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Gadgil, P.D.; Dick, M.A. 2000: Fungi silvicolae novazelandiae: 2. New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science 29: 440-458.

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Gadgil, P.D.; Dick, M.A. 2000: Fungi silvicolae novazelandiae: 2. New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science 29: 440-458.
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Specimen examined: on living leaves of Corokia cotoneaster Raoul, Pouakani North, Kinleith Forest (TO), 24.vii.1984, R.M.J.MacKenzie, NZFRI-M 3212.
Perithecia hypophyllous, solitary, club-shaped with a conical tip, narrowed below to a short cylindrical stalk with its base immersed in the leaf epidermis; opening by an apical pore; dark brown but getting paler towards the base and towards the apex which is almost hyaline; 0.6-1.2 mm tall, 0.5 mm wide at the widest part, stalk 0.15 mm wide. Outer layer of perithecial wall formed of brown, polygonal cells 3-4 µm wide. Asci fasciculate, narrowly cylindrical, apex rounded, 170-250 x 3-1 µm. Ascospores filiform, hyaline, 0-septate, 170-200 µm x 0.5 µm.
New Zealand distribution: Taupo (1).
Comparison of this Acrospermum sp. with other species of Acrospermum with clavate ascocarps shows it to be close to A. viticola Ikata (Table 4 [not provided here]). Unfortunately, the conidial stage, which would have helped in the identification, could not be produced in culture.
Apothecia black, cup-shaped, finally patelliform, sessile but narrowed at the base, gregarious, seldom solitary, circular in outline, glabrous, 300-500 µm in diameter. Excipulum pseudoparenchymatous, composed of dark brown cuboid, thin-walled cells arranged in irregularly radiating rows. Inner wall of apothecium of brown to hyaline parallel hyphae. Asci not numerous, clavate, 50-65 x 8-12 µm. Ascospores uniseriate, ellipsoid, hyaline, finally pale brown, 0-septate, straight, 15-18 x 6-8 µm. Paraphyses numerous, filiform, joined together at the base but divergent later, dark brown, apices sub-globose; the apices of the paraphyses join together to form an epithecium.
Apothecia atra, cupulata denique patelliformia, sessilia, ad basim constricta, gregaria interdum solitaria, ambitus orbicularia, glabra, 300-500 µm diametera. Discus planus vel concavus. Excipulum pseudoparenchymaticum, ex cellulis atrobrunneis, muris tenuibus, cubicis, in series irregulariter distincte radiantes compositum. Paries interiorem apothecii ex hyphis brunneis vel hyalinis parallele compositus. Asci subnumerosi, clavati, 50-65 x 8-12 µm. Ascosporae monoseriatae, ellipsoidae, hyalinae, denique pallide brunnae, 0-septatae, rectae, 15-18 x 6-8 µm. Paraphyses numerosae, filiformes, plerumque complures conglutinatae, sursum divergentes atrobrunnae, ad apicem subglobosae. Epithecium ex apicibus paraphysibus conglutinatis compositum.

Only two other species of Cashiella have been described. The main morphological characters of these and the new species are given in Table 5.

This fungus was found in a patch of about 1 ha where dieback of S. cunninghamii was occurring. It is unlikely that C. sticheri was responsible for the condition as it was not consistently associated with plants suffering from dieback.

