crouS et al. Fig. 3. Brunneosphaerella jonkershoekensis. A–B. Vertical sections through ascomata show<strong>in</strong>g wall structure. C–D, G. Bitunicate asci. E–F. Ascospores. Scale bars: A, C = 50 µm, B = 20 µm, D, G = 10 µm, E–F = 5 µm (from Mar<strong>in</strong>cowitz et al. 2008). at <strong>the</strong> apical end, <strong>in</strong>itially hyal<strong>in</strong>e and 1-septate, becom<strong>in</strong>g yellowbrown and 3-septate at maturity, slightly constricted at median to supra-median septum, (21.5–)27.5–29.5(–37.5) × (6.3–)7.5–8(–10) µm <strong>in</strong> water mounts, (21–)25.5–27.5(–31) × (5.5–)6–7(–8) µm <strong>in</strong> lactophenol. Conidiomata barely visible and <strong>in</strong>terspersed between ascomata, pycnidial, subepidermal, substomatal, separate, globose to pyriform, occasionally with well-developed papilla, dark brown, < 200 µm diam. Conidiophores reduced to conidiogenous cells. Conidiogenous cells discrete, smooth, hyal<strong>in</strong>e, doliiform to ampulliform, holoblastic, proliferat<strong>in</strong>g 1–2 times percurrently, 4–6 × 3–4 µm. Conidia pale brown to medium brown, thick-walled on maturity, smooth to f<strong>in</strong>ely verruculose, eguttulate, ellipsoidal to globose, often truncate at one end, 5–10 × 3–7 µm (adapted from Crous et al. 2004a). Host range and geographic distribution: Protea cynaroides, P. ‘Susara’ (Portugal, Madeira) (Moura & Rodrigues 2001); P. caffra, P. compacta, P. cynaroides, P. gaguedi, P. grandiceps, P. lacticolor, P. laurifolia, P. lepidocarpodendron, P. lorifolia, P. magnifica, P. nitida, P. punctata, P. repens, P. ‘Sheila’, Protea spp. (South Africa); P. cynaroides, P. laurifolia, P. neriifolia, P. ‘Ivory Musk’, P. ‘M<strong>in</strong>k’, P. ‘P<strong>in</strong>k Ice’, P. ‘Rose M<strong>in</strong>k’, P. susannae, Protea sp. (U.S.A., Hawaii) (Taylor et al. 2001b); P. cynaroides, P. gaguedi, P. neriifolia, Protea sp. (Zimbabwe, Inyanga) (Masuka et al. 1998). Specimens exam<strong>in</strong>ed: south Africa, Western Cape Prov<strong>in</strong>ce, Bettys’ Bay, leaf litter of Protea magnifica, 11 Jul. 2000, S. Mar<strong>in</strong>cowitz, PREM 59448; Helderberg Nature Reserve, leaf litter of Protea laurifolia, 14 Aug. 2000, S. Mar<strong>in</strong>cowitz, PREM 59482; Helderberg Nature Reserve, leaf litter of Protea obtusifolia, 14 Aug. 2000, S. Mar<strong>in</strong>cowitz, PREM 59495; Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, leaf litter of Protea 32 nitida, 6 Jun. 2000, S. Mar<strong>in</strong>cowitz, PREM 59442; Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, leaf litter of Protea repens, 6 Jun. 2000, S. Mar<strong>in</strong>cowitz, PREM 59450; Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, S33°59’11.2” E18°57’14.7” leaves of Protea sp., 1 Apr. 2007, P.W. Crous, CBS H-20330, cultures CPC 13914–13916; Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, S33°59’26.1” E18°57’59.5” leaves of Protea repens, 1 Apr. 2007, P.W. Crous, CBS H-20331, cultures CPC 13911–13913; Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, leaves of Protea sp., 1 Apr. 2007, P.W. Crous, CBS H-20332, cultures CPC 13908–13910; Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, “Tweede Waterval”, leaves of Protea sp., 1 Apr. 2007, P.W. Crous, CBS H-20333, cultures CPC 13902–13907; Jonkershoek Nature Reserve, leaves of Protea nitida, 12 Apr. 2008, L. Mostert, CBS H-20334, cultures CPC 15231–15233; Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, leaves of Protea sp., 13 Jan. 2009, P.W. Crous, CBS H-20335, culture CPC 16338. Notes: Although Taylor & Crous (1998) reported a Coniothyriumlike anamorph to develop <strong>in</strong> culture, none of <strong>the</strong> cultures exam<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> present study on MEA, PDA or OA could be <strong>in</strong>duced to sporulate, though spermatogonia and ascomatal <strong>in</strong>itials were commonly observed. The fact that cultures of Leptosphaeria protearum, which represents a well-known and serious pathogen of Proteaceae, clustered <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Mycosphaerellaceae, was totally unexpected. A fur<strong>the</strong>r surprise was <strong>the</strong> fact that this species appears to represent a complex of several cryptic taxa. Whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>se taxa can be correlated with differences <strong>in</strong> host range and geographic distribution can only be resolved once more collections have been obta<strong>in</strong>ed for study. Although <strong>the</strong> genus Sphaerul<strong>in</strong>a, which represents Mycosphaerella-like taxa with 3-septate, hyal<strong>in</strong>e ascospores, is part of <strong>the</strong> Mycosphaerellaceae (Crous et al., unpubl data), <strong>the</strong> type species, S. myriadea, clusters <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Septoria clade, and is thus unavailable for <strong>the</strong> species occurr<strong>in</strong>g on Proteaceae. Morphologically Brunneