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Title: Phylogeny and taxonomic revision of the Planistromellaceae including its coelomycetous anamorphs: contributions towards a monograph of the genus Kellermania

Author
item MINNIS, ANDREW - Forest Service (FS)
item KENNEDY, AARON - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
item GRENIER, DANIEL - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
item PALM, MARY - Animal And Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
item Rossman, Amy

Submitted to: Persoonia: Molecular Phylogeny and Evolution of Fungi
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/6/2012
Publication Date: 10/25/2012
Citation: Minnis, A.M., Kennedy, A.H., Grenier, D.B., Palm, M.E., Rossman, A.Y. 2012. Phylogeny and taxonomic revision of the Planistromellaceae including its coelomycetous anamorphs: contributions towards a monograph of the genus Kellermania. Studies in Mycology. 29:11-28.

Interpretive Summary: Fungi cause serious diseases of agricultural crop plants, forest trees, and other natural resources. One group of fungi occurs on plants in the Asparagaceae including Agave and Yucca common in the desert regions of the southwestern United States. Traditionally these fungi have been placed in five different genera distinguished on the basis of characteristics of the spores. Despite these differences the fungi appeared to be closely related. Using molecular sequence data it was determined that all five genera should be considered only one genus within a family that includes a number of important plant pathogenic fungi. During this study two new species were discovered. All species placed in the one genus are described and illustrated with a key for their identification provided. This research will be used by plant pathologists and natural resources managers as well as plant quarantine officials to accurately identify these fungal pathogens.

Technical Abstract: The core species of the family Planistromellaceae are included in the teleomorphic genera Planistroma and Planistromella and their anamorphic, coelomycetous genera Alpakesa, Kellermania, and Piptarthron. These genera have been defined primarily on the basis of ascospore septation or number of conidial appendages. Without DNA sequence data phylogenetic placement of these genera within the Dothideomycetes has not been possible nor could monophyly or questions about generic boundaries be addressed. Using cultures that represent nearly all of the known species of these genera, DNA sequence data were generated from the nSSU, ITS, nLSU, and RPB1 markers and analyzed phylogenetically. These results placed the Planistromellaceae in an unresolved position relative to other basal genera within the family Botryosphaeriaceae, rendering it a later familial synonym. The species form a single clade with a topology that does not agree with the previously classification of these genera. Alpakesa, Kellermania, Piptarthron, Planistroma, and Planistromella are herein recognized as belonging to the single genus Kellermania. The following new combinations are proposed: K. crassispora, K. dasylirionis, K. macrospora, K. plurilocularis, and K. unilocularis, and five new species are described including K. confusa, K. dasylirionicola, K. micranthae, K. ramaleyae, and K. rostratae. Cultural studies and a key to the species known from culture are provided. Host was observed to be an important indicator of the phylogeny of these fungi.