This species was isolated at Levin (LEV3379, Wellington: Ohau, Levin, R. A. S. Waters, 13.vi.1969) from some unusual symptoms on fruit of Lycopersicon esculentum Mill (tomato) and forwarded to Dr. E. G. Simmons who identified it as S. vesicarium. There is a possibility that the previous recordings of Pleospora herbarum ([Pers.] Fr) Rabenh. on tomato (Dingley, 1960) should be referred to S. vesicarium. The symptoms were of superficial irregular blotches, often very irregular but never-the-less well defined and conspicuous, and often they showed a branching dendritic pattern. Some deeper rots were also present and presumably these develop from some of the superficial blotches. The fungus was readily isolated from the superficial blotches and the symptoms were reproduced by placing spores from a pure culture on to ripening fruit without damaging the skin of the fruit. Re-isolation from the artificially reproduced symptoms yielded the same fungus again. The species is closely similar to P. herbarum and is one of a group of rather similar species described in Simmons (1969). It bears fertile perithecia in culture and the present isolate, when fresh. yielded mature ascospores in cultures only three weeks old on potato carrot agar in a 1 oz McCartney bottle in the light incubator. I am not attempting to describe this species here as it is well described in Simmons's paper (1969). Anyone who wishes to identify this species needs the comparative details given by Simmons in order to distinguish it from the other closely similar species.

Ascomata of P. sedicola develop in large numbers within all three agar substrates used. They contain asci with immature and a few fully mature ascospores within ca. 3 wk when they develop on alfalfa stems placed on PCA colonies; 4 wk or longer apparently is required for maturation of large numbers of ascospores under standard conditions of culture. Mature ascomata are dark, thin-walled, subsphaeroid, ca. 350 µm diam., with a small apical, ostiolar beak. Asci are elliptical or oblong, ca. 150-170 x 30 µm, usually 8-spored. Ascospores are ca. 30 x 6 pin, strongly fusiform, when the first transverse septum forms. Ascospores remain fusiform as length and width increase to ca. 35-40 x 8-10 µm; then become broader and shorter (broadly elliptical) as they reach maximum septation at ca. 28-32 x 10-12 µm, with 7 transepta and 1-2 longitudinal or oblique septa in most or all transverse divisions. It is emphasized that developing ascospores before full septation-including minimally septate juveniles-have lengths in a 30-40 µm range; full development of the ascospore, at ca. 28-30 x 12 µm, is a process of contraction in length as the spore increases in width. Ascospore color develops from a juvenile subhyaline. to a mature dull, dilute brown. Ascospores are strongly constricted at all three primary transepta throughout the fusiform stages; constriction remains evident but less striking in the fully developed ascospore.
The anamorph Stemphylium sedicola grows well and sporulates very abundantly on Hay and V-8 agars. On PCA, however, solitary conidia are produced almost entirely on numerous short branches of long, sturdy, erect or arching hyphae that arise singly or in fascicles in concentric rings of growth; the axis hyphae commonly are as long as 1 mm, the conidiogenous branches 32-90 x 5 µm with a slightly wider tip cell. Juvenile conidia are ovoid and ca. 8-14 x 7-8 µm when the first transeptum forms; they are punctulate from the beginning of development. Conidia become broadly ellipsoid or oblong with broadly rounded base and apex; 30-35 x 18-20 µm, with 2-3 complete primary and a few partial transverse or oblique septa, 1-3 longitudinal or oblique septa inserted somewhat irregularly within transverse divisions. Conidia usually are constricted at 1-2 primary transepta, yellow-tan to medium yellow-brown, with walls smooth or usually punctate roughened overall.

Ex cultiura in agaro PCA descripta. Ascomata atrobrunnea, subglobosa, ca. 350 µm diam., pariete tenui, rostellata. Asci ellipsoidei vel oblongi, ca. 150-170 x 30 µm, plerumque octospori. Ascosporae valde fusoideae tum anguste ellipsoideae, ca. 35-40 x 8-10 µm, denique late ellipsoideae, ca. 28-32 x 10-12 µm, transverse 7-septatae, fortiter vel moderate constrictae, longitudinaliter vel oblique 1-2-septatae; initio subhyalinae, denique dilute obscure brunneolae. Conidiophora numerosa, 32-90 x 5 µm in hyphis longis, erectiusculis, arcuatis, solitariis vel fasciculatis, ad ca. 1 mm x 5 µm. Conidia ovoidea tum late ellipsoidea vel oblonga, µmdo et apice late rotundatis, 30-35 x 18-20 µm, transverse 2-3 omnino et aliquot imperfecte septata, longitudinaliter 1-3 irregulariter septata, plerumque in 1-2 transeptis primariis constrictis, dilute vel modice luteobrunneola, parietibus laevibus vel punctatis.

Etymology: Latin, Sedum + -cola, inhabiting a Sedum species.

TYPE: NEW ZEALAND. Auckland, on leaf lesions of Sedum spectabile Boreau, 18 Feb. 2000, N. Z. Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries LYN 124. Dried culture of ex-conidium isolate E. G. Simmons 48-095 (Holotype: BPI 747302!). Fig. 2. Anamorphosis: Stemphylium sedicola E. G. Simmons, anam. nov.