Habitat in pinnulis vivis Sticheri cunninghamii (Heward) Ching, Big Huia Ridge, Orongorongo Forest (WN), 18.iii.1999, R.Blake & B.Rogan, NZFRI-M 3964 holotypus.
Mycelium in wood composed of brown, septate, irregularly branched, 5-7 µm wide hyphae. Colonies on malt agar at first pale grey, later becoming dark grey. Vegetative hyphae hyaline in young cultures (1-2 days old), pale brown in older cultures; 3-6 µm wide, septate, walls smooth. Phialophores arising from the vegetative hyphae, solitary and scattered or several arising close together, erect, numerous, wall brown, smooth, 3-5 septate in the basal part, 30-70 µm long (rarely up to 105 µm), 8-10 µm wide at the base tapering slightly to an apex 5-8 µm wide, bearing a phialide. Phialides 65-85 µm long, smooth, brown, basal section (venter) obclavate, 5-15 µm x 6-10 µm tapering gradually into an apical tube (collarette) 50-70 µm long and 3-4 µm wide at the tip; ratio of mean length of collarette to venter 6:1. Phialoconidia 0-septate, hyaline, smooth, cylindrical, with slightly rounded ends, without any vacuoles, 7-15 x 3-4 µm.
New Zealand distribution: Chatham Islands (1).
Mycelium in ligno ex hyphis brunneis, septatis, 5-7 µm crassis, irregulariter ramosis compositum. Coloniae in agaro maltoso primum pallide grisae, demum atrogrisae, post sporulationem aspectu pulverulento. Hyphae vegetativae hylinae in culturis juvenibus (1-2 dies), pallide brunnae in culturis vetioribus; 3-6 µm latee, septatae, paries hypharum levis. Phialophora ex hyphis vegetativis enascentibus, solitaria vel aggregata, erecta, numerosa, brunnea, levia, septata cum 4-6 cellis, 30-70 µm longa (raro ad 105 µm), ad basim 8-10 µm lata, gradatim protracta ad apicem 5-8 µm latum, phialis terminalis ferentia. Phialides 65-85 µm longae, leves, brunnae, apicem versus pallide brunnae; venter obclavatum, 5-15 x 6-10 µm, gradatim decrescens in collum 50-70 µm longis, ad apicem 3-4 µm latis; ratio longitudinis colli et ventri 6:1. Phialoconidia unicellula, hyalina, levia, cylindracea, cum extremis subtiliter rotundatis, sine vacuolis, 7-15 x 3-4 µm.

(The specific epithet is derived from the generic name of the host plant).

Chalara myrsines is distinct from all Chalara species described in the monograph by Nag Rai & Kendrick (1975), those noted by Morgan-Jones & Ingram (1976), Kile & Walker (1987), Kowalski & Halmschlagcr (1996), and from the two species described from the Chatham Islands (C. dracophylli and C. distans) by McKenzie (1993). It is close to Chalara australis Walker & Kile and C. neocaledoniae Kiffer & Delon but differs from both in conidial size and particularly in the collarette:venter ratio (see Table 3 for a comparison [not provided here]).

Most of the remaining stands of indigenous forest on the Chatham Islands are in poor condition, attributable to disturbance by introduced grazing animals which have been permitted to range and browse freely. Exclusion of stock from such stands in recent years has generally led to an improvement in stand vigour. Chalara myrsines was isolated from discoloured wood from the roots and lower stem of dying M. chathamica trees in a mixed stand which were in a state of decline although the stand was fenced off as a reserve. The trees were also being colonised by the pinhole borer Platypus apicalis White and by a pit weevil (Psepholax sp.). Chalara myrsines was commonly but not always associated with the tunnels of these wood-boring insects. Many species of Chalara are known as wilt pathogens (Nag Raj & Kendrick 1975) and it is possible that infection by C. myrsines is one of the causes contributing to the decline of M. chathamica in the Chatham Islands.

