores arising from a superficial hypha. C. Conidiophore fascicle. D. Conidiophores. E. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Pseudonym: Pseudocercospora pteridis sensu Guo & Hsieh (1995: 258).

Literature: Guo & Hsieh (1995: 258), Guo et al. (1998: 268–269).

Illustrations: Guo & Hsieh (1995: 257, fig. 218), Guo et al. (1989: 268, fig. 223), Braun & Mel’nik (1997: 121, fig. 50).

Description: Leaf spots amphigenous, subcircular, 1–6 mm diam, often confluent, yellowish brown, pale brown to greyish brown, with purplish to dark brown margin. Caespituli amphigenous, mostly hypophyllous. Mycelium internal and external; superficial hyphae branched, septate, 1.5–2.5 µm, subhyaline, thin-walled, smooth. Stromata lacking, small or well-developed, 15–30 µm diam, substomatal, brown. Conidiophores in small to large fascicles, loose to dense, arising from stromata, emerging through stomata, or solitary, arising from superficial hyphae, lateral, rarely terminal, erect, straight, subcylindrical to geniculate-sinuous, usually unbranched, rarely branched, 10–70 × 2.5–4 µm, 0–7-septate, pale olivaceous, olivaceous-brown to medium brown, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, about 10–25 µm long, conidiogenous loci inconspicuous, neither thickened nor darkened. Conidia solitary, narrowly obclavate-subcylindrical, attenuated towards the tip, 40–125 × 2–4 µm, 2- to pluriseptate, subhyaline, thin-walled, smooth, apex subacute, base obconically truncate, 1–2 µm wide, hila neither thickened nor darkened.

Holotype: China: Sichuan Province: Chongqing, on Pteris vittata, 31 Aug. 1962, Q. M. Ma & S. J. Han 1740 (HMAS 59158).

Host range and distribution: On Pteris (?biaurita, vittata), Pteridaceae, Asia (China, ?India).

Notes: Braun & Mel’nik (1997) assigned a collection on Pteris sp. from Colombia to P. pteridicola, which is, however, morphologically deviating, geographically isolated, and therefore described as P. pteridigena. “Cercospora phyllitidis” on Pteris biaurita in India (Lall et al. 1964: 182, fig. 2; Kamal 2010) and on Pteris sp. in India (Kakoti et al. 1998) belong probably to P. pteridicola, but material was not available for a re-examination.

Pseudocercospora pteridigena U. Braun, sp. nov. MycoBank MB805528

(Fig. 51)

Fig. 51
figure 51

Pseudocercospora pteridigena (CUP, holotype)). A. Solitary conidiophores arising from superficial hyphae. B. Conidiophore fascicles. C. Conidiogenous cells. D. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Etymology: Derived from its host genus, Pteris.

Diagnosis: Pseudocercosporae pteridicolae valde similis, sed conidiophoris longioribus, ad 150 µm, parietibus atrioribus et leviter incrassatis, conidiis longioribus, ad 250 µm longis.

Description: Leaf spots amphigenous, subcircular to somewhat irregular, 3–6 mm diam, yellowish brown to grey, with a wide dark reddish brown border. Caespituli hypophyllous, scattered, fine, brownish. Mycelium internal and external; superficial hyphae emerging through stomata, sparingly branched, 1.5–3 µm wide, subhyaline to pale olivaceous, septate, thin-walled, smooth. Stromata small, substomatal, 10–35 µm diam, brown, composed of swollen hyphal cells, 2–5 µm diam. Conidiophores in small fascicles, loose to moderately dense, arising from stromata, emerging through stomata or solitary, arising from superficial hyphae, erect, straight, subcylindrical to somewhat sinuous or slightly geniculate, unbranched, 30–150 × 3–5 µm, continuous to pluriseptate, medium dark brown below, paler towards the apex, wall somewhat thickened, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, about 10–30 µm long, conidiogenous loci unthickened, not darkened, but sometimes subdenticulate. Conidia solitary, acicular to narrowly obclavate, 40–250 × 2–4 µm, 4-septate to pluriseptate, subhyaline to pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth, apex pointed, base short obconically truncate, 1–1.5 µm wide, hila neither thickened nor darkened.

Holotype: Colombia: Dept. Caldas, on Pteris sp., Pteridaceae, 14 Jul. 1929, C.E. Chardón (CUP).

Host range and distribution: Only known from the type collection.

Notes: The Asian Pseudocercospora pteridicola resembles P. pteridigena but differs in having much shorter, paler, thin-walled conidiophores, 10–70 µm, and shorter conidia, 40–125 µm. The collection from Colombia was tentatively assigned to P. pteridicola in Braun & Mel’nik (1987: 84), and morpholological differences between this collection and the Chinese type were discussed.

Pseudocercospora pteridophytophila Goh & W.H. Hsieh, Trans. Mycol. Soc. Republ. China 4(2): 30 (1989).

(Fig. 52)

Fig. 52
figure 52

Pseudocercospora pteridophytophila (K(M) IMI 312078). A. Conidiophore fascicle. B. Conidiophore tips. C. Conidia. A. Conidiophore fascicle. B. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Literature: Hsieh & Goh (1990: 328), Guo & Hsieh (1995: 330), Guo et al. (1998: 344).

Illustrations: Hsieh & Goh (1990: 330, fig. 250), Guo & Hsieh (1995: 331, fig. 278), Guo et al. (1998: 345, fig. 283).

Description: Leaf spots amphigenous, angular-irregular, 2–4 mm diam, often confluent, dark brown, margin indefinite. Caespituli amphigenous. Mycelium internal. Stromata substomatal, subglobose to oblong, up to 35 µm diam, brown. Conidiophores numerous, in dense fascicles, arising from stromata, emerging through stomata, erect, straight to distinctly geniculate-sinuous, unbranched, 15–50 × 2–5 µm, 0–2-septate, subhyaline to very pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal or conidiophores reduced to conidiogenous cells, usually 10–25 µm long, conidiogenous loci inconspicuous to subdenticulate, unthickened, not darkened. Conidia solitary, narrowly acicular-filiform, straight to usually curved or somewhat sinuous, 30–70 × 1–1.5 µm, 4–8-septate, colourless, thin-walled, smooth, apex pointed, base truncate to somewhat obconically truncate, about 1 µm wide, hila neither thickened nor darkened.

Types: Taiwan: Miaoli Hsien, Cholan, on Cyclosorus acuminatus, Thelypteridaceae, 11 Aug. 1984, T. K. Goh (NCHUPP-37 — holotype); K(M) IMI 312078 — isotype).

Host range and distribution: Only known from the type collection.

Pseudocercospora ptisanae U. Braun, sp. nov. MycoBank MB805529

(Fig. 53)

Fig. 53
figure 53

Pseudocercospora ptisanae (HAL, CF Hill 185). A. Superficial hyphae. B. Solitary conidiophores arising from superficial hyphae. C. Conidiophore fascicle. D. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Literature: Braun & Hill (2002: 29, as Pseudocercospora cf. rumohrae).

Illustration: Braun & Hill (2002: 27, fig. 10).

Etymology: Epithet derived from its host genus, Ptisana.

Diagnosis: Pseudocercosporae rumohrae valde similis, sed hospite divergenti (Ptisana, Marattiaceae) et hilis multo angustioribus, 1.5–2 µm diam.

Description: Leafspots amphigenous, shape and size variable, brown, margin indefinite. Caespituli hypophyllous, not very conspicuous. Mycelium internal and external; superficial hyphae emerging through stomata, branched, septate, 1–4 µm wide, thin-walled, subhyaline to pale olivaceous, smooth. Stromata lacking. Conidiophores usually solitary, arising from superficial hyphae, lateral, rarely terminal, occasionally in small, loose fascicles, emerging through stomata, erect, straight, subcylindrical to geniculate-sinuous, unbranched, 5–40 × 2–3 µm, 0–1-septate, subhyaline to pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth; conidiophores usually reduced to conidiogenous cells or conidiogenous cells sometimes integrated, terminal, conidiogenous loci inconspicuous. Conidia solitary, acicular to filiform, 80–100 × 2–3 µm, indistinctly pluriseptate, subhyaline to pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth, apex subacute, base truncate, 1.5–2 µm wide, hila unthickened, not darkened.

Holotype: New Zealand: Auckland, Auckland Domain, FERNZ Fernery, on leaves of Ptisana salicina (Marattia salicina), Marattiaceae, 6 Mar. 2005, C. F. Hill (PDD 82345), ex-type culture: ICMP 15860.

Notes: This species was described and illustrated by Braun & Hill (2002) as Pseudocercospora cf. rumohrae, based on a collection from 2000 (New Zealand, Auckland, Auckland University, 30 Apr. 2000, C.F. Hill 185). This collection, originally deposited at HAL, is not maintained. It was lost in June 2013 during a big flood that caused damage in the herbarium HAL. Pseudocercospora on Ptisana salicina is, indeed, morphologically very close to P. rumohrae, but it occurs on a fern of another family, and the conidia and hila are distinctly narrower.

Pseudocercospora rumohrae W.H. Hsieh & Goh, Trans. Mycol. Soc. Republ. China 4(2): 29 (1989).

(Fig. 54)

Fig. 54
figure 54

Pseudocercospora rumohrae (K(M) IMI 312068). A. Solitary conidiophores arising from superficial hyphae. B. Conidiophores and hyphae emerging through a stoma. C. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Literature: Hsieh & Goh (1990: 37), Guo & Hsieh (1995: 31), Guo et al. (1998:44).

Illustrations: Hsieh & Goh (1990: 37, fig. 22), Guo & Hsieh (1995: 33, fig. 31), Guo et al. (1998: 44, fig. 31).

Description: Leaf spots amphigenous, angular-irregular, size variable, centre brown, yellowish or paler brown towards the periphery, margin indefinite. Colonies hypophyllous, not very conspicuous. Mycelium internal and external, superficial hyphae emerging through stomata; branched, septate, very pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth. Stromata lacking. Conidiophores solitary, arising from superficial hyphae, occasionally a few conidiophores emerging through stomata, forming small, loose fascicles, erect, straight to slightly curved, subcylindrical to slightly clavate, at most slightly geniculate-sinuous, 2–25 × 2.5–4 µm, 0–2-septate, subhyaline to pale brownish, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal or conidiophores reduced to conidiogenous cells, 2–20 µm long, conidiogenous loci inconspicuous, neither thickened nor darkened. Conidia solitary, acicular, 60–120 × 3–3.5 µm, indistinctly pluriseptate, hyaline to very pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth, apex acute or subacute, base truncate, about 2.5–3 µm wide, hila neither thickened nor darkened.

Types: Taiwan: Yilan, on Rumohra adiantiformis, Dryopteridaceae, 4 Dec. 1985, W. H. Hsieh (NCHUPP-228 — holotype; K(M) IMI 312068 — isotype).

Host range and distribution: Only known from the type collection.

Pseudocercospora thelypteridis Goh & W.H. Hsieh, Trans. Mycol. Soc. Republ. China 4(2): 30 (1989).

(Fig. 55)

Fig. 55
figure 55

Pseudocercospora thelypteridis (NCHUPP-227). A. Conidiophore fascicle. B. Conidiophores. C. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Literature: Hsieh & Goh (1990: 329), Guo & Hsieh (1995: 330), Guo et al. (1998: 345).

Illustrations: Hsieh & Goh (1990: 331, fig. 251), Guo & Hsieh (1995: 332, fig. 279), Guo et al. (1998: 345, fig. 284).

Description: Leaf spots amphigenous, angular-irregular, up to 3 mm diam, brown, margin indefinite. Caespituli epiphyllous, punctiform, dark brown to blackish. Mycelium internal. Stromata immersed, irregularly shaped, 20–35 µm diam, dark brown. Conidiophores numerous, densely fasciculate, arising from stromata, erumpent, erect, straight to curved, cylindrical-filiform, not geniculate, simple or sometimes branched, somewhat narrowed towards the apex, 10–60 × 2–3 µm, continuous, rarely septate, subhyaline to pale olivaceous, paler towards the apex, tips rounded to truncate, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal or conidiophores reduced to conidiogenous cells, conidiogenous loci inconspicuous. Conidia solitary, acicular-filiform, 50–120 × 2.5–3 µm, 5–12-septate, subhyaline to pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth, apex pointed, base truncate or subtruncate, about 1.5–2 µm wide, hila neither thickened nor darkened.

Holotype: Taiwan: Taipei, Yangmingshan, on Metathelypteris laxa (Thelypteris laxa), Thelypteridaceae, 30 Aug. 1986, T. K. Goh (NCHUPP-227).

Host range and distribution: Only known from the type collection.

Zasmidium

A single species.

Zasmidium australiense (J.L. Mulder) U. Braun & Crous, comb. nov. MycoBank MB805530

(Fig. 56)

Fig. 56
figure 56

Zasmidium australiense (K(M) IMI 273944). A. Conidiophores arising from superficial hyphae. B. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Basionym: Stenella australiense J.L. Mulder, Mycol. Res. 92: 119 (1989).

lllustration: Mulder (1989: 119–121, figs 16).

Description: Leaf spots lacking, attacked areas only chlorotic corresponding to the areas delimited by veins, similar chlorotic areas also on the upper surface. Colonies hypophyllous, effuse, forming greyish brown patches. Mycelium internal and external; superficial hyphae forming mycelial mats or a loose reticulum on the leaf surface, becoming darker brown with age, branched, septate, rarely constricted at septa, about 4–5 µm wide, strongly echinulate, rarely smooth. Stromata absent. Conidiophores solitary, arising from superficial hyphae, lateral, rarely terminal, erect, straight, subcylindrical, usually unbranched, at most apically somewhat geniculate, up to 160 × 3.5–5.5 µm, septate, dark brown, conspicuously echinulate with crested type projections, denser than in conidia; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, proliferation sympodial, occasionally percurrent; conidiogenous loci distinct, non-protuberant, thickened and darkened-refractive, about 1–1.5 µm diam. Conidia solitary, cylindrical, straight to distinctly curved, about 30–70 × 3–5.5 µm, (1−)3–4(−5)-septate, brown, wall thin, echinulate (crested projections), less dense than in conidiophores and lacking around hila, apex obtuse, rounded, base rounded to truncate, hila slightly thickened and darkened.

Holotype: Australia: Peregian beach, on leaves of Blechnum serrulatum (B. indicum), Blechnaceae, 3 Dec. 1982, J. L. Alcorn 8240b (K(M) IMI 273944).

Host range and distribution: Only known from the type collection.

Notes: Due to scolecosporous conidia formed singly and truncate scars and hila, this species is reallocated to Zasmidium.

Cercosporoid Species on Gymnospermae

Passalora species on Gymnospermae

Key to the species of Passalora on Gymnospermae

  1. 1

    Stromata 20–80 µm diam; conidiophores fasciculate, 20–90 µm long, 2–5-septate; conidia 30–65 × 4–6 µm, 1–6-septate; on hosts of various genera of the Cupressaceae, including Juniperus, Asia, North and South America .................. P. sequoiae

    Stromata larger, up to 150 µm wide and 120 µm deep; conidiophores in sporodochial conidiomata, shorter, about 10–40 µm long, 0–1-septate; conidia about 15–45 × 4–5 µm, 0–4-septate; on Juniperus communis, Europe, North America .................. P. juniperina

List of Passalora species on Gymnospermae

Passalora juniperina (Georgescu & Badea) H. Solheim, Agarica 33: 78 (2013).

(Fig. 57)

Fig. 57
figure 57

Passalora juniperina (K(M) IMI 84601). A. Conidiophore fascicles. B. Conidiophores. C. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Basionym: Cercospora juniperina Georgescu & Badea, Analele Inst. Cercet. Exp. Forest., Ser. 1, 2: 46 (1937).

Synonyms: Stigmina juniperina (Georgescu & Badea) M.B. Ellis, Mycol. Pap. 72: 67 (1959).

Asperisporium juniperinum (Georgescu & Badea) B. Sutton & Hodges, Mycologia 82: 317 (1990).

Literature: Jaczewski (1901), Kujala (1950), Chupp (1954: 440), Hodges (1962: 66), Ellis (1976: 119), Kurkela (1994), Sutton & Hodges (1990), Crous & Braun (2003: 233), Barklund (2006), Solheim (2013).

Illustrations: Ellis (1976: 120, fig. 84B), Hodges (1962: 65, fig. 2C), Sutton & Hodges (1990: 318, fig. 2), Solheim (2013: figs 25).

Exsiccatae: Săvul., Herb. Mycol. Rom. 1200 (“Exosporium deflectens”). Scheuer, Mycoth. Graec. 249.

Description: Causing needle blight, attacked hosts only partly with dead needles or needles almost completely necrotic, needles at first light brown, later greyish brown to grey. Colonies amphigenous, mainly epiphyllous, scattered or in lines, dark brown to blackish, punctiform to pustulate. Mycelium internal, usually epidermal and subepidermal; hyphae branched, septate, 2–6 µm wide, brown, thin-walled, smooth. Stromata substomatal, intraepidermal to deeply immersed, finally also erumpent, often expended and large, up to 150 µm diam and 120 µm deep, medium to darker brown, composed of dense, rounded to mostly angular cells, about 2.5–8 µm diam, wall somewhat thickened. Conidiomata sporodochial, composed of large stromata and numerous, densely arranged conidiophores, emerging through stomata or erumpent, erect, straight to slightly curved, subcylindrical, unbranched, (5−)10–35(−40) × 3–7(−9) µm, 0–1-septate, olivaceous-brown, yellowish brown, thin-walled, smooth or almost so; conidiophores mostly reduced to conidiogenous cells or conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, proliferation sympodial, occasionally percurrent, conidiogenous loci 1–3, rather inconspicuous to conspicuous, slightly thickened and somewhat refractive, little darkened, (1.5−)2(−2.2) µm wide. Conidia solitary, cylindrical to obclavate-cylindrical of fusiform, 15–45 × (3−)4–5(−6.5) µm, 0–3(−4)-septate, without constrictions at septa, olivaceous to yellowish brown, thin-walled, delicately verruculose, apex obtuse, base rounded to short obconically truncate, 1.5–2.2 µm wide, hila barely or only slightly thickened, refractive, barely darkened.

Types: Romania: on Juniperus communis, Georgescu & Badea [holotype not seen, probably not maintained]; Romania: Sinaia, Distr. Prahova, Muntenia, on Juniperus communis, 10 May 1937, T. Savulescu & C. Sandu, Herb. Mycol. Rom. 1200, as “Exosporium deflectens” (K(M) IMI 84601 — neotype designated here, MycoBank, MBT176149).

Host range and distribution: on Juniperus communis [var. communis, var. depressa (J. intermedia), var. saxatilis (J. nana)], Cupressaceae, Europe (Finland, Norway, Romania, Sweden, Russia), North America (Canada, Ontario; USA, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin).

Note: Material recently collected in Russia, Novgorod Oblast, 2002, by V.A. Mel’nik has been distributed in Mycotheca Graecensis 249 (e.g. BPI 858449, GZU, HAL).

Passalora sequoiae (Ellis & Everh.) Y.L. Guo & W.H. Hsieh, Fl. Fung. Sin. 20: 120 (2003).

(Fig. 58)

Fig. 58
figure 58

Passalora sequoia (BPI 441133). A. Conidiophore fascicle. B. Conidiophore tips. C. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Basionym: Cercospora sequoiae Ellis & Everh., J. Mycol. 3(2): 13 (1887).

Synonyms: Asperisporium sequoiae (Ellis & Everh.) B. Sutton & Hodges, Mycologia 82: 314 (1990).

Cercosporidium sequoiae (Ellis & Everh.) W.A. Baker & Partr., Mycotaxon 76: 250 (2000).

Cercospora cryptomeriae Shirai, in Kitajima, Bot. Mag. Tokyo 30: 412 (1916).

Cercospora thujina Plakidas, Phytopathology 35: 181 (1945) [syntypes: on Platycladus orientalis, USA, Louisiana, Baton Rouge, 3 June 1943, A.G. Plakidas, BPI 441926A–C, and 25 Jul. 1943, BPI 441925A–C].

Literature: Saccardo (1892: 653), Kitajima (1916: 412), Chupp (1954: 439), Hodges (1962: 62–63), Katsuki (1965: 51), Mulder & Gibson (1973), Hsieh & Goh (1990: 326), Sutton & Hodges (1990: 314–315), Baker et al. (2000: 250), Crous & Braun 2003: 373).

Illustrations: Hodges (1962: 63, figs. 1A, 2A), Hsieh & Goh (1990: 326, fig. 247), Sutton & Hodges (1990: 315, fig. 1), Baker et al. (2000: 251, fig. 1), Guo et al. (2003: 121, fig. 78).

Exsiccatae: Davis, Fungi Wiscon. Exs. 25. Ellis & Everh., North Amer. Fungi 1754.

Description: Leaves (needles, scale leaves) at first with small, subcircular lesions, yellowish brown to medium reddish or dark brown, scattered, later enlarged and confluent, finally entire leaves becoming necrotic, brown or greyish brown; twig symptoms visible as pale brown, irregular lesions, later enlarged and confluent, finally turning reddish brown towards the tips. Caespituli punctiform-pustulate, scattered, brown or visible as dark greyish masses of conidia. Mycelium internal. Stromata substomatal to immersed, intraepidermal to deeply immersed, erumpent, subglobose to hemispherical or somewhat irregular, 25–100 µm diam, dark brown, composed of swollen hyphal cells, rounded to isodiametric, 2.5–8 µm diam. Conidiophores in small to usually large fascicles, loose to usually dense, arising from stromata, through stomata or erumpent, erect, straight to curved or frequently geniculate-sinuous, above all in the upper half, unbranched, 20–90 × 2.5–8 µm, 2–5-septate, medium brown to dark brown throughout or paler towards the tip, olivaceous-brown, thin-walled, smooth or almost so, occasionally somewhat verruculose; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, about 10–40 µm long, polyblastic, proliferating sympodially, rarely percurrently, with 1–6 distinctly thickened and darkened conidiogenous loci, 2–2.5 µm diam, mostly on shoulders formed by sympodial proliferation. Conidia solitary, obclavate-cylindrical, straight to somewhat curved, 30–80 × 4–9 µm, 1–15-septate, occasionaly somewhat constricted at the septa, yellowish to pale olivaceous-brown or brown, thin-walled, verruculose-echinulate, apex obtuse, rounded, base short obconically truncate, about 2–2.5 µm wide, hila slightly thickened and darkened.

Lectotype (designated here, MycoBank, MBT176150): USA, Pennsylvania: Germantown, on Sequoiadendron giganteum, Sep. 1886, Meehan Thomas H., Ellis & Everh., North Amer. Fungi 1754 (BPI 441133). Isolectotypes: Ellis & Everh., North Amer. Fungi 1754.

Host range and distribution: On Cryptomeria japonica, × Cupressocyparis leylandica, Cupressus (lusitanica, macrocarpa, sempervirens), Glyptostrobus pensilis, Hesperocyparis arizonica (Cupressus arizonica), Juniperus (communis, chinensis, virginiana), Platycladus orientalis (Thuja orientalis), Sequoiadendron giganteum, Sequoia sempervirens, Taxodium (distichum, mucronatum), Cupressaceae, Asia (China, Japan), North America (Canada; USA, Alabama, North Carolina, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania), South America (Brazil, Guatemala), Caribbean (Jamaica), Hawaii.

Notes: A specimen on Cryptomeria japonica from Taiwan (24 Sep. 1928, K. Sawada, TNS-F220395) and various Japanese collections on C. japonica (IUM-FS58, IUM-FS61, MUMH10801, TFM:FPH-41, TFM:FPH-67) and Taxodium mucronatum (TFM:FPH-3395) have been re-examined. Furthermore, cultures ex Cryptomeria japonica (MAFF237184, MAFF410035, MAFF410800, MAFF410802, MUCC780 ex MUMH 10801) and ex Taxodium mucronatum (MAFF410034) exist. ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (V9G/ITS4) & ACT (ACT512F/ACT783R) sequences obtained from these isolates are identical, suggesting that this fungus, at least in Japan, represents a uniform species. Sequences derived from cultures of Cercospora juniperina cluster close to P. sequoiae together with various other Passalora species, which supports the position of the two species in Passalora, at least tentatively as the latter genus is not monophyletic.

In Japan, the causal agent of needle blight of Cryptomeria japonica was described by Shirai (in Kitajima 1916) as Cercospora cryptomeriae, which was already reduced to synonym with Cercospora sequoiae by Ito et al. (1958, 1967) based on agreeing morphological characteristics.

Pseudocercospora species on Gymnospermae

Key to the species of Pseudocercospora on Gymnospermae
  1. 1

    Conidia very broad, 5–8 µm .................... 2

    Conidia narrower, 2–5 µm .................... 5

  2. 2 (1)

    Conidiophores very long, 50–120 µm; on Cryptomeria, Japan .................... P. cryptomeriicola

    Conidiophores much shorter, 10–60 µm; on other hosts .................... 3

  3. 3 (2)

    Conidia very long and broad, 65–135 × 9–13 µm; on twigs of Pinus, Japan .................... [Scolecostigmina chibaensis]

    Conidia shorterand narrower, 18–55 × 2–8 µm; on leaves .................... 4

  4. 4 (3)

    Stromata well-developed, 150–250 µm diam and 70–130 µm deep or oblong, up to 500 µm in length; conidia smooth; on Thuja plicata, North America, and Chaemaecyparis lawsoniana, Hawaii .................... P. thujina

    Stromata lacking or small, up to 30 µm diam; conidia rough-walled; on Chamaecyparis obtusa, Japan .................... P. chamaecyparidis

  5. 5 (1)

    Stromata almost lacking or relatively small, 10–50 µm; conidiophores fasciculate .................... 6

    Stromatalarge,20–150(−300) µm diam; conidiomata sporodochial .................... 9

  6. 6 (5)

    Stromata lacking or small, up to 30 µm; conidiophores usually percurrently proliferating, with up to five fine annellations; conidia 18–50 µm long and 5–10-septate; on Chamaecyparis obtusa, Japan .................... P. chamaecyparidis

    Stromata 20–50 µm diam; conidiophores sympodially proliferating; conidia mostly longer, exceeding 50 µm; on other hosts .................... 7

  7. 7 (6)

    Conidiophores often branched; conidia pale brown; leaflesions characteristically marginal; on Ginkgo biloba, Taiwan .................... P. ginkgoana

    Conidiophores usually unbranched; conidia subhyaline to pale olivaceous; lesions not confined to leaf margins; on other hosts .................... 8

  8. 8 (7)

    Stromata 20–50 µm diam; on Sequoia sempervirens (in inoculation experiments also on Larix kaempferi), Japan .................... P. paraexosporioides

    Stromata 20–150 µm diam; on Pinus spp., Africa, Asia, Central and South America, Caribbean .................... P. pini-densiflorae

  9. 9 (5)

    Conidia acicular or narrowly cylindrical, 35–93 × 2–3 µm, only 3–5-septate, base truncate; on Sciadopitys verticillata, Japan .................... P. sciadopytios

    Conidia cylindrical or obclavate-cylindrical, shorter, (10−)20–65(−80) µm long, at least partly short obconically truncate at the base; on other hosts .................... 10

  10. 10 (9)

    Conidiogenous cells sympodially and often also percurrently proliferating, with fine annellations; conidia more or less cylindrical, base truncate to short obconically truncate; on Cryptomeria, Hesperocyparis and Juniperus, Cupressaceae, Asia and North America .................... P. juniperi

    Conidiophores sympodially proliferating, without annellations; conidia short cylindrical or obclavate-cylindrical, base short obconically truncate; on hosts of the Pinaceae .................... 11

  11. 11 (10)

    Conidia cylindrical, relativelyshort, (15−)20–40(−50) µm; on Larix decidua, Europe .................... P. exosporioides

    Conidia obclavate-cylindrical, usually (10−)20–60(−80) µm long; on Pinus spp., Africa, Asia, Central and South America, Caribbean .................... P. pini-densiflorae

Tabular key to the species of Pseudocercospora on Gymnospermae

Cupressaceae
  1. 1

    Conidia very broad, 5–8 µm .................... 2

    Conidia narrower, 2–5 µm .................... 4

  2. 2 (1)

    Conidiophores very long, 50–120 µm; on Cryptomeria, Japan .................... P. cryptomeriicola

    Conidiophores much shorter, 10–60 µm; on other hosts .................... 3

  3. 3 (2)

    Stromata well-developed, 150–230 µm diam and 70–120 µm deep; conidia smooth; on Thuja plicata, North America .................... P. thujina

    Stromata lacking or small, up to 30 µm diam; conidia rough-walled; on Chamaecyparis obtusa, Japan .................... P. chamaecyparidis

  4. 4 (1)

    Stromata lacking or small, up to 30 µm; conidiophores fasciculate, usually percurrently proliferating, with up to five fine annellations; conidia cylindrical to obclavate, 5–10-septate; on Chamaecyparis obtusa, Japan .................... P. chamaecyparidis

    Stromata large, 30–150 µm diam; conidiomata sporodochial; conidiogenous cells sympodially and often also percurrently proliferating, with fine annellations; conidia more or less cylindrical, 3–5-septate, base truncate to short obconically truncate; on Cryptomeria, Hesperocyparis and Juniperus, Cupressaceae, Asia and North America .................... P. juniperi

Ginkgoaceae

On Ginkgo biloba, Taiwan .................... P. ginkgoana

Pinaceae
  1. 1

    Conidia very long and broad, 65–135 × 9–13 µm; on twigs of Pinus, Japan .................. [Scolecostigmina chibaensis]

    Conidia narrower, 2–5 µm; on leaves .................... 2

  2. 2 (1)

    Conidia cylindrical, relatively short, (15−)20–40(−50); on Larix decidua, Europe .................... P. exosporioides

    Conidia obclavate-cylindrical, longer, (10−)20–80 µm; on Pinus (or Larix but only in inoculation experiments .................... 3

  3. 3 (2)

    Stromata 20–150 µm diam; on Pinus spp., Africa, Asia, Central and South America, Caribbean .................... P. pini-densiflorae

    Stromata 20–50 µm diam; usually on Sequoia sempervirens, Cupressaceae (in inoculation experiments also on Larix kaempferi), Japan .................... P. paraexosporioides

Sciadopityaceae

On Sciadopitys verticillata, Japan .................... P. sciadopytios

List of Pseudocercospora species on Gymnospermae

Pseudocercospora chamaecyparidis (Sawada) C. Nakash. & U. Braun, comb. nov. MycoBank MB805531

(Fig. 59)

Fig. 59
figure 59

Pseudocercospora chamaecyparidis (IUM-F557). a. Conidium (light microscopy). b. Conidium (SEM). c. Conidiophores (SEM). Bar = 10 µm (a), 5 µm (b) and 2 µm (c).

Basionym: Cercospora chamaecyparidis Sawada, Bull. Gov. Forest Exp. Sta., Meguro, Tokyo 45: 122 (1950).

Description: Leaves turning pale brown to brown, finally grey. Caespituli hypophyllous, formed as scattered, blackish sporodochia, erumpent. Stromata lacking or small, up to 30 µm, brown to blackish brown. Conidiophores fasciculate, arising from internal mycelium or stromata, straight, subcylindrical, 10–50 × 2.5–5 µm, aseptate or septate, brown to blackish brown, wall thin or only slightly thickened, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, proliferating percurently or occasionally sympodially, often with annellations, loci thin, unthickened to somewhat protuberant. Conidia solitary, cylindrical to obclavate, straight, curved or sigmoid, 18–50 × 2–8 µm, 5–10-septate, brown to reddish brown, smooth to faintly rough-walled (light microscopy), verruculose under SEM, thin, apex obtuse, rounded, base truncate and unthickened, 2–3.8 µm wide.

Holotype: Japan: Fukushima, on Chamaecyparis obtusa, 22 Dec. 1949, H. Ootomo (IUM-FS57).

Host range and distribution: On Chamaecyparis obtusa, Cupressaceae, Asia (Japan).

Notes: Cercospora chamaecyparidis was described by Sawada based on Japanese material on Chamaecyparis obtusa. The type material, which has been re-examined, is morphologically close to the North American Pseudocercospora thujina (Stigmina thujina) on Thuja plicata, but beside a different host it is distinguished by having much smaller or even lacking stromata. Thus it is better to retain this fungus as separate species.

Pseudocercospora cryptomeriicola (Sawada) C. Nakash., Akashi & Akiba, in Nakashima et al., Mycoscience 48: 254 (2007).

(Fig. 60)

Fig. 60
figure 60

Pseudocercospora cryptomeriicola (TFM:FPH-1085). A. Conidiophore fascicle. B. Conidiophores. C. Conidia. Bars = 10 µm.

Basionym: Cercospora cryptomeriicola Sawada, Bull. Gov. Forest, Exp. Sta. (Tokyo) 45: 53 (1950).

Synonym: Distocercospora cryptomeriicola (Sawada) Akashi, C. Nakash. & Tak. Kobay., Abstr. Jap. Forest. Soc.: 117 (2006), nom. inal. (Art. 29.1).

Literature: Katsuki (1965: 51), Crous & Braun (2003: 146).

Illustrations: Nakashima et al. (2007: 252, fig. 2; 253, figs 312).

Description: Causing black line needle blight of Cryptomeria, leaves and stems discoloured, yellowish to brown, at first with smaller spots, finally entire needles affected. Colonies visible as fungal masses consisting of olivaceous conidiophores and conidia in lines from base to top on necrotic needles. Mycelium internal. Stromata well-developed, immersed, later erumpent, subglobose, about 90–275 µm diam, dark olivaceous-brown to black, composed of swollen hyphal cells, rounded to angular or oblong. Conidiophores in large, loose to dense fascicles, arising from stromata, forming sporodochial conidiomata, erumpent, simple or rarely branched, subcylindrical, straight to slightly sinuous, 50–120 × 3–5 µm, 1–7-septate, dark brown to blackish, wall smooth, slightly thickened; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, percurently proliferating, with conspicuous annellations, conidiogenous loci neither thickened nor darkened. Conidia solitary, cylindrical-obclavate, straight to slightly curved, 50–80 × 5–8 µm, 7–13-septate, occasionally distosepta mixed with eusepta, pale brown to brown, wall somewhat thickened, smooth or almost so, apex rounded, base truncate to obconically truncate, 2.5–3.8 µm wide, hila neither thickened nor darkened.

Holotype: Japan: Yamagata, Kamabuchi, on Cryptomeria japonica, 8 Aug. 1949, Sato (Herbarium, Museum of Iwate University, Japan).

Host range and distribution: On leaves and stems of Cryptomeria japonica, Japan, Cupressaceae, Asia (Japan, endemic).

Notes: A culture (NBRC 102150) and several collections of this species, which is endemic in Japan, have been examined (TFM:FPH-1085, 1088, 7850 and 7851). Due to unthickened conidiogenous loci and conidial hila as well as its proven phylogenetic position in the Pseudocercospora clade, Nakashima et al. (2007) reallocated this species to Pseudocercospora, although the formation of well-developed sporodochia, percurrently proliferating conidiogenous cells and large, above all broad, dark and thick-walled conidia are rather Scolecostigmina-like.

Pseudocercospora exosporioides (Bubák) B. Sutton & Hodges, Mycologia 82: 320 (1990).

(Fig. 61)

Fig. 61
figure 61

Pseudocercospora exosporioides (LEP, isolectotype). A. Conidiophore fascicle. B. Conidiophores. C. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Basionym: Cercospora exosporioides Bubák, Ann. Mycol. 13: 33 (1915).

Literature: Saccardo (1931: 873), Vassiljevsky & Karakulin (1937: 252), Chupp (1954: 439), Crous & Braun (2003: 181).

Illustration: Sutton & Hodges (1990: 321, fig. 4).

Exsiccatae: Petrak, Fl. Bohem. Morav. Exs. 1351.

Description: Causing needle blight, at first forming small brown to reddish brown discolorations, later expanded, often at tips, finally entire needles discoloured, necrotic, dead and shed. Colonies amphigenous, punctiform to pustulate, dark. Mycelium internal; hyphae branched, septate, 2–10 µm diam, brown, smooth or almost so. Stromata well-developed, immersed, large, sometimes confluent, about 50–150 µm diam, sometimes up to 300 µm in length, dark brown, sometimes with a reddish tinge, composed of swollen hyphal cells, 2–8 µm diam, rounded in outline to angular. Conidiophores numerous to very numerous, arising from stromata, erumpent, forming large, dense sporodochial conidiomata, erect, straight to somewhat curved-sinuous, subcylindrical to somewhat conical (attenuated towards the tip), not, barely or only slightly geniculate, unbranched, 5–30 × 2–4.5 µm, 0–1(−2)-septate, pale yellowish to olivaceous-brown throughout or paler towards the tip, thin-walled, smooth or almost so; conidiophores reduced to conidiogenous cells or conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, 5–25 µm long, conidiogenous loci inconspicuous, neither thickened nor darkened. Conidia solitary, cylindrical to slightly obclavate-cylindrical, somewhat attenuated towards the tip, straight to slightly curved, (15−)20–40(−50) × 2–3.5 µm, (1−)3–4(−5)-septate, subhyaline to pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth or almost so to somewhat rough-walled, apex obtuse, base short obconically truncate, 1.5–2 µm wide, hila neither thickened nor darkened.

Lectotype (designated here, MycoBank, MBT176151): Czech Republic: Moravia, Hranice (Mährisch Weisskirchen), Ludinabach, on needles of Larix decidua, 8 Oct. 1914, F Petrak (BPI 436251); isolectotypes: K(M) IMI 24163, LEP; Petr., Fl. Bohem. Morav. Exs. 1351, e.g. HBG.

Host range and distribution: On needles of Larix decidua, Pinaceae, Europe (Czech Republic).

Notes: The material deposited at BPI is marked as “holotype”, but there are several duplicates of the type collection (syntypes) housed in several other herbaria. Therefore, it is proposed to designate the BPI material as lectotype.

Pseudocercospora ginkgoana R. Kirschner, Mycol. Progr. 12: 423 (2013).

(Fig. 62)

Fig. 62
figure 62

Pseudocercospora ginkgoana (TNM, holotype). A. Conidiophore fascicle. B. Conidiophores. C. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Illustration: Kirschner & Okuda (2013: 423, fig. 1A–E).

Description: Lesions marginal, visible as necrotic, brown leaf margins with yellowish border towards the healthy green leaf blade. Caespituli amphigenous. Mycelium internal; hyphae intercellular, 2–3 µm wide, hyaline to pale brown, smooth. Stromata developed, amphigenous, about 30–40 µm diam, immersed, erumpent through the epidermis, composed of brown swollen hyphal cells, 3–11 × 3–5 µm. Conidiophores numerous, in dense fascicles, arising from stromata, erumpent, erect, straight, subcylindrical, somewat curved to distinctly geniculate, simple or branched, (18−)26–57(−78) × 3–5(−7) µm, continuous or 1- to pluriseptate, pale to medium brown, thin-walled, smooth; conidiophores reduced to conidiogenous cells or conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, occasionally pleurogenous, (8−)9.5–16.5(−21) × 2.5–4 µm, conidiogenous loci inconspicuous to subdenticulate, truncate and 1–1.5 µm wide, but always unthickened and not darkened. Conidia solitary, subcylindrical to narrowly obclavate, i.e. narrowed towards the apex and obconically truncate at the base, straight or occasionally curved, (11−)33–65(−75) × 2–2.5(− 3) µm, 1–9-septate, pale brown, thin-walled, smooth, apex obtuse to subacute, base short obconically truncate, 1.5 µm wide, hila neither thickened nor darkened.

Holotype: Taiwan: Taoyuan County, Lasashan, New Century Resort Farm with tea and fruit plantations, ca. 1,500 m alt., on leaves of Ginkgo biloba, 22 Oct. 2011, R. Kirschner et al. 3561 (TNM).

Host range and distribution: On leaves of Ginkgo biloba, Ginkgoaceae, Asia (Taiwan).

Notes: This is the first Pseudocercospora on Ginkgo. Kirschner & Okuda (2013) cultivated this fungus, and derived ITS DNA sequence data. A comparision showed a 99% similarity with sequences of Pseudocercospora chiangmaiensis.

Pseudocercospora juniperi (Ellis & Everh.) B. Sutton & Hodges, Mycologia 82: 319 (1990).

(Fig. 63)

Fig. 63
figure 63

Pseudocercospora juniperi (NY, holotype). A. Conidiophore fascicle. B. Conidiophores. C. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Basionym: Cercospora sequoiae var. juniperi Ellis & Everh., J. Mycol. 3: 14 (1987).

Synonym: Pseudocercospora ibusukii C. Nakash. & T. Kobay. (in Kobayashi 2007: 775), nom. inval. (Art. 30.8).

Literature: Saccardo (1892: 653), Chupp (1954: 440), Peterson & Wysong (1968), Peterson (1977), Crous & Braun (2003: 234).

Illustration: Sutton & Hodges (1990: 320, fig. 3).

Description: Causing needle blight, with discolorations and leaf spots, yellowish to brown, finally entire leaves discoloured, necrotic; often occurring in young plantations and windbreaks. Colonies punctiform to pustulate, paler or dark by abundant conidial formation. Mycelium internal; hyphae mainly intraepidermal, but also in the mesophyll, branched, septate, 2–5 µm wide, brown. Stromata well-developed, substomatal to deeply immersed, about 30–150 µm diam, medium to dark brown, composed of swollen hyphal cells, about 3–6 µm diam, wall somewhat thickened. Conidiophores in small to usually larger, often almost sporodochial fascicles, loose to moderately dense, arising from stromata, through stomata or erumpent, erect, straight, subcylindrical to somewhat geniculate-sinuous, unbranched or rarely branched, 15–40 × 2.5–3.5 µm, 0–3-septate, olivaceous-brown, paler towards the tip, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, 10–25 µm long, proliferation sympodial or percurrent, with fine annellations, conidiogenous loci truncate, neither thickened nor darkened. Conidia solitary, cylindrical, subcylindrical to slightly obclavate-cylindrical, straight to somewhat curved, 30–60 × 2.5–3 µm, 3–5-septate, not constricted at the septa, pale olivaceous to olivaceous-brown in mass, thin-walled, almost smooth to rough-walled, apex obtuse, base truncate or slightly obconically truncate, about 2 µm wide, hila unthickened, not darkened.

Holotype: USA: Wisconsin: Kenosha Co., Power’s Lake, on needles of Juniperus virginiana, Aug. 1886, J. J. Davis (NY).

Host range and distribution: On Cryptomeria japonica, Hesperocyparis arizonica (Cupressus arizonica), Juniperus (communis, virginiana, Juniperus sp.), Cupressaceae, Asia (Japan), North America (Canada, Ontario; USA, Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia, Wisconsin).

Notes: This species was previously confused with Cercospora juniperina (see Chupp 1954), but it is easily distinguishable from the latter species by having unthickened, not darkened conidiogenous loci as pointed out by Sutton & Hodges (1990).

Pseudocercospora paraexosporioides C. Nakash. & U. Braun, sp. nov.

MycoBank MB805532

(Fig. 64)

Fig. 64
figure 64

Pseudocercospora paraexosporioides (TFM:FPH-551). A. Conidiophore fascicle. B. Conidiophore tips. C. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Etymology: Named for its resemblance to Pseudocercospora exosporioides.

Pseudonym: Cercospora exosporioides sensu auct.

Literature: Katsuki (1965: 51).

Diagnosis: Differt a P. exosporioides stromatibus minoribus, 20–50 µm diam, conidiophoris in fasciculis minoribus et conidiis longioribus, 25–80 µm, pluriseptatis (3–10).

Description: Leaf spot scattered, brown, later enlarged and confluent, yellowish brown to reddish brown or dark brown. Caespituli hypophyllous, punctiform, dark olivaceous. Mycelium internal. Stromata hypophyllous, substomatal to immersed, pale to dark brown, 20–50 µm diam. Conidiophores in small to moderately large, dense fascicles, arising from stromata, through stomata or erumpent, straight, subcylindrical or narrower towards the apex to geniculate, unbranched, 22–48 × 2–3 µm, 0–2-septate, pale to pale brown, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, proliferating sympodially, conidiogenous loci truncate, unthickened, not darkened. Conidia solitary, cylindrical to obclavate, straight or mildly curved, 25–80 × 2–4 µm, 3–10-septate, pale to pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth to rough-walled, apex obtuse to subacute, base obconically truncate, about 2–2.5 µm wide, hila unthickened, not darkened.

Holotype: Japan: Tokushima Pref.: on leaves of Sequoia sempervirens, 4 Sept. 1959, K. Ito (TFM:FPH-551).

Host range and distribution: On Larix kaempferi (only in inoculation tests), Pinaceae and Sequoia sempervirens, Cupressaceae, Asia (Japan, endemic).

Notes: Additional material has been examined: on leaves of Sequoia sempervirens, Japan, Ibaraki Pref., Tsukuba, 11 Sep. 1998, T. Kobayashi & C. Nakashima (CNS 448, herb. Nakashima); Japan, Fukuoka Pref., Tanushimaru, 20 June 2000, T. Kobayashi & Y. Ono (CNS 970, herb. Nakashima); culture ex Sequoia sempervirens (MAFF237788, ex CNS 448).

Hashimoto (1959) observed and collected a species of Cercospora on Sequoia sempervirens in a nursery in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. The specimen concerned was sent to C. Chupp, who identified it as Cercospora exosporioides. To confirm the pathogenicity, mycelial suspensions were used to inoculate Larix kaempferi, Sequoia sempervirens, Pinus densiflora, Pinus thunbergii, and Cryptomeria japonica. Three weeks later, symptoms and conidial masses were observed on L. laempferi and S. sempervirens (Hashimoto 1959). Natural infections are only known from S. sempervirens, which seems to be the principal host of this species. The identification of the Japanese species as P. exosporioides is, however, not tenable since collections from Japan on S. sempervirens and the type material of the latter species from Europe are morphologically rather different. True P. exosporioides differs from P. paraexosporioides in having much larger stromata, up to 300 µm diam, large sporodochial conidiomata, and much shorter, usually subcylindrical conidia with few septa. The Japanese collections of “P. exosporioides” represent undoubtedly a separate species described as P. paraexosporioides. Reports of P. exosporioides from Japan (e.g. Crous & Braun 2003) refer to the new species.

Pseudocercospora pini-densiflorae (Hori & Nambu) Deighton, Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc. 88: 390 (1987). var. pini-densiflorae

(Fig. 65)

Fig. 65
figure 65

Pseudocercospora pini-densiforae (BPI 1109716). A. Conidiophore fascicles. B. Conidiophore tips. C. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Basionym: Cercospora pini-densiflorae Hori & Nambu, in Nambu, J. Pl. Protec. Tokyo 4: 354 (1917).

Synonyms: Cercoseptoria pini-densiforae (Hori & Nambu) Deighton, Mycol. Pap. 140: 167 (1976).

Mycosphaerella gibsonii H.C. Evans, Mycol. Pap. 153: 61 (1984).

Literature: Nambu (1917), Saccardo (1931: 873), Vassiljevsky & Karakulin (1937: 252), Chupp (1954: 440), Katsuki (1965: 51), Mulder & Gibson (1972), Ellis (1976: 252), Suto (1979), CMI Distribution Maps of Plant Diseases 481, 1982, Evans (1984), Ivory & Wingfield (1986), Crous et al. (1990), Hsieh & Goh (1990: 261), Ivory (1994), Guo & Hsieh (1995: 248–249), Guo et al. (1998: 259), Crous & Braun (2004: 324), Kamal (2010: 209), Quaedvlieg et al. (2012: 112).

Illustrations: Ellis (1976: 253, fig. 190C), Hsieh & Goh (1990: 263, fig. 202), Guo & Hsieh (1995: 250, fig. 211), Guo et al. (1998: 259).

Description: Causing needle blight, i.e. needles with yellowish, yellowish brown to later greyish to blackish brown lesions, finally becoming necrotic. Colonies punctiform to pustulate, greyish to greyish brown. Mycelium internal; hyphae branched, septate, pale olivaceous to olivaceous-brown, thin-walled, smooth. Stromata substomatal, subglobose, 20–150 µm diam, brown to dark brown, composed of thick-walled, swollen hyphal cells, 2–6 µm diam. Conidiophores in rich, dense to very dense fascicles, often forming sporodochial conidiomata, arising from stromata, through stomata or erumpent, erect, straight, subcylindrical or narrowed towards the tip to geniculate-sinuous, unbranched, 5–50 × 2.5–4 µm, subhyaline to uniformly olivaceous or olivaceous-brown, 0–3-septate, thin-walled, smooth; conidiophores reduced to conidiogenus cells or conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, 5–25 µm long, sympodially or occasionally percurrently proliferating, with fine, not very conspicuous annellations, conidiogenous loci inconspicuous or at least neither thickened nor darkened. Conidia solitary, obclavate or obclavate-cylindrical, straight to somewhat curved, (10−) 20–65(−80) × 2–5 µm, (1−)3–7(−10)-septate, subhyaline to pale olivaceous, thin-walled, smooth, apex obtuse to subacute, base obconically truncate, 1.5–2.5 µm wide, hila unthickened, not darkened; with Asteromella state. Sexual morph forming variable ascostromata, dark brown to black, discrete, immersed, subepidermal, globose, unilocular, (50−)70–90(−120) µm diam to erumpent, linear, multilocal, 150–800(−1400) µm long, 70–125(−160) µm wide and 90–150 µm deep, occasionally laterally united in bands, stromata pseudoparenchymatous, cells 3–8(−12) µm diam, with thickened walls, locules globose to flask-shaped, (45−) 50–75(−95) × 55–75 µm, ostiolate, periphysate, often with an apical stromatic shield, 70–90 µm diam, in longitudinal series, asci bitunicate, clavate to cylindrical, (33−)35–38 × 5.5–7 µm, with a thickened bluntly rounded apex, rarely saccate, 32–36 × 6–8 µm, 8-spored, ascospores ellipsoid, cuneate, (7.5−)8.5–11(−12.5) × (1.8−)2.2–2.8 µm, 1-septate, hyaline, guttulate.

