Abstract:
Species belonging to the Coryneliaceae and parasitizing Podocarpaceae hosts were collected from
different locations in South Africa and studied morphologically by light microscopy and molecularly by obtaining
partial nrDNA (ITS-1/5.8S/ITS-2, 18S and 28S) gene sequences. The position of the Coryneliaceae within the
Eurotiomycetidae was not confirmed and a new subclass, Coryneliomycetidae, was introduced. While Eurotiomycetidae
usually form cleistothecia/gymnothecia with evanescent, unitunicate asci, and Chaetothyriomycetidae mostly
perithecia with bitunicate/fissitunicate to evanescent asci, Coryneliomycetidae form pseudothecial mazaedial ascomata,
initially with double-walled asci with the outer layer deliquescing, resulting in passive ascospore release. The
Coryneliomycetidae thus occupies a unique position in the Eurotiomycetes. Furthermore, epitypes were designated
for Corynelia uberata, the type species of Corynelia (type genus of the family, order and subclass), Lagenulopsis
bispora, the type species of Lagenulopsis, and Tripospora tripos the type species of Tripospora, with Lagenulopsis
and Tripospora confirmed as belonging to the Coryneliaceae. Corynelia uberata resolved into three clades, one on
Afrocarpus (= Podocarpus) falcatus and A. gracilior, and two clades occurring on P. latifolius, herein described as
C. africana and C. fructigena. Morphologically these three species are not readily distinguishable, although they
differ in spore dimensions, ascomata shape, ornamentation and DNA phylogeny. It is likely that several more species
from other parts of the world are currently erroneously placed in C. uberata.
