Studies in Mycology No. 44

Abstract:The genus Pezicula is monographed on a world scale. The holomorphs are described and illustrated in vivo and, whenever possible, also in vitro on three culture media. Twenty-six species are accepted in Pezicula, including three newly described taxa, viz. P. sporulosa, P. heterochroma, and P. frangulae subsp. americana. Dermatea puberula E. J. Durand is transferred to Pezicula. Twenty species have known Cryptosporiopsis anamorphs, 12 of which are formally named. The genus Neofabraea is accepted with four species, including N. malicorticis and N. perennans, and the newly combined species N. alba (anamorph Phlyctema vagabunda) and N. krawtzewii (syn. N. populi). Seven additional species of Cryptosporiopsis with unknown teleomorph are accepted.



Ninety strains belonging to 21 taxa of the genera under consideration are characterized by RFLP patterns of the small subunit (primer pair NS1/NS24) and the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS1/ITS4) of the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene cluster using six restriction enzymes. These patterns support the taxa distinguished morphologically.



Separate keys are provided for the morphological identification of the teleomorphs and anamorphs in vivo. An additional key based on cultural features is provided for taxa that could be studied sufficiently in culture. The new generic names Scleropezicula and Cryptosympodula are proposed for the teleomorph and anamorph respectively of Pezicula alnicola Groves. For a number of names combined in Pezicula, the following new combinations became necessary: Ploettnera conglomerata (P. Crouan & H. Crouan) Verkley, Calycina dennisii (D. Hawksw.) Verkley, Sageria purpurascens (Ellis & Everh.) Verkley, Mycosphaerangium tetrasporum (Ellis) Verkley, Mycosphaerangium magnisporum (E. K. Cash) Verkley, and Mycosphaerangium tiliae (Seaver) Verkley. Seventy-six excluded or insufficiently known taxa with names in Pezicula, Ocellaria, and some in Dermatea, are discussed.