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Title: Phylogenetic placement and taxonomic review of the genus Cryptosporella and its synonyms Ophiovalsa and Winterella (Gnomoniaceae, Diaporthales).

Author
item MEJIA, LUIS - RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, NJ
item Castlebury, Lisa
item Rossman, Amy
item SOGONOV, MIKHAIL - RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, NJ
item WHITE, JAMES - RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, NJ

Submitted to: Mycological Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/18/2007
Publication Date: 2/25/2008
Citation: Mejia, L.C., Castlebury, L.A., Rossman, A.Y., Sogonov, M.V., White, J.F. 2008. Phylogenetic placement and taxonomic review of the genus Cryptosporella and its synonyms Ophiovalsa and Winterella (Gnomoniaceae, Diaporthales). Mycological Research. 112:23-35.

Interpretive Summary: Each year fungi cause billions of dollars damage to agricultural, forestry and natural resources in the United States. One group includes the fungus that caused chestnut blight in the eastern United States. Many additional fungi that cause diseases of plants belong to the same group. This paper presents an account of a group of fungi that live on hardwood trees. Based on molecular research and morphological characterization, a group of species in two different genera was determined to be closely related and all belonging to the same genus. The most important species are described and illustrated and a key for identifying all species in this genus is provided. This paper will be used by forest pathologists to determine the tree diseases caused by these fungi.

Technical Abstract: The type species Cryptosporella hypodermia Sacc. and Ophiovalsa suffusa (Tul. & C. Tul.) and closely related species were studied at the morphological, cultural, and DNA sequence level. DNA sequence data from three different loci (ITS, LSU and RPB2) consistently show that C. hypodermia and O. suffusa are congeneric within the Gnomoniaceae (Diaporthales). This result is supported by similarities in perithecial morphology and lifestyles characterized as initially endophytic and becoming saprobic as plant tissue dies from other causes. Furthermore both type species produce Disculina anamorphs. A review of the literature indicates that the generic name Cryptosporella has priority over Ophiovalsa Petrak and its synonym Winterella (Sacc.) O. Kuntze sensu Reid and Booth (1987), thus a redescription of the genus Cryptosporella is presented to accommodate species which fall within this clade. Nine species of Cryptosporella are accepted and eight new combinations are presented: C. alnicola comb. nov., C. betulae comb. nov., C. confusa comb. nov., C. hypodermia, C. corylina comb. nov. C. femoralis comb. nov., C. tiliae comb. nov., C. suffusa comb. nov., and C. wehmeyeriana comb. nov.