In vitro: Colonies grey to greyish green or blackish, attending 1.8–2.2 cm after 15 d on PCA-UV at 25 °C, with compact, grey mycelium in the centre, becoming pulvinate, black reverse (conidia in culture up to 90 µm long and 1.8–2.5 µm wide).

Type: Japan: Kagoshima, Magome, on needles of Pinus densiflora, 20 Sep. 1915 [not preserved]; Japan: Kagoshima, Magome, on needles of Pinus densiflora, 1 Oct. 1915, identified by Hara (NIAES C-511 — neotype designated here, MycoBank, MBT176152).

Host range and distribution: On needles of Pinus (ayacahuite, canariensis, caribaea, cembra, clausa, contorta, contorta var. murreyana, densifora, echinata, elliottii, flexilis, greggii, halepensis, hartwegii [rudis], jeffreyi, kesiya, lambertiana, luchensis, massoniana, merkusii, mugo, muricata, nigra, oocarpa, patula, parviflora, pentaphylla, pinaster, pinea, ponderosa, pseudostrobus, radiata, resinosa, rigida, roxburghii, strobus, sylvestris, taeda, taiwanensis, thunbergii, tubuliformis, and wallichiana [griffithii]), Pinaceae. Africa (Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe), Asia (Bangladesh, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam), Australia and New Zealand, Central and South America (Brazil, Nicaragua), West Indies (Jamaica, Netherlands Antilles). The following species were susceptible in inoculation experiments carried out by Suto (1979) in Japan: Abies veitchii, A. sachalinensis, Cedrus deodara, Picea glehnii, P. jezoensis, Pseudotsuga menziesii, and Larix kaempferi (L. leptolepsis). var. montantiana (M.D. Mehrotra) U. Braun, comb. et stat. nov.

MycoBank MB805533

Basionym: Pseudocercospora montantiana M.D. Mehrotra, Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc. 88: 577 (1987).

Illustration: Mehrotra (1987: 576, figs 16).

Diagnosis: Conidia narrowly obclavate-subcylindrical to subacicular, only 1.5–2.5 µm wide, but otherwise morphologically fully agreeing with var. pini-densiflorae.

Holotype: India: Assam: on needles of Pinus kesiya, Pinaceae, Apr. 1984, M. D. Mehrotra (K(M) IMI 286975).

Notes: Pseudocercospora pini-densiflorae is the causal agent of a common, widespread disease of Pinus spp. causing needle blight. Type material is not preserved, but topotype material has been found in the Herbarium of the National Institute for Agro-Environmental Science, Japan, which is proposed to serve as neotype.

Pseudocercospora montantiana was described from India on Pinus kesiya and distinguished from P. pinidensiflorae by its narrower acicular conidia, only 1.8–2.5 µm wide (Mehrotra 1987). However, type material of the latter species was examined and proved to be very close to P. pini-densiforae. The conidia are, indeed, narrower than in common collections of P. pini-densiflorae, but the conidia are not consistently acicular. Shorter conidia are narrowly obclavate-subcylindrical with short obconically truncate base, which agrees with typical conidia of P. pini-densiflorae. Only some very long conidia may be subacicular. Otherwise P. montantiana on Pinus kesiya, which has been recorded as host species of P. pini-densiflorae, is morphologically indistinguishable from the latter species and barely more than a morphological variety of the common pine needle blight. Stromata are very variable, 10–80 µm diam or oblong and up to 150 µm in length, the conidiophores are numerous, in dense fascicles, 10–50 × 2–4 µm, and the conidia are mostly 25–70 µm long and 3–7-septate. Mehrotra (1987) described conidiophores up to 100 µm long, which possibly refers to conidiophores with attached conidia, and he described conidia up to 105 µm in length.

Pseudocercospora sciadopityos C. Nakash. & Tak. Kobay., sp. nov. MycoBank MB805534

(Fig. 66)

Fig. 66
figure 66

Pseudocercospora sciadopytios (TFM:FPI-4757). a. Conidium (light microscopy). b. Conidiophore fascicle (light microscopy). Bars = 5 µm (a) and 10 µm (b).

Etymology: Name derived from its host genus, Sciadopitys. Synonym: Pseudocercospora horiei C. Nakash. & Tak. Kobay. (in Kobayashi 2007: 775), nom. inval. (Art.30.8).

Literature: Kobayashi (2007).

Diagnosis: Pseudocercosporae juniperi, P. exosporioides et P. pini-densiflorae similis, sed conidiis acicularibus vel anguste cylindraceis, ad 83 µm longis, sed etiam 3–5-septatis, basi truncata.

Description: Leaf symptoms visible as brown to yellowish brown discolorations. Caespituli hypophyllous, punctiform, formed as olivaceous masses of conidia and conidiophores. Mycelium internal. Stromata immersed, intraepidermal to substomatal, erumpent, brown to dark brown, 45–75 µm diam. Conidiophores arising from stromata, densely fasciculate, through stomata or erumpent, erect, straight to slightly curved, 35–85 × 2–3 µm (on average 55 × 2 µm), pluriseptate, pale brown, thin-walled, smooth; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, proliferating sympodially or percurrently, with unthickend, not darkened conidiogenous loci. Conidia solitary, mildly curved, acicular to narrowly cylindrical, 63–83 × 2–3 µm (on average 71 × 3 µm), 3–5-septate, pale, smooth, base truncate, 2–3.8 µm wide, hila neither thickened nor darkened.

Holotype: Japan: Tokyo, Chofu, on Sciadopitys verticillata, 16 June 1977, T. Kobayashi (TFM:FPH-4757).

Host range and distribution: On Sciadopitys verticillata, Sciadopityaceae, Asia (Japan, Tochigi, Tokyo, Chiba).

Note: A first description of this species, which caused early defoliation of Sciadopitys several times in Japan, has been published by Kobayashi (2007) as Cercospora sp.

Pseudocercospora thujina (Dearn.). U. Braun & C. Nakash., comb. nov. MycoBank MB805535

(Fig. 67)

Fig. 67
figure 67

Pseudocercospora thujina (BPI 404872). A. Conidiophore fascicles. B. Conidiophores. C. Conidia. Bar = 10 µm.

Basionym: Coryneum thujinum Dearn., Mycologia 16: 171 (1924).

Synonyms: Sciniatosporium thujinum (Dearn.) Morgan-Jones, Canad. J. Bot. 49: 1005 (1971).

Stigmina thujina (Dearn.) B. Sutton, Trans. Brit. Mycol. Soc. 58: 166 (1971).

Literature: Sutton (1971), Hodges (1982), Dick (1998), Cech (2008), Cech & Diminić (2008).

Illustrations: Morgan-Jones (1971: 1006, fig. 10), Hodges (1982: 868, fig. 1A–D).

Description: Leaves turning pale brown to brown, later greyish brown or grey, finally they become necrotic and die, in severe cases entire branches or twigs may die. Conidiomata hypophyllous, scattered, blackish, sporodochial, erumpent. Mycelium immersed; hyphae branched, septate, 2–4 µm wide, brown, wall smooth. Stromata well-developed, at first immersed, later often rupturing the epidermis, dark brown to black, 150–270 µm diam and 60–170 µm deep, or oblong, up to 500 µm in length, composed of swollen hyphal cells, rounded to angular in outline, about 2–6 µm diam. Conidiophores numerous, in loose to usually dense fascicles, arranged in palisade-like layers, arising from stromata, forming sporodochial conidiomata, erumpent, erect, straight to curved or somewhat flexuous, subcylindrical or somewhat attenuated towards the tip, unbranched, 10–80 × 3–7 µm, aseptate to sparingly septate, light brown, yellowish brown or pale olivaceous-brown throughout or usually somewhat paler towards the tip, darker in mass, wall thin to slightly thickened, smooth or somewhat rough; conidiophores reduced to conidiogenous cells or conidiophores septate and conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, monoblastic, determinate or percurrently proliferating, with up to five fine annellations, sometimes also sympodially proliferating, with two loci, conidiogenous loci unthickened, not darkened, about 2–4 µm wide, sometimes with minute frill. Conidia solitary, straight to mostly curved or sigmoid, often abruptly curved at the apex or sometimes at the base, subcylindrical-vermiform to clavate, occasionally obclavate, 30–70 × (5−)6–9(−11) µm, 4–16-septate, usually without constrictions at the septa or only slightly constricted, cells often with distinct central lumen, medium brown to medium dark brown, wall thin to slightly thickened, up to 1 µm, smooth to faintly rough, apex obtuse, rounded, base short obconically truncate, 2–5 µm wide, hila unthickened, not darkened, often with minute frill.

Lectotype (designated here, MycoBank, MBT176153): USA: Oregon: Lane Co., Cascade National Forest, 12.000 ft. alt., on Thuja plicata, 22 Oct. 1921, J. S. Boyce 831 (BPI 404872), isolectotypes: BPI 404883, 404884, syntypes: BPI 404871, 869772 (from “Hot Springs”, Boyce 541).

Host range and distribution: On Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, Thuja plicata, Cupressaceae, North America (Canada, British Columbia; USA, Idaho, North Carolina, Oregon, Washington), introduced in Europe (Austria and Croatia), Hawaii and New Zealand.

Notes: Based on the phylogenetic position of its type species, Crous et al. (2006) reduced Stigmina to synonymy with Pseudocercospora. Therefore, the generic position of Stigmina thujina has to be reassessed. Due to its sporodochial conidiomata with frequently percurrently proliferating conidiogenous cells and relatively thin-walled conidia, this species is rather Cercostigmina-like (Braun 1993), but the latter genus was reduced to synonymy with Pseudocercospora. The type species of Cercostigmina and additional species assigned to this genus cluster within the big Pseudocercospora clade (Crous et al. 2001, 2013; Taylor et al. 2003). Furthermore, the conidiogenous cells of S. thujina are percurrent as well as sometimes sympodial. Therefore, this species is better reallocated to Pseudocercospora.

Pseudocercospora thujina is also known on Chamaecyparis lawsoniana and has been introduced on this host in Europe, Hawaii and New Zealand (Hodges 1982, Dick 1998, Cech 2008, Cech & Diminić (2008). Two samples from Hawaii have been re-examined (BPI 428035, 428036). The first European observation was from 2002 in Austria, Salzburg. Cercospora chamaecyparidis, described from Japan, is morphologically very close to P. thujina, but occurs on the Asian Chamaecyparis obtusa and differs in having much smaller or even lacking stromata and verruculose conidia. Therefore, C. chamaecyparidis is maintained as a separate species and reallocated to Pseudocercospora as well.

Doubtful, excluded and insufficiently known species

Cercospora filicum Henn., Hedwigia 41: 310 (1902).

Literature: Saccardo (1906: 611), Chupp (1954: 455).

Holotype: Brazil: São Paulo, Botanical Garden, on Nephrodium sp., Dryopteridaceae, A. Puttemans No. 258 [not preserved].

Notes: Due to rather broad, densely septate cylindrical conidia with thick walls, this species is rather helminthosporioid, but not cercosporoid (see Chupp 1954).

Cercospora equiseti Dobrozr., Bolez. Rast. 16: 202 (1927).

Synonyms: Didymaria equiseti (Dobrozr.) Chupp, Monogr. Cercospora: 205 (1954).

Ramularia dobrozrakoviana U. Braun, Internat. J. Mycol. Lichenol. 3: 281 (1988).

Monodidymaria equiseti (Dobrozr.) U. Braun, Mycotaxon 51: 44 (1994).

Literature: Vassiljevsky & Karakulin (1937: 219), Braun (1998: 360).

Illustration: Braun (1998: 362, fig. 618).

