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Title: NEONECTIA AND CYLINDROCARPON, THE `NECTRIA MAMMOIDEA¿ GROUP AND SPECIES LACKING MICROCONIDIA

Author
item Samuels, Gary
item MANTIRI, FEJY - BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA
item BRAYFORD, DAVID - CABI, UNITED KINGDOM
item HONDA, BARRY - BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

Submitted to: Mycologia
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/14/2003
Publication Date: 6/4/2004
Citation: Samuels, G.J., Mantiri, F.R., Brayford, D., Honda, B. 2004 Neonectia and cylindrocarpon, the `nectria mammoidea¿ group and species lacking microconidia. Mycologia. 96(3:572-597.

Interpretive Summary: The identification and classification of plant pathogenic fungi remain difficult despite considerable progress. This is particularly true for members of the complex genus Cylindrocarpon and its sexual state, Neonectria. These fungi include species that cause diseases of fruit and forest woody plants. This paper presents a monographic account of one section within the Neonectria-Cylindrocarpon complex. Nine species are included of which one is new to science. Because the sexual and asexual states are often encountered separately, each species is described and illustrated in both states. Molecular data are presented to suggest that most of this group are monophyletic although one species falls outside of the group. A key for the identification of each species as both Neonectria and Cylindrocarpon is presented. This research will be used to by plant pathologists and extension agents to identify, characterize, and control this fungus as well as by plant quarantine officials who work to prevent the introduction of these exotic fungi into the United States.

Technical Abstract: Neonectria species that have Cylindrocarpon anamorphs lacking microconidia and chlamydospores include: Neo. discophora var. discophora, Neo. discophora var. rubi stat nov. et comb. nov., Neo. lucida comb. nov., Neo. viridispora sp. nov. and Neo. westlandica comb. nov. Perithecia of these species are red and perithecial anatomy is of the 'mammoidea' type, with a palisade of hyphal elements in the outer perithecial wall that are typically perpendicular to the surface of the perithecium. These species occur on recently dead or dying trees. Perithecia of Neo. betulae sp. nov and Neo. dumontii sp. nov. are anatomically and biologically similar to those of Neo. discophora. Sequences of the small subunit mitochondrial DNA indicate that Neonectria/ Cylindrocarpon is monophyletic. Within the genus, species having `mammoidea¿ type perithecia are paraphyletic. Most species cluster with Neo. discophora but Neo. westlandica and Neo. trachosa are basal to a clade that includes species that do not have a `mammoidea¿ type perithecium. Nectria fuckeliana clusters independently of Neonectria and Nectria. A key to nectriaceous species that typically have Cylindrocarpon anamorphs that lack microconidia and chlamydospores and/or that have a `mammoidea¿ type perithecial wall anatomy is presented. New combinations are proposed for other species formerly included in Nectria that have non microconidial Cylindrocarpon anamorphs: Neonectria cinnamomea, Neo. jungneri, Neo. platycephala, Neo. phaeodisca and Neo. verrucospora.