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Title: Occultocarpon, a new monotypic genus of Gnomoniaceae on Alnus nepalensis from China

Author
item MEJIA, L.C. - Rutgers University
item Rossman, Amy
item Castlebury, Lisa
item YANG, Z.L. - Chinese Academy Of Sciences
item WHITE, J.F. - Rutgers University

Submitted to: Fungal Diversity
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/22/2011
Publication Date: 1/3/2012
Citation: Mejia, L.C., Rossman, A.Y., Castlebury, L.A., Yang, Z.L., White, J. 2012. Occultocarpon, a new monotypic genus of Gnomoniaceae on Alnus nepalensis from China. Fungal Diversity. 52:99-105.

Interpretive Summary: Fungi are a group of organisms that cause billions of dollars damage each year to agricultural and forest resources in the United States. One group of fungi includes the species that caused chestnut blight in the eastern United States killing all of the chestnut trees. Many additional species that cause disease of forest trees and crop plants belong to the same group. This research describes and illustrates a newly discovered fungal genus and species on alder in Yunnan, China. Although this fungus does not cause a serious disease in its native region, it is important to know that the species exists because in another habitat, it may cause disease. This paper will be used by forest pathologists and plant quarantine officials to identify this fungus that occurs on hardwood trees.

Technical Abstract: A new monotypic genus Occultocarpon and its species, O. ailaoshanense, was discovered on the bark of branches of Alnus nepalensis (Betulaceae) in Yunnan, China. A phylogeny based on three genes (LSU, rpb2, tef1-a) reveals that O. ailaoshanense belongs to the Gnomoniaceae (Diaporthales, Ascomycetes) and forms a distinct branch distinct from the currently known genera. Occultocarpon ailaoshanense is characterized by perithecia with thin, central to eccentric necks in groups embedded in a stroma, and oblong elliptical-elongated, one-septate ascospores. This new genus is described, illustrated and distinguished from all of other genera in the Gnomoniaceae.