Holotype: Russia: Leningrad Oblast’, on Equisetum arvense, Equisetaceae, 23 Jul. 1927, Dobrozrakova (LE 40397).

Cercospora trismeriae Petr., Sydowia 2: 379 (1948)

Literature: Chupp (1954: 457), Crous & Braun (2003: 411).

Description: Leaf spots narrow, oblong between secondary veins and often extending from the midrib to the leaf margin, in severe infections covering large portions of the leaf blade, dull yellow to greyish brown on both surfaces. Caespituli mainly hypophyllous. Mycelium internal. Stromata substomatal, globose, dark olivaceous. Conidiophores straight, curved to sinuous, 40–150 × 5–7 µm, pale olivaceous, sparingly septate. Conidia obclavate, straight to curved, rarely sigmoid, 25–200 × 5–7.5 µm, 2–9-septate, subhyaline to pale olivaceous-brown, base subtruncate, apex subobtuse to somewhat attenuated.

Holotype: Ecuador: Pichinicha Province: Mindo, on living leaves of Pityrogramma sp. (Trismeria sp.), 5 Nov. 1937, H. Sydow, No. 1937.

Host range and distribution: Only known from the type collection.

Notes: The generic affinity of this species is unclear and could not be proven since it was not possible to trace type material, neither in Petrak’s herbarium at W nor at GZU. Based on the original description, C. trismeriae is probably a species of Pseudocercospora.

Scolecostigmina chibaensis C. Nakash., Tak. Kobay. & Tosh. Yamada, in Nakashima et al. Mycoscience 48: 25 (2007).

Illustration: Nakashina et al. (2007: 251, fig. 1).

Description: Twig symptoms visible as swellings, finally cracking. Stromata lacking or small, blackish brown to black, erumpent, small aggregations of swollen hyphal cells, 2–13 µm diam. Conidiophores solitary to densely fasciculate, straight, olivaceous-brown to blackish brown, subcylindrical, 30–90 × 4–10 µm, pluriseptate, wall thickened, up to about 2 µm, smooth or almost so, occasionally rough; conidiogenous cells integrated, terminal, determinate or percurrently proliferating, with truncate, unthickened, not darkened terminal locus with distinct, relatively large porus, up to 2 µm diam (conidiogenesis probably tretic). Conidia solitary, occasionally in short chains, phragmo- to scolecosporous, broadly obclavate-subcylindrical, 65–135 × 9–13 µm, 5–13-euseptate or eu- and distosepta mixed, often somewhat constricted at septa, brown to blackish brown, wall thick, up to 2 µm, smooth to somewhat verruculose, apex sometimes somewhat rostrate, tips obtuse, base obconically truncate, 4–5.5 µm wide, hila neither thickened nor darkened or entire base somewhat darker.

Holotype: Japan: Chiba, Kamogawa, on twigs of Pinus parvifora, 19 May 2006, T. Yamada (TFM:FPH-7858), isotype MUMH 10314 (ex-holotype culture: NBRC 102148).

Host range and distribution: On Pinus (ayacahuite, parvifora var. parvifora, parvifora var. pentaphylla, peuce, strobiformis, wallichiana, strobus, Pinus sp.), Pinaceae, Asia (Japan).

Notes: In preliminary phylogenetic analyses using rDNA ITS data, S. chibaensis did neither cluster with Pseudocercospora species (including Stigmina s. str. [type species: S. platani]) nor Scolecostigmina mangiferae, the type species of Scolecostigmina. This species does not belong to the Mycosphaerellaceae at all. The conidiogenous cells possess a conspicuous, relatively large porus, and the conidiogenesis seems to be tretic. Scolecostigmina chibaensis is morphologically rather corynesporoid. It has to be excluded from Scolecostigmina in any case, but a final conclusion must be postponed as its phylogenetic affinity to a specific order and family is not yet clear.

References

  • Arx JA von (1981) The Genera of Fungi sporulating in Pure Culture. 3rd edn. Vaduz: J. Cramer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arx JA von (1983) Mycosphaerella and its anamorphs. Proceedings of the Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wettenschappen, Series C, 86: 15–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arzanlou M, Groenewald JZ, Fullerton RA, Abeln ECA, Carlier J, et al. (2008) Multiple gene genealogies and phenotypic characters differentiate several novel species of Mycosphaerella and related anamorphs on banana. Persoonia 20: 19–37.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Arzanlou M, Groenewald JZ, Gams W, Braun U, Crous PW (2007) Phylogenetic and morphotaxonomic revision of Ramichloridium and allied genera. Studies in Mycology 58: 57–93.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Beilharz V, Pascoe IG, Parbery DG (2002) Three new Pseudocercospora species, one with a Mycosphaerella teleomorph, from Kennedia in Australia. Mycotaxon 82: 397–407.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker WA, Partridge EC, Morgan-Jones G (2000) Notes on Hyphomycetes. LXXVII. Asperisporium sequoiae, the causal organism of conifer needle blight, reclassified in Cercosporidium, with comments on the status of the genus. Mycotaxon 76: 247–256.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barklund P (2006) Recent disease problems in Swedish forests. Aktuelt fra Skogforskningen 1(6): 84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Begum MM, Dalisay TU, Cumagun CJR (2012) Taxonomic review of and development of a lucida key for Philippine cercosporoids and related fungi. In: Plant Pathology (CJR Cumagun, ed.): 1–40. Rijeka: Intech.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beilharz V, Pascoe I (2002) Two additional species of Verrucisporota, one with a Mycosphaerella teleomorph, from Australia. Mycotaxon 87: 357–365.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boedijn KB (1961) The genus Cercospora in Indonesia. Nova Hedwigia 3: 411–436.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun U (1988) Studies on Ramularia and allied genera (II). Nova Hedwigia 47: 335–349.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun U (1990) Taxonomic problems of the RamularialCercosporella complex. Studies in Mycology 32: 65–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun U (1992) Taxonomic notes on some species of the Cercospora complex. Nova Hedwigia 55: 211–221.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun U (1993) New genera of phytopathogenic Hyphomycetes. Cryptogamic Botany 4: 107–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun U (1995a) A monograph of Cercosporella, Ramularia and allied genera (phytopathogenic hyphomycetes). Vol. 1. Eching: IHW Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun U (1995b) Miscellaneous notes on phytopathogenic hyphomycetes (II). Mycotaxon 55: 223–241.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun U (1998) A monograph of Cercosporella, Ramularia and allied genera (phytopathogenic hyphomycetes). Vol. 2. Eching: IHW Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun U (2001) Revision of Cercospora species described by K.B. Boedijn. Nova Hedwigia 73: 419–436.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braun U (2002) Miscellaneous notes on some micromycetes (II). Schlechtendalia 8: 33–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun U (2012) The impact of the discontinuation of dual nomenclature of pleomorphic fungi: the trivial facts, problems, and strategies. IMA Fungus 3: 81–86.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Braun U, Crous PW (2005) Additions and corrections to names published in Cercospora and Passalora. Mycotaxon 92: 395–416.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun U, Crous PW (2006) (1732) Proposal to conserve the name Pseudocercospora against Stigmina and Phaeoisariopsis (Hyphomycetes). Taxon 55: 803.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braun U, Crous PW (2008) Cercosporoid hyphomycetes on hosts of the Annonaceae: Cercospora annonaceae and Isariopsis annonarum revisited. Mycotaxon 105: 207–224.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun U, Freire F (2004) Some cercosporoid hyphomycetes from Brazil - III. Cryptogamie Mycologie 25: 221–244.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun U, Melnik VA (1997) Cercosporoid fungi from Russia and adjacent countries. Trudy Botanicheskogo Instituta Imeni V.L. Komarova, Rossijskaya Akademiya Nauk St. Petersburg 20: 1–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun U, Sivapalan A (1999) Cercosporoid hyphomycetes from Brunei. Fungal Diversity 3: 1–27.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun U, Crous PW, Schubert K, Shin HD (2010a) Some reallocations of Stenella species to Zasmidium. Schlechtendalia 20: 99–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Braun U, Freire F, Urtiaga R (2010b) New species and new records of cercosporoid hyphomycetes from Brazil, New Zealand and Venezuela. Polish Botanical Journal 55: 281–291.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bhurgava KS, Misra PC (1961) Cercospora helminthostachydis P. Henn. in Yorakhpur, India. Sydowia 15: 231–232.

    Google Scholar 

  • Castañeda RF (1988) Fungi Cubenses. Vol. 3. Habana: Instituto de Investigaciones Fundamentales en Agricultura Tropical “Alejandro de Humboldt”.

    Google Scholar 

  • Castañeda RF, Braun U (1989) Cercospora and allied genera of Cuba (I). Cryptogamic Botany 1: 42–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cech TL (2008) Phytopathologische Notizen 2008. Forstschutz Aktuell 43: 21–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cech TL, Diminić D (2008) New blight of Cupressaceae in Austria and Croatia. In: Proceedings of the Conference of IUFRO working party 7.02.02, 21–26 May 2007, Sopron, Hungary. Acta Silvatica & Lignaria Hungarica, Special Edition (2007): 265.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiddarwar PP (1962) Contributions to our knowledge of the Cercosporae of Bombay State III. Mycopathologia et Mycologia Applicata 17: 71–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chowdhry PN, Gupta D, Padhi B (1983) Some new species of Cercosporae from ornamental plants in India. Indian Phytopathology 36: 624–625.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chupp C (1954) A monograph of the fungus genus Cercospora. Ithaca: Published by the author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ciferri R (1938) Mycoflora domingensis exsiccatae. Annales Mycologici 36: 198–245.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ciferri R (1954) Schedae Mycologicae XII-XXXIV. Sydowia 8: 245–270.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clements FE, Shear CL (1931) The Genera of Fungi. New York: H. W. Wilson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cour P, Joly P (1965) Un parasite nouveau des Sélaginelles: Cercospora sellaginellarum. Revue de Mycologie 30: 225–230.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crous PW (1998) Mycosphaerella spp. and their anamorphs associated with leaf spot diseases of Eucalyptus. Mycologia Memoir 21: 1–170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crous PW, Braun U (1996). Cercosporoid fungi from South Africa. Mycotaxon 57: 233–321.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crous PW, Braun U (2003) Mycosphaerella and its Anamorphs. 1. Names published in Cercospora and Passalora. [CBS Biodiversity Series no. 1.] Utrecht: CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crous PW, Wingfield MJ, Swart WJ (1990) Shoot and needle diseases of Pinus spp. in South Africa. South African Forestry Journal 154: 60–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crous PW, Aptroot A, Kang JC, Braun U, Wingfield MJ (2000) The genus Mycosphaerella and its anamorphs. Studies in Mycology 45: 107–121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crous PW, Kang JC, Braun U (2001) A phylogenetic redefinition of anamorph genera in Mycosphaerella based on ITS rDNA sequences and morphology. Mycologia 93: 1081–1101.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Crous PW, Groenewald JZ, Mansilla JP, Hunter GC, Wingfield MJ (2004a) Phylogenetic reassessment of Mycosphaerella spp. and their anamorphs occurring on Eucalyptus. Studies in Mycology 50: 195–214.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crous PW, Groenewald JZ, Pongpanich K, Himaman W, Arzanlou M, Wingfield MJ (2004b) Cryptic speciation and host specificity among Mycosphaerella spp. occurring on Australian Acacia species grown as exotics in the tropics. Studies in Mycology 50: 457–469.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crous PW, Liebenberg MM, Braun U, Groenewald JZ (2006) Reevaluating the taxonomic status of Phaeoisariopsis griseola, the causal agent of angular leaf spots of bean. Studies in Mycology 55: 163–173.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Crous PW, Braun U, Groenewald JZ (2007) Mycosphaerella is polyphyletic. Studies in Mycology 58: 1–32.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Crous PW, Braun U, Hunter GC, Wingfield MJ, Verkley GJM, et al. (2013) Phylogenetic lineages in Pseudocercospora. Studies in Mycology 75: 37–114.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Crous PW, Braun U, Wingfield MJ, Wood AR, Shin HD, et al. (2009a) Phylogeny and taxonomy of obscure genera of microfungi. Persoonia 22: 139–161.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Crous PW, Groenewald JZ, Shivas RG (2010) Pseudocercospora nephrolepidicola Crous & R.G. Shivas. Fungal Planet 59. Persoonia 25: 138–139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crous PW, Groenewald JZ, Shivas RG, Edwards J, Seifert KA, et al. (2011) Fungal Planet Description Sheets: 69–91. Persoonia 26: 108–156.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Crous PW, Schoch CL, Hyde KD, Wood AR, Gueidan C, et al. (2009b) Phylogenetic lineages in the Capnodiales. Studies in Mycology 64: 17–47.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Crous PW, Summerell BA, Carnegie AJ, Wingfield MJ, Hunter GC, et al. (2009c) Unravelling Mycosphaerella: do you believe in genera? Persoonia 23: 99–118.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Crous PW, Summerell BA, Shivas RG, Burgess TI, Decock CA, et al. (2012). Fungal Planet Description Sheets: 107–127. Persoonia 28: 138–182.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Curzi M (1932) De fungis et morbis africanis. I. De quibusdam hyphomycetibus parasitis Somalie. Bollettino della Stazione di Patologia Vegetale di Roma, Ser. 2, 12: 148–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Das AK (1989) Two new species of Cercospora from India. Indian Journal of Mycological Research 27: 37–42.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • David JC (1997) A contribution to the systematics of Cladosporium: revision of the fungi previously referred to Heterosporium. Mycological Papers 172: 1–157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deighton FC (1965) Various hyphomycetes, mainly tropical. Mycological Papers 101: 28–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deighton FC (1967) Studies on Cercospora and allied genera. II. Passalora, Cercosporidium and some species of Fusicladium on Euphorbia. Mycological Papers 112: 1–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deighton FC (1969) Microfungi IV Hyperparasitic hyphomycetes, and a note on Cercosporella uredinophila Sacc. Mycological Papers 118: 1–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deighton FC (1971) Studies on Cercospora and allied genera. III. Centrospora. Mycological Papers 124: 1–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deighton FC (1973) Studies on Cercospora and allied genera. IV Cercosporella Sacc, Pseudocercosporella gen. nov. and Pseudocercosporidium gen. nov. Mycological Papers 133: 1–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deighton FC (1974) Studies on Cercospora and allied genera. V Mycovellosiella Rangel, and a new species of Ramulariopsis. Mycological Papers 137: 1–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deighton FC (1976) Studies on Cercospora and allied genera. VI. Pseudocercospora Speg., Pantospora Cif. and Cercoseptoria Petr. Mycological Papers 140: 1–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deighton FC (1979) Studies on Cercospora and allied genera. VII. New species and redispositions. Mycological Papers 144: 1–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deighton FC (1983) Studies on Cercospora and allied genera. VIII. Further notes on Cercoseptoria and some new species and redispositions. Mycological Papers 151: 1–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deighton FC (1987) New species of Pseudocercospora and Mycovellosiella, and new combinations into Pseudocercospora and Phaeoramularia. Transactions of the British Mycological Society 88: 365–391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deighton FC (1990) Observations on Phaeoisariopsis. Mycological Research 94: 1096–1102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dick MA (1998) Stigmina thujina - a needle blight of Lawson’s cypress. Forest Health News 70: 2–3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Earle FS (1901) Some fungi from Puerto Rico. Muhlenbergia 1: 10–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis MB (1959) Clasterosporium and some allied Dematiaceae - Phragmosporae. II. Mycological Papers 72: 1–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis MB (1963) Dematiaceous hyphomycetes IV Mycological Papers 87: 1–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis MB (1971) Dematiaceous Hyphomycetes. Kew: Commonwealth Mycological Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellis MB (1976) More Dematiaceous Hyphomycetes. Kew: Commonwealth Mycological Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans HC (1984) The genus Mycosphaerella and its anamorphs Cercoseptoria, Dothistroma and Lecanosticta on pines. Mycological Papers 153: 1–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farr ML, Horner Jr HT (1968) Fungi on Selaginella. Nova Hedwigia 15: 239–287.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferraris T (1909) Osservazioni mycologische. Su specie del gruppo Hyphales (Hyphomycetae), Ser. 1a, No. I-X. Annales Mycologici 7: 273–286.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fresenius JGBW (1863) Beiträge zur Mykologie. Frankfurt a. M.: H.L. Brönner.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fries EM (1849) Summa vegetabilium Scandinaviae. Sectio Posterior. Stockholm: A. Bonnier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuckel KWGL (1863) Fungi rhenani exsiccati a L. Fuckel collecti. Fasc. I-IV. 1863. Hedwigia 2: 132–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodwin SB, Dunkle LD, Zismann VL (2001) Phylogenetic analysis of Cercospora and Mycosphaerella based on internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA. Phytopathology 91: 648–658.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Groenewald JZ, Groenewald M, Braun U (2010) Cercospora speciation and host range. In: Cercospora Leaf Spot of Sugar Beet and related species (Lartey RT, Weiland JJ, Panella L, Crous PW, Windels CE, eds): 21–37. St Paul, MN: APS Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Groenewald JZ, Nakashima C, Nishikawa J, Shin, HD, Park JH, et al. (2013) Species concepts in Cercospora: spotting the weeds among the roses. Studies in Mycology 75: 115–170.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Groenewald M, Groenewald JZ, Crous PW (2005) Distinct species exist within the Cercospora apii morphotype. Phytopathology 95: 951–959.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Groenewald M, Groenewald JZ, Braun U, Crous PW (2006a) Host range of Cercospora apii and C. beticola, and description of C. apiicola, a novel species from celary. Mycologia 98: 275–285.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Groenewald M. Groenewald JZ, Harrington TC, Abeln ECA, Crous PW (2006b) Mating type gene analysis in apparently asexual Cercospora species is suggestive of cryptic sex. Fungal Genetics and Biology 43: 813–825.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Guo YL (1993) Two species of Pseudocercospora. Mycosystema 6: 103–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo YL (1997) A new species of Cercospora. Mycosystema 16: 1–3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo YL, Hsieh WH (1995) The genus Pseudocercospora in China. Mycosystema, Monographicum Series 2: 1–388.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo YL, Liu XJ (1992) Studies on the genus Pseudocercospora in China III. Acta Mycologica Sinica 11: 294–299.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo YL, Liu XJ, Hsieh WH (2003) Mycovellosiella, Passalora, Phaeoramularia. [Flora Fungorum Sinicorum, vol. 20.] Beijing: Science Press.

  • Guo YL, Liu XJ, Hsieh WH (2005) Cercospora. [Flora Fungorum Sinicorum, vol. 24.] Beijing: Science Press.

  • Hashimoto H (1959) On the needle-blight of Sequoia sempervirens Endl., caused by Cercospora exosporioides Bubák. The Bulletin of Fukuoka-Ken Forest Experiment Station 11: 19–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hawksworth D (2011) A new dawn for the naming of fungi: impacts of decisions made in Melbourne in July 2011 on the future publication and regulation of fungal names. IMA Fungus 2: 155–162.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hernández-Gutiérrez A, Dianese JC (2008) New cercosporoid fungi from the Brazilian Cerrado 1. Species on hosts of the families Anacardiaceae. Mycotaxon 106: 41–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hernández-Gutiérrez A, Dianese JC (2009) New cercosporoid fungi from the Brazilian Cerrado 2. Species on hosts of the subfamilies Caesalpinioideae, Faboideae and Mimosoideae (Leguminosae s. lat.). Mycotaxon 107: 1–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hodges CS (1962) Comparison of four similar fungi from Juniperus and related conifers. Mycologia 54: 62–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hodges CS (1982) Needle blight of Port-Orford-Cedar caused by Stigmina thujina in Hawaii. Plant Disease 66: 867–869.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hsieh WH, Goh TK (1990) Cercospora and similar fungi from Taiwan. Taipei: Maw Chang Book Co.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ito K, Kobayashi T, Shibukawa K (1967) Etiological studies on the needle blight of Cryptomeria japonica - III: A comparison between Cercospora cryptomeriae Shirai and Cercospora sequoiae Ellis et Everhart. Bulletin of the Government Forest Experiment Station 204: 73–97.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ito K, Shibukawa K, Kobayashi T (1958) Blight of Sequoia gigantea seedlings caused by Cercospora cryptomeriae Shirai. Journal of the Japanese Forestry Society 40: 407–410.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ivory MH (1994) Records of foliage pathogens of Pinus species in tropical countries. Plant Pathology 43: 511–518.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ivory MH, Wingfield MJ (1986) First report of Mycosphaerella gibsonii in South Africa. Phytophylactica 18: 51–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaczewski A v (1901) Über eine Pilzkrankheiten auf dem Wacholder. Zeitschrift für Pflanzenkrankheiten 11: 203–207.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaiser W, Crous PW (1998) Mycosphaerella lupini sp. nov, a serious leaf spot disease of perennial lupin in Southcentral Idaho, USA. Mycologia 90: 726–731.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kakoti RK, Saikia UN, Mamar D (1998) Phytopathogenic fungi of north-east India - IV Annals of Agri Bio Research 3: 207–210.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamal (2010) Cercosporoid Fungi of India. Dehra Dun: Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kar AK, Mandai M (1969) New Cercospora spp. from West Bengal. Transactions of the British Mycological Society 53: 337–360.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katsuki S (1965) Cercosporae of Japan. Transactions of the Mycological Society of Japan, Extra Issue 1: 1–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Katumoto K (1988) Five hyperparasitic hyphomycetes from Japan. Bulletin of the Faculty of Agriculture, Yamaguchi University 35: 107–119.

    Google Scholar 

  • Khan MK, Verma RK, Kamal (1992) New species of Cercospora, Mycovellosiella and Phaeoisariopsis. Indian Phytopathology 45: 26–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kitashima K (1916) On the red-plague of ”Sugi” seedlings [in Japanese]. Botanical Magazine Tokyo 30: 411–414.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kirschner R, Chen CJ (2007) Foliicolous hyphomycetes from Taiwan. Fungal Diversity 26: 219–239.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirschner R., Okada T (2013) A new species of Pseudocercospora and new record of Bartheletia paradoxa on leaves of Ginkgo biloba. Mycological Progress 12: 421–426.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kobayashi T (2007) Index of Fungi Inhabiting Woody Plants in Japan: host, distribution and literature. Tokyo: Zenkoku-Noson-Kyoiku Kyokai Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kujala V (1950) Über die Kleinpilze der Koniferen in Finland. Ascomycetes, Fungi imperfecti, Uredinales. Metsätieteellinen tutkimuslaitoksen julkisuja 38: 1–121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar P, Kamal (1981) Two new species of fungus genus Cercospora Fres. Current Science 50: 505–510.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kurkela T, (1994) Metsän taudit. Metsäpatologian perusteet. Tampere: Otatieto OY.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lall G, Kapoor JN, Munjal RL (1964) Some fern inhabiting Cercospora species from India. Indian Phytopathology 17: 181–183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maublanc A (1913a [“1912”]) Sobre uma molestia do mamoeiro (Carica papaya L.)/Sur une maladie des feuilles du papayer “Carica papaya”. Lavoura 16: 204–212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maublanc A (1913b) Sur une maladie des feuilles du papayer (Carica papaya). Bulletin Trimestriel de la Société Mycologique de France 29: 353–358.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meeboon J, Hidayat I, To-anun C (2007) An annotated list of cercosporoid fungi in Northern Thailand. Journal of Agricultural Technology 3: 51–63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mehrotra MD (1987) Pseudocercospora needle blight, a new disease of Pinus kesiya from India. Transactions of the British Mycological Society 88: 575–577.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mel’nik VA (2000) Opredelitel’ gribov Rossii. Klass Hyphomycetes Vol. 1. St.-Petersburg: Nauka.

  • Minnis AM, Kennedy AH, Grenier DB, Rehner SA, Bischoff JF (2011) Asperisporium and Pantospora (Mycosphaerellaceae): epitypifications and phylogenetic placement. Persoonia 27: 1–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Miura M (1928) Flora of Manchuria and East Mongolia. Vol. 3. Cryptogams, Fungi. Daliean: South Manchuria Railroad.

