Cvetomir M. Denchev

Tilletia species are highly specialized parasitic fungi on grasses. During examination of specimens of grasses in herbarium of the Meise Botanic Garden, Belgium, an ovariicolous smut fungus belonging to Tilletia was found on specimens of Zonotriche decora from the D.R. Congo and Zambia. These were the first finds of Tilletia specimens on Zonotriche. To clarify the taxonomic status of this species, we conducted a molecular study based on ITS and LSU rDNA sequences. The phylogenetic analyses indicate that this species differs from the Tilletia species with available molecular data. Additionally, this species possesses a distinctive morphological character, by which it can be easily distinguished from all species currently recognized in Tilletia. It produces by far the largest-sized spores in Tilletia, (45–)48–63(–68) μm long. Based on molecular and morphological evidence, and host specialization, a new species, Tilletia zonotriches, is described and illustrated. The phylogenetic placement and affinities of the new species in Tilletia are analyzed. Tilletia zonotriches differs from the only known smut fungus on Zonotriche, Macalpinomyces zonotriches on Z. inamoena from Zambia, by having significantly larger spores.

Anthracoidea species are highly specialized parasitic fungi on Carex. Their host range is restricted to a single sedge species or sedge species belonging to the same or closely related sections. The present study reports for the first time the finding of an Anthracoidea species on sedge in Carex sect. Capituligerae, based on a recent collection from Armenia. We employed an integrative systematic approach combining molecular (based on LSU rDNA sequences) and morphological data with host-specificity to elucidate the taxonomic status of this Anthracoidea species. The phylogenetic analyses indicate that it differs from the Anthracoidea species with available molecular data. Additionally, this species possesses morphological characters, by which it can be easily distinguished from all Anthracoidea species recognized on sedges in the former Capitata Clade sensu Roalson et al. It differs from Anthracoidea obtusatae on Carex obtusata by its larger spores and lack of internal swellings, from A. rupestris on Carex rupestris by its thinner spore walls and lack of protuberances, internal swellings, and light refractive areas, from A. nardinae on Carex nardina by having punctate to minutely verruculose spore wall ornamentation (as seen in SEM), and from the other Anthracoidea species by specialization on Carex oreophila. Based on molecular and morphological evidence, and host specialization, a new species, Anthracoidea koopmanii, is described and illustrated. The phylogenetic placement and affinities of the new species in Anthracoidea are analyzed.

A new smut fungus from Madagascar, Ustilago neostapfiellae on Neostapfiella chloridiantha, is described and illustrated. It differs from all other species of Ustilago by specialization on Neostapfiella, a grass genus endemic to Madagascar.

Portalia uljanishcheviana is an extremely rarely reported smut fungus so far known only from the type collection in the Western Tian-Shan Range (Kazakhstan) and a single locality in Spain. In the present paper, P. uljanishcheviana is reported for the first time from Greece, based on collections from Central Macedonia (Korinos Beach) and South Aegean Region (Naxos). A morphological description and notes on its distribution are provided.

Entyloma species are highly specialized smut fungi. To clarify the taxonomic status of the Entyloma species on Ratibida pinnata from USA, we conducted a molecular study based on ITS and LSU rDNA sequences. The phylogenetic analyses indicate that this species differs from the Entyloma species with available molecular data. Based on molecular and morphological evidence, and host specialization, a new species, Entyloma ratibidae, is described and illustrated. Entyloma ratibidae differs from E. davisii on Rudbeckia hirta by having smaller spores and thinner spore walls, from E. anceps on Rudbeckia laciniata by having thicker spore walls, and from the other Entyloma species by specialization on Ratibida pinnata. The phylogenetic placement and affinities of the new species in Entyloma are analyzed. Additional collections and molecular study are required to clarify the taxonomic status of ‘Entyloma polysporum’ on Ratibida columnifera from USA.

Microbotryum marginale is reported for the first time on Bistorta plumosa, based on a collection from the Yukon coast, Canadian Arctic, at 68°55'N. This locality is a new northern limit for M. marginale in North America.

Two new species of Ustanciosporium, U. bulbostylidis-truncatae and U. bulbostylidis-coniferae, are described and illustrated. These are the first records of species of this genus on hosts in Bulbostylis (Cyperaceae). Both species are known only from their type localities, in the savannas of Suriname (Sipaliwini Savanna Nature Reserve, for U. bulbostylidis-truncatae) and Guyana (near Manari, for U. bulbostylidis-coniferae). Ustanciosporium bulbostylidis-truncatae is distinguished from U. bulbostylidis-coniferae by having smaller spores, (9.5–)10–12.5(–13.5) μm long vs. (12–)12.5–15.5(–16.5) μm long for U. bulbostylidis-coniferae, and thinner spore wall, 0.5–0.9(–1.2) μm thick vs. 0.6–1.7(–2.0) μm thick for U. bulbostylidis-coniferae.

A rare smut fungus, Anthracoidea pseudofoetidae, is reported for the first time from Russia, based on a specimen from the Altai Republic. Carex enervis is a new host record for A. pseudofoetidae. Two new records for Greece, Microbotryum duriaeanum and M. moenchiae-manticae, and a new record for Morocco, Microbotryum moehringiae, are also presented. Microbotryum moehringiae is recorded for the first time from Africa. Cerastium brachypetalum subsp. roeseri is a new host record for Microbotryum duriaeanum. New molecular data are provided for these smut fungi. Updated phylogenetic trees for Anthracoidea and Microbotryum are also given.