Nematococcomyces rhododendri, a new species in a new genus of the Rhytismatales from China

Abstract

A fungus belonging to the Rhytismatales found on twigs of Rhododendron lutescens in Yunnan, southwestern China, is described as a new species in a new genus. It is characterized by Coccomyces-like ascomata but differs in having elliptical ascospores with filiform, hyaline appendages. The ascospores of this new taxon are somewhat similar to those of species of Parvacoccum, but the latter has symmetrical, fusiform ascospores with funnel-shaped appendages. The new genus also is distinct from Hypoderma, Hypodermella, Myriophacidium, Ploioderma, Neococcomyces and Therrya.

• Discomycetes
• plant pathogen
• Rhododendron
• Rhytismataceae

We are grateful to Z.-L. Yang (Kunming Institute of Botany, Academia Sinica, P.R. China) who organized the expedition and to R. Kirschner (Botanisches Institute J.W. Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt, Germany) as well as Mary Palm-Hernández (USDA/APHIS, Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory, USA) for reviewing the manuscript. The study was supported by the BMBF (biolog).