    Google Scholar 

  • Montenegro-Calderón JG, Martinez-Álvarez JA, Vieyra-Hernández MT, et al. (2011) Molecular identification of two strains of Cercospora rodmanii isolated from water hyacinth present in Yuriria lagoon, Guanajuato, Mexico and identification of new hosts for several other strains. Fungal Biology 115: 1151–1162.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan-Jones G (1971) Sciniatosporium Kalchbr, and its synonyms Marcosia Syd., Stigmina Sacc, Thyrostroma Höhn., and Thyrostromella Syd., non Höhn. Canadian Journal of Botany 49: 993–1009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Motohashi K, Araki I, Nakashima C (2008) Four new species of Phyllosticta, one new species of Pseudocercospora, and one new combination in Passalora from Japan. Mycoscience 49: 138–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Motohashi K, Kobayashi T, Furukawa T, Ono Y (2010) Notes on some plant-inhabiting fungi collected from the Nansei Islands (2). Mycoscience 51: 93–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mulder JL (1989) Stenella australiensis sp. nov. on Blechnum indicum. Mycological Research 92: 118–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mulder JL, Gibson IAS (1972) Cercospora pini-densiflorae. CMI Descriptions of Pathogenic Fungi and Bacteria 329: 1–2. Farnham Royal: Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mulder JL, Gibson IAS (1973) Cercospora sequoiae. CMI Descriptions of Pathogenic Fungi and Bacteria 366: 1–2. Farnham Royal: Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muntañola M (1960) Algunos hyphomycetes criticos. Lilloa 30:165–232.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muthappa BN (1968) Fungi of Coorg, India. I. Mycopathologia et Mycologia Applicata 34: 193–195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nakashima C, Akashi T, Takahashi Y Yamada T, Akiba M, Kobayashi T (2007) New species of the genus Scolecostigmina and revision of Cercospora cryptomeriicola on conifers. Mycoscience 48: 250–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nakashima C, Inabe S, Park J-Y, Ogawa Y (2006) Addition and re-examination of Japanese species belonging to the genus Cercospora and allied genera. IX. Newly recorded species from Japan (4). Mycoscience 47: 48–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nambu N (1917) Diseases of forest trees in nurseries. Journal of Plant Protection, Tokyo 4: 353–354.

    Google Scholar 

  • Norvell LL (2011) Fungal nomenclature. 1. Melbourne approves a new Code. Mycotaxon 116: 481–490.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Penzes A (1927) Cercospora Hungarica. Folia Cryptogamica 1: 288–336.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson GW (1977) Epidemiology and control of a blight of Juniperus virginiana caused by Cercospora sequoiae var. juniperi. Phytopathology 67: 234–238.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson GW, Wysong DS (1968) Cercospora blight of juniper: damage and control. Plant Disease Reporter 52: 361–362.

    Google Scholar 

  • Petrak F (1951) Über die Gattungen Chaetotrichum Syd. und Ragnhildiana Solh. Sydowia 5: 30–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phengsintham P, Braun U, McKenzie EHC, Chukeatirote E, Cai L, Hyde KD (2013a) Monograph of cercosporoid fungi from Thailand. Plant Pathology & Quarantine 3: 19–90.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phengsintham P, Chukeatirote E, Bahkali AH, Moslem MA, Hyde KD, Braun U (2010b) Cercospora and allied genera from Laos 3. Cryptogamie Mycologie 31: 305–322.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phengsintham P, Chukeatirote E, McKenzie EHC, Hyde KD, Braun U (2013b) Monograph of cercosporoid fungi from Laos. Current Reseach in Environmental & Applied Mycology 3: 34–158.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phengsintham P, Chukeatirote E, McKenzie EHC, Moslem MA, Hyde KD, Braun U (2010a) Two new species and a new record of cercosporoids from Thailand. Mycosphere 1: 205–212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pirozynski KA (1974) Meliolina mollis and two hyperparasites in India. Kavaka 2: 33–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pollack FG (1971) Cercospora uromycestri, hyperparasite of rust on Cestrum diurnum. Mycologia 63: 689–693

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pollack FG (1987) An annotated compilation of Cercospora names. Mycologia Memoirs 12: 1–212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pons N, Sutton BC (1988) Cercospora and similar fungi on yams (Dioscorea species). Mycological Papers 160: 1–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prasad SS, Verma RAB (1970) A new genus of Moniliales from India. Indian Phytopathology 23: 111–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pretorius MC, Crous PW, Groenewald JZ, Braun U (2003) Phylogeny of some cercosporoid fungi from Citrus. Sydowia 55: 286–305.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quaedvlieg W, Groenewald JZ, de Jesús Yáñez-Morales M, Crous PW (2012) DNA barcoding of Mycosphaerella species of quarantine importance to Europe. Persoonia 29: 101–115.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Raabe RD, Ibra L, Conners IL, Martinez AP (1981) Checklist of Plant Diseases in Hawaii. [Information Text Series no. 022.] Honolulu: Hawaii Institute of Agriculture and Human Resources, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ragunanthan V, Prasad NN, Purushothaman D (1970) A new species of Cercospora causing leaf-blight of Marsilea quadrifoliata. Current Science 39: 304–305.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rangel E (1917) Algunos fungos nobas do Brasil. Archivos do Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro 2: 69–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rao AV, Ramakrishnan K (1965) Prathigada ziziphi sp. nov. Current Science 34: 60–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rao PR, Manoharachary C, Ramarao P (1982) Eriocercospora websteri sp. nov. and related species. Current Science 51: 1155–1156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rao PR, Rao PR, Manoharachary C (1975) Notes on microfungi from Andhra Pradesh. III. A new species of Prathigada on Bauhinia. Nova Hedwigia 26: 437–440.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saccardo PA (1880) Conspectusgenerumfungorumltaliaeinferiorum, nempe as Sphaeropsideas, Melanconicas et Hyphomycetas pertinentium, systemate sporologico dispositorum. Michelia 2: 1–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saccardo PA (1892) Sylloge fungorum omnium hucusque cognitum, Vol. 10. Padova: P. A. Saccardo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saccardo PA (1902) Sylloge fungorum omnium hucusque cognitum, Vol. 16 [Saccardo PA, Sydow P, eds]. Padova: P.A. Saccardo

  • Saccardo PA (1906) Sylloge fungorum omnium hucusque cognitum, Vol. 18 (Supplementum universal, Pars VII) [Saccardo PA, Saccardo D, eds]. Padova: P. A. Saccardo.

  • Saccardo PA (1913) Sylloge fungorum omnium hucusque cognitum, Vol. 22 (Supplementum universal, Pars IX). Padova: P. A. Saccardo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saccardo PA (1931) Sylloge fungorum omnium hucusque cognitum, Vol. 25 (Trotter A, ed.). Avellino: sumptis coherendum Saccardo Typis Pergola.

  • Saccardo PA (1972) Sylloge fungorum omnium hucusque cognitum, Vol. 26 [Trotter A, ed., published by Cash K]. New York, London: Johnson.

  • Sarbajna KK (1990) New foliicolous hyphomycetes from India. Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 14: 487–492.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarbajna KK, Chattopadhayay BK (1990) Studies on “Cercospora- like fungi” from West Bengal. Journal of Mycopathological Research 28: 13–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sawada K (1958) Research on fungi in the Tohuku district of Japan (IV). Fungi Imperfecti. Bulletin of the Government Forest Experiment Station (Japan) 105: 35–140.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seifert K, Morgan-Jones G, Gams W, Kendrick B (2011 ) The Genera of Hyphomycetes. [CBS Biodiversity Series no. 9.] Utrecht: CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaw DE, Alcorn JL (1993) New name for Verrucispora and its species. Australian Systematic Botany 6: 273–276.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shin HD, Kim JD (2001) Cercospora and allied genera from Korea. Plant Pathogens of Korea 7: 1–303.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shivas RG, Young AJ, Braun U (2009) Zasmidium macluricola. Fungal Planet 39. Persoonia 23: 190–191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shivas RG, Young AJ, McNeil BC (2010) Pseudocercospora microsori. Fungal Planet 68. Persoonia 25: 156–157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shukla DN, Singh AK, Kumar P, Kamal (1982) Fungi of Gorakhpur- XIV Indian Phytopathology 35: 86–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Solheim H (2013) Passalora juniperina comb. nov. - new in Norway or just overlooked? Agarica 33: 73–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Solheim WG (1930) Morphological studies of the genus Cercospora. Illinois Biological Monographs 12(1): 1–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spegazzini C (1910) Mycetes Argentinenses, Ser. V. Anales del Museo Nacional de Buenos Aires, Ser. 3, 20: 329–467.

    Google Scholar 

  • Srivastava RK, Srivastava AK, Kamal (1995) [“1992-1993”] - An appraisal of Indian species of Cercospora Fres. sensu stricto: some new species and new records. Kavaka 20/21: 37–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart EL, Liu Z, Crous PW, Szabo L (1999) Phylogenetic relationships among some cercosporoid anamorphs of Mycosphaerella based on rDNA sequence analysis. Mycological Research 103: 1491–1499.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Subramanian CV (1953) Fungi Imperfecti from Madras-II. Proceedings, Indian Academy of Sciences, Section B, Biological Sciences 36: 160–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sutton BC (1971) Sciniatosporium. Transactions of the British Mycological Society 58: 164–167.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sutton BC (1975) Coelomycetes V. Coryneum. Mycological Papers 138: 1–224.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sutton BC (1994) IMI Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria, Set 119, Nos 1181–1190. Mycopathologia 125: 43–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sutton BC, Hodges CH (1990) Revision of Cercospora-like fungi on Juniperus and allied conifers. Mycologia 82: 313–325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sutton BC, Shamoun SF, Crous PW (1996) Two leaf pathogens of Ribes spp. in North America, Quasiphloeospora saximontanensis (Deighton) comb. nov. and Phloeosporella ribis (J.J. Davis) comb. nov. Mycological Research 100: 979–983.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suto Y (1979) Pathogenicity of Cercospora pini-densiflorae Hori et Nambu to various coniferous seedlings. Journal of the Japanese Forest Society 61 (5): 180–183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sydow H (1930) Fungi venezuelani. Annales Mycologici 28: 29–224.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor JE, Groenewald JZ, Crous PW (2003) Aphylogenetic analysis of Mycosphaerellaceae leaf spot pathogens of Proteaceae. Mycological Research 107: 653–658.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tessmann DJ, Charudattan R, Kistler HC, Rosskopf EN (2001) A molecular characterization of Cercospora species pathogenic to water hyacinth and emendation of P. piaropi. Mycologia 93: 323–334.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thaung MM (1984) Some fungi of Cercospora from Burma. Mycotaxon 19: 425–452.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomma BPHJ, van Esse HP, Crous PW, de Wit PJGM (2005) Cladosporium fulvum (syn. Passalora fulva), a highly specialized plant pathogen as a model for functional studies on plant pathogenic Mycosphaerellaceae. Molecular Plant Pathology 6: 379–393.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • To-anun C, Hidayat I, Meeboon J (2011) Genus Cercospora in Thailand: taxonomy and phylogeny (with a dichotomous key to species). Plant Pathology & Quarantine 1: 11–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Urtiaga R (1986) Indice de Enfermedades en Plantas de Venezuela y Cuba. Barquisimeto: Published by the author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vassiljevsky NI, Karakulin BP (1937) Parazitnye Nesovershennye Griby. Vol. 1. Gifomicety Moskva, Leningrad: Izdatel’stvo Akademii Nauk SSSR.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vasudeva RS (1963) Indian Cercosporae. New Dehli: Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • Verkley GJM, Crous PW, Groenewald JZ, Braun U, Aptroot A (2004) Mycosphaerella punctiformis revisited: morphology, phylogeny, and epitypification of the type species of the genus Mycosphaerella (Dothideales, Ascomycota). Mycological Research 108: 1271–1282.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Viégas AP (1945) Alguns fungos do Brasil, Cercosporae. Boletim da Sociedade Brasileira de Agronomia 8: 1–160.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yen JM (1974) Les Cercospora du Gabon. - IV. Bulletin Trimestriel de la Société Mycologique de France 90: 41–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yen JM, Lim G (1980) Cercospora and allied genera of Singapore and the Malay Peninsula. Gardens’ Bulletin, Singapore 33: 151–263.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhuang WY (2001) Higher Fungi of Tropical China. Ithaca: Mycotaxon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhuang WY (2005) Fungi of Northwestern China. Ithaca: Mycotaxon.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to the directors and curators of BPI, CUM, CUP, HMAS, IUM, K, PC, TFM, and TNS for loaning type material and other collections in their keeping during the course of monographic studies of cercosporoids fungi on other fungi, gymnosperms and ferns.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Uwe Braun.

Additional information

*In meomoriam Charles D. Chupp (1886–1967), the author of the first monograph of Cercospora.

Rights and permissions

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Braun, U., Nakashima, C. & Crous, P.W. Cercosporoid fungi (Mycosphaerellaceae) 1. Species on other fungi, Pteridophyta and Gymnospermae. IMA Fungus 4, 265–345 (2013). https://doi.org/10.5598/imafungus.2013.04.02.12

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.5598/imafungus.2013.04.02.12

Key words