Habitat in caulibus radicibusque Myrsines chathamicae F. Mueller, Smith's Reserve, Te One, Chatham Island, 25.ii.1996, M. Dick, NZFRI-M 3712 holotypus.
Specimens examined: on dying branches of Hoheria populnea A. Cunningham, Belmont, Lower Hutt (WN), 28.iv.1999, B.J.Rogan, NZFRI-M 3953; on dying branches of Lagunaria patersonii (Andrews) G. Don, Wellington (WN), 12.xii.1997, M.Esson, NZFRI-M 3788; on dying branches of Lagunaria patersonii, Port of Nelson (NN), 12.xii.1994, B.D.Getz, NZFRI-M 3523.
Conidiomata acervular 2-4 x 0.2-0.5 mm, salmon-pink, pulvinate, subperidermal, erumpent, separate but occasionally confluent, formed of hyaline, thin-walled cells, basal layer up to 100 µm thick. Conidiophores absent. Conidiogenous cells phialidic, occasionally branched near the base, hyaline, 35-65 µm long, 3-4 µm wide. Macroconidia hyaline, ellipsoid, 0-septate, apex rounded, base truncate, 24-30 x 6-9 µm. Microconidia hyaline, filiform, 0-septate, 13-15 x 1-2.5 µm.
New Zealand distribution: Auckland (3 records), Waikato (1), Wellington (2), Nelson (1), mid-Canterbury (2).
This fungus was first recorded in New Zealand as a species of Myxosporium (Atkinson 1940). The genus Myxosporium was described by Link (1825) with M. croceum (= Naemospora crocea Persoon) as the only, and therefore the type species. Desmazières (1830) considered that Naemospora crocea was based on a mixture of different fungi and Höhnel (1915) thus recommended that Myxosporium be rejected as a generic name. Weindlmayr (1963, 1964) revised Myxosporium and redisposed the species placed in this genus to other genera. He, however, did not consider M. hoheriae in his work. Pennycook (1989) recorded M. hoheriae as Nectria sp. as he considered that some collections of the fungus had a Nectria teleomorph. Dingley (1989) described the teleomorph as Nectria hoheriae Dingley and made a new combination for the anamorph, Tubercularia hoheriae (Atkinson) Dingley.
The relatively large, non-septate, hyaline, ellipsoid conidia, abruptly tapering to a truncate base, the presence of microconidia, and the enteroblastic phialidic conidiogenous cells indicate that this species, in common with many other species described inMyxosporium, belongs to the genus Cryptosporiopsis. Atkinson (1940) has recorded C. hoheriae in association with branch dieback in Hoheria populnea, H. sexstylosa Colenso, and Plagianthus betulinus A.Cunningham; he also established that the fungus was a wound pathogen. We have found the fungus to be also associated with extensive branch dieback of Lagunaria patersonii (Norfolk Island hibiscus) in Wellington and Nelson. Numerous bright salmon-pink conidiomata form on colonised branches and are very conspicuous. The colour fades to buff on dried specimens.
Specimen examined: on dying needles of Prumnopitys ferruginea (Bennett ex Don) de Laubenfels, Western Park, New Plymouth (TK), 15.ix.1994, B.J.Rogan, NZFRI-M 3988
Conidiomata acervular, amphigenous, intra- or sub-epidermal, finally erumpent with an irregular rupture of the overlying host tissue; conidiomatal wall thin, formed of pale brown cells; conidiomata 150-350 µm in diameter. Conidiophores hyaline, usually simple but occasionally branched, rarely septate, cylindrical, arising from the basal wall of the conidioma, 18-22 µm long. Conidiogenous cells phialidic, hyaline, smooth. Conidia hyaline, ellipsoid, 0-septate, sometimes with a narrow truncate base, prominently guttulate, 10-17 x 7-10 µm, creamy in mass.
The large size, particularly the width, of the conidia of this Discula sp. does not agree with the published description of any other species of Discula (von Arx 1970; Redlin & Stack 1988; Redlin 1991; Toti et al. 1992; Stanosz 1993; Carris 1995) but with only a single collection available for examination, it was not possible to determine whether or not it is a distinct species. Nevertheless, it is recorded here because of its possible pathogenic association with P. ferruginea (miro). The fungus was fruiting profusely on dying needles on a tree which showed considerable twig dieback. Many species of Discula are parasites, causing leaf spots, necrosis, and wilt of twigs (von Arx 1970).
Additional specimens examined: on twigs of Eucalyptus regnans F.J. Mueller, Forest Research Institute Nursery (BP), 7.vii.1998, M. Dick, NZFRI-M 3264. The fungus has been isolated from E. nitens, Mahinapua Forest (the holotype), culture: NZFS 329.02.
Caulicolous. Conidiomata acervular, solitary, originally subepidermal, later erumpent, elongate oval in outline, 300-350 µm wide, 90-100 µm deep, dull black, opening by an irregular rupture of the overlying host tissue, basal stroma 10-20 µm thick. Conidiophores arising from the upper cells of the stroma, densely aggregated in a palisade, hyaline, 15-40 µm long. Conidiogenous cells subcylindrical, hyaline, 8-10 µm long. Conidia fusiform, straight or slightly curved, 40-57 µm x 8.5-11 µm, 5-septate, with appendages, basal cell obconic, base truncate, hyaline; four median cells cylindrical, pale brown, thick-walled, 32-42 µm long; apical cell conic, hyaline; apical appendage single, oblique, not branched, 8-19 µm long, 2 µm wide; basal appendage single, excentric, not branched, 11-21 µm x 2 µm. Conidium length:width ratio 4.6:1.
New Zealand distribution: Bay of Plenty (1), Nelson (1), Westland (2).
Caulicola. Conidiomata acervularia, solitaria, origine subepidermalia, innato-erumpentia, ambitu elangato-ovali, 300-350 µm lata, 90-100 µm alta, atra, per fissuram irregularem in tela hospitis dehiscentia; stroma basale 10-20 µm crassum. Conidiophora ex cellulis superis stromatis basalis enascentia, confertim in vallo aggregata, hyalina, 15-40 µm longa. Cellulae conidiogenae subcylindraceae, hyalinae, 8-10 µm longae. Conidia fusiformia, recta vel leviter curvata, 40-57 µm x 8.5-11 µm, 5-septata, appendices ferentia; cellula basalis obconica, basi truncata, hyalina; cellulae mediana quatuor, cylindraceae, pallide brunnae, crassitunicatae, 32-42 µm longae; cellula apicalis conica, hyalina; appendix apicalis singula, obliqua, non-ramosa, 8-19 µm longa, 2 µm lata; appendix basalis singula, excentrica, non-ramosa, 11-21 µm longa, 2 µm lata. Ratio longitudinis:latitudinis conidii 4.6:1.

(The specific epithet refers to Mahinapua Forest, the location of the holotype).

Sarcostroma mahinapuense has been consistently found on swollen, fissured cankers on branches of Eucalyptus nitens (14-19 years old) growing in Mahinapua Forest on the West Coast of the South Island. The cankers were first noticed in August 1998 and by June 1999 were to be found in about 60 ha of E. nitens. The number of cankers per affected tree had increased over this period and dieback, associated with cankers on smaller branches, was occurring. This fungus has also been recorded on E. regnans from Rotorua where it was associated with twig lesions and minor dieback. A further collection of the fungus was made in 1998 from the Nelson bioregion where it was associated with minor dieback ofEucalyptus sp. Sarcostroma mahinapuense appears to be acting as a pathogen on the West Coast. Its pathogenic status is being investigated.

The principal characters that separate S. mahinapuense from the other 5-septate Sarcostroma species are conidial length and the length:width ratio (Table 2).

S. mahinapuense spores 46 x 10 µm; L/W ratio 4.6:1; Apical appendage 15 µm; Basal appendage 12.5 µm
S. coryneoideum spores 34.5 x 10.2 µm; L/W ratio 3.4:1; Apical appendage 5.7 µm; Basal appendage 4.5 µm
S. foliicola spores 20.2 x 7.5 µm; L/W ratio 2.7:1; Basal appendage 6 µm; Apical appendage 6.5 µm
S. insidens spores 38 x 13 µm; L/W ratio 2.9:1; Apical appendage 17.3 µm; Basal appendage 17.8 µm
S. kennedyae spores 19 x 6.3 µm; L/W ratio 3:1; Apical appendage 15 µm; Basal appendage 13 µm
S. leucopogonis Spores 20.7 x 8 µm; L/W ratio 2.6:1; Apical appendage 2.2 µm; Basal appendage 3 µm
S. mariae Spores 25 x 5.7 µm; L/W ratio 4.4:1; Apical appendage 11 µm; Basal appendage 13.5 µm
S. plagiochaetum Spores 32 x 9 µm; L/W ratio 3.6:1; Apical appendage 10 µm; Basal appendage 7 µm
S. sinicum Spores 21.5 x 6.6 µm; L/W ratio 3.2:1; Apical appendage 6.5 µm; Basal appendage 7 µm

* Data for all species, except S. mahinapuense, are from Nag Raj (1993).

Habitat in caulibus Eucalypti nitentis (Deane & Maiden) Maiden, Mahinapua Forest (WD), 19.v.1999, P. Bradbury NZFRI-M 3972, holotypus.
Additional specimen examined: on living leaves of Eucalyptus regnans, Manawahe (BP), 20.x.1998, J.A.Bartram, NZFRI-M 3888.
Leafspots amphigenous, roughly circular, discrete but occasionally confluent, raised, corky, up to 10 mm in diameter. Conidiomata pycnidial, immersed, separate, globose, light brown, 80-90 µm wide x 100-120 µm deep; walls 1-2 cells thick, composed of light brown, thin-walled textura angularis. Ostiole single, non-papillate, up to 12 µm diameter. Conidiophores absent. Conidiogenous cells discrete, hyaline, short cylindrical, 6-10 µm high, formed from the inner cells of the conidiomatal wall. Conidia holoblastic, hyaline, l-septate, filiform, sigmoid or falcate, with rounded ends, minutely guttulate, 65-70 x 2-3 µm.
New Zealand distribution: Northland (1), Bay of Plenty (1).
Maculae amphigenae, irregulariter rotundatae, discrete interdum confluentes, elevatae, suberosae, usque ad 10 mm diameterae. Conidiomata pycnidialia, immersa, separata, globosa, pallide brunnea, 80-90 µm lata x 100-120 µm alta; pariete l-2 cellularum crassi, 5-8 µm lati, ex textura angulari pallide brunnea compositi. Ostiolum singulare, non-papillatum, usque ad 12 µm dia. Conidiophora absentia. Cellulae conidiogenae discretae, hyalinae, cylindraceae, 6-10 µm altae, ex celluli interioribus parietis conidiomatorum enatae. Conidia holoblastica, hyalina, l-septata, filiformia, sigmoidea vel falcata, laevia, minute guttulata, extrema rotundata, 65-70 x 2-3 µm.

(The specific epithet refers to the typical Septorial appearance of the fungus with its long filiform conidia produced holoblastically from short conidiogenous cells).

Sankaran, Sutton & Minter (1995) did not record any recognised species of Septoria on Eucalyptus. One other species of Septoria (S. pulcherrima Gadgil & Dick) has been described on Eucalyptus in New Zealand (Gadgil & Dick 1983). Septoria pulcherrima conidia are hyaline to very pale brown, 30-60 x 3-4 µm and the conidiogenesis is of two types: holoblastic with enteroblastic proliferation of the conidiogenous cell, and holoblastic with sympodial proliferation (Swart 1988). These characteristics distinguish it from S. typica which has hyaline conidia, 60-70 x 2-3 µm, with simple holoblastic condiogenesis without any proliferation of the condiogenous cells. The binomial Septoria pulcherrima has been subject to several name changes and is now variously known as Kirramyces eucalypti or Phaeophleospora eucalypti. This is a pity as S. pulcherrima causes a serious leaf blight in E. nitens and a stable nomenclature would help those investigating the disease.
Septoria typica is associated with necrotic leaf spots. Fruiting bodies of Cryptosporiopsis eucalypti are also frequently seen on these spots. It is likely that C. eucalypti, which is pathogenic to species of Eucalyptus (Sankaran, Sutton & Balasundaran 1995), is the primary agent responsible for the necrotic spots, with S. typica as a secondary invader.

Habitat in foliis vivis Eucalypti muellerianae A. Howitt, Kaikohe (ND), 28.iii.1998, C.Inglis, NZFRI-M 3880 holotypus.

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