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Abstract
A new lineage is discovered within the Botryosphaeriaceae (Ascomycetes, Dothideomycetes, incertae sedis). Consistent with current practice of providing generic names for independent lineages, this lineage is described as Endomelanconiopsis gen. nov., with the anamorphic species E. endophytica sp. nov. and E. microspora comb. nov. (= Endomelanconium microsporum). Endomelanconiopsis is characterized by eustromatic conidiomata and holoblastically produced, brown, nonapiculate, unicellular conidia, each with a longitudinal germ slit. Phylogenetic analysis of partial sequences of LSU, ITS and translation elongation factor 1 alpha (tef1) indicate that E. endophytica is sister of E. microspora and that they are nested within the Botryosphaeriaceae. However because there is no support for the “backbone” of the Botryosphaeriacae we are not able to see the interrelationships among the many genera in the family. Neither species is known to have a teleomorph. Endomelanconiopsis differs from Endomelanconium because conidia of the type species of Endomelanconium, E. pini, are papillate at the base, conidiogenous cells proliferate sympodially and the pycnidial wall is thinner; we postulate that the teleomorph of E. pini as yet unknown is an inoperculate discomycete. Endomelanconiopsis endophytica was isolated as an endophyte from healthy leaves of Theobroma cacao (cacao, Malvaceae) and Heisteria concinna (Erythroplaceae) in Panama. Endomelanconiopsis microspora was isolated from soil in Europe.
The authors thank Amy Rossman for comments on this manuscript; Adnan Ismaiel (BPI) for valuable advice during the sequencing phase of this project; Zuleyka Maynard, Luis Ramirez and Terri Shirshac for help with the culture collection; and USDA-ARS-SMML and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute for research infrastructure and logistical support. Walter Gams and Orlando Petrini corrected the Latin diagnoses. Financial support was provided by World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), the John Clapperton Fellowship of Mars Inc., the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. ER was the recipient of a Norman E. Borlaug Fellowship in support of this work.
