A monograph of Bionectria (Ascomycota, Hypocreales, Bionectriaceae) and its Clonostachys anamorphs

Author(s): Hans-Josef Schroers
Details: 214pp., fully illustrated with colour pictures (A4 format), paperback, 2001
ISBN:90-70351-44-7

Species of the genus Bionectria (Hypocreales, Bionectriaceae) with anamorphs in Clonostachys are reviewed. Bionectria is distinct from other genera of the Bionectriaceae in overall shape and septation of the ascospores, ascus morphology, life-style, and, particularly, in characters of the anamorph. Several other characters of the ascomata differ from those of other genera of the Bionectriaceae as well but are heterogeneous within Bionectria. Its understanding necessitates emphasis on character patterns rather than single features, because certain characters may overlap with those of other nectrioid taxa. Bionectria forms a monophyletic clade based on analyses of the partial large subunit of the ribosomal DNA (LSU rDNA). Besides other life-styles, species of Bionectria include destructive mycoparasites, of which some are used as biocontrol agents of fungal plant pathogens. The teleomorphs of Bionectria are classified in the six newly distinguished subgenera Bionectria, Zebrinella, Astromata, Myronectria, Epiphloea, and Uniparietina, based on stroma morphology, stroma°perithecium wall interface, perithecial wall anatomy, habit of the perithecia on the natural substratum, as well as ascospore ornamentation and septation. Not all of the morphologically delimited subgenera are monophyletic but paraphyletic based on sequences of the internal transcribed spacer regions of the rDNA (ITS rDNA) and a part of the β-tubulin gene (tub2). The anamorphs of Bionectria are classified in Clonostachys. After reinterpretation of certain characters, emphasis on character patterns, consideration of transition series of particular character states, and consideration of their appearance both on the natural substratum and in pure culture, Clonostachys is broadly delimited, including anamorphs formerly classified in Verticillium, Gliocladium, Acrostalagmus, Sesquicillium, Spicaria, Dendrodochium, Clonostachyopsis, Verticilliodochium, Gliocladochium, or as Myrothecium sp. Phenotypic characters of the anamorph such as penicillate conidiophores, imbricate conidia held in columns, and mostly somewhat curved conidia with mostly laterally displaced hila unite all taxa of Bionectria and are rare or not formed in other genera of the Bionectriaceae. Conidiomata, intercalary phialides, as well as conidiophore dimorphism, and the pigmentation of conidial masses are variable within Bionectria or subgenus specific to a certain extent. In Bionectria / Clonostachys 44 holomorphic or anamorphic species are distinguished based on morphological discontinuities. Based on inferences from the ITS rDNA and the tub2 most of the species form monophyletic units. In few cases paraphyletic clades were accepted for the species level. In two species, C. rosea and C. solani, infraspecific forms are proposed to segregate strains with either white to pale orange or green conidial masses. The following taxa are accepted, newly combined (bold letters, comb. nov.), or newly described (bold letters, sp. nov. or stat. nov.): Subgenus BIONECTRIA: B. apocyni/C. macro°spora comb. nov. ° B. aureofulvella sp. nov./C. aureofulvella stat. nov. ° B. byssicola/C. byssicola stat. nov. ° B. capitata sp. nov./C. capitata stat. nov. ° B. compactiuscula sp. nov./C. compactiuscula ° B. kowhaii comb. nov./C. kowhaii stat. nov. ° B. oblongispora sp. nov./C. oblongispora stat. nov. ° B. ochroleuca/C. rosea ° C. rosea f. catenulata stat. nov. ° B. zelandiaenovae sp. nov./C. zelandiaenovae stat. nov. ° B. pseudochroleuca sp. nov./C. pseudochroleuca stat. nov. ° B. pseudostriata sp. nov./C. pseudostriata stat. nov. ° B. ralfsii comb. nov./C. ralfsii stat. nov. ° B. samuelsii sp. nov./C. samuelsii stat. nov. ° B. solani comb. nov./C. solani comb. nov. ° C. solani f. nigrovirens stat. nov. ° B. sporodochialis sp. nov./C. sporodochialis stat. nov. ° B. tonduzii/C. ?macrospora ° B. verrucispora sp. nov./C. verrucispora stat. nov. ° C. agrawalii comb. nov. ° C. divergens sp. nov. ° C. rhizophaga sp. nov. ° C. rogersoniana sp. nov. ° Subgenus Zebrinella: B. grammicospora comb. nov./C. grammicospora stat. nov. ° B. grammicosporopsis comb. nov./C. grammicosporopsis stat. nov. ° B. levigata sp. nov./C. levigata stat. nov. ° B. lucifer comb. nov./C. lucifer stat. nov. ° B. subquaternata comb. nov./C. subquaternata stat. nov. ° C. chlorina sp. nov. ° C. intermedia sp. nov. ° Subgenus Astromata: B. epichlo¬ comb. nov./C. epichlo¬ stat. nov. ° >B. parva sp. nov./?C. miodochialis ° C. miodochialis sp. nov. ° Subgenus Myronectria: B. pityrodes comb. nov./C. pityrodes stat. nov. ° Subgenus Epiphloea: B. gibberosa sp. nov./C. cf. setosa ° B. impariphialis comb. nov./C. impariphialis comb. nov. ° B. lasiacidis comb. nov./C. lasiacidis stat. nov. ° B. parviphialis comb. nov./C. pseudosetosa comb. nov. ° B. rossmaniae sp. nov./C. rossmaniae stat. nov. ° B. sesquicillii comb. nov./C. sesquicillii stat. nov. ° B. setosa sp. nov./C. setosa comb. nov. ° B. tornata comb. nov./C. asymmetrica comb. nov. ° C. candelabrum comb. nov. ° C. phyllophila sp. nov. ° Subgenus Uni°parietina: B. aurantia ° B. coronata comb. nov./C. buxi comb. nov.

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