Abstract:
The type species of the genus Tiarosporella, T. paludosa, is epitypified and confirmed
as a member of the Botryosphaeriaceae. Based on morphology and DNA sequence
data of the large subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (LSU, 28S) and the internal
transcribed spacers (ITS) and 5.8S rRNA gene of the nrDNA operon, the genus
Tiarosporella is shown to be poly- and paraphyletic. A group of isolates
morphologically similar to T. paludosa cluster to the Phacidiaceae (Phacidiales,
Leotiomycetes) and we accommodated them in Darkera, a genus associated with
needle diseases of conifers, with D. picea introduced as a novel taxon. This new taxon
includes isolates occurring on needles of Picea spp. in Europe (Finland, Norway and
Switzerland) and differs from D. parca according to a five-locus alignment consisting
of ITS, LSU, partial 18S nuclear ribosomal RNA, translation elongation factor 1-
alpha and beta-tubulin genes. Four novel genera are introduced for tiarosporella-like
fungi, namely Eutiarosporella based on E. tritici on Triticum aestivum from South
Africa, Marasasiomyces based on M. karoo on Eriocephalus sp. from South Africa,
Mucoharknessia based on M. cortaderiae on Cortaderia selloana from Argentina, and
Sakireeta based on S. madreeya on Aristida setacea from India. Together with the
genus Botryobambusa, these genera represent a subclade in the Botryosphaeriaceae
that is ecologically diverse, occurring on Poaceae, as well as woody hosts, including
endophytes, saprobes, and plant pathogens.
