A new species of Pseudorobillarda, an endophyte from Thuja occidentalis in Canada, and a key to the species

Abstract

Pseudorobillarda monica sp. nov. is described and illustrated. The endophyte was isolated from living leaves and bark of twigs of a Thuja occidentalis bonsai (>90 years old) at the Montréal Botanical Garden and ornamental trees in Montréal urban plantations. This pycnidial fungus is typical of the genus in morphology but clearly differs from other species in Pseudorobillarda by the distinct size of the conidiomata and the shape and size of conidia and paraphyses. Its taxonomic placement is discussed and a key to the species of Pseudorobillarda is provided.

• coelomycetes
• endophyte
• new species
• systematics

This research was supported financially by the NSERC and the VRQ—Plant Productivity Research Network (Quebec Environmental Diagnostic Research Centre). Thanks also are due to S. Hay and Herbier Marie-Victorin (MT) of the Université de Montréal for consultation on the English text.