Addition of three new lineages in Mycosphaerellaceae: Neoacervuloseptoria gen. nov., Neocercosporella gen. nov. and Neoramulariopsis gen. nov.

Abstract

A colourless hyphomycetous fungus was found on living leaves of Peristrophe bicalyculata in India. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of several loci (LSU-RPB2-ITS) indicated a relationship with cercosporoid fungi (Mycosphaerellaceae). Since there is no other known lineage with similar morphology or DNA sequences, the new genus Neocercosporella is proposed with N. peristrophes comb. nov., based on Cercosporella peristrophes as type species. Pseudocercosporella andrographidis is recognized as new synonym. Similar ultrastructure of conidiogenous loci and hila confirm that N. peristrophes and P. andrographidis are conspecific. The conidiogenous loci are conical and have a small rim-like depression on the top encircling a small flat protuberant structure, which differs from other closely related members of the ramularioid complex. Neocercosporella and Cercosporella s. str. are paraphyletic as are several other genera in the Mycosphaerellaceae. Accordingly, we propose three new genera and four new combinations. The new genera are Neoacervuloseptoria gen. nov., Neocercosporella gen. nov. and Neoramulariopsis gen. nov. The new combinations are Neoacervuloseptoria fraxini comb. nov., Neocercosporella peristrophes comb. nov., Neoramulariopsis catenulata comb. nov. and Neoramulariopsis unguis-cati comb. nov. © 2023, German Mycological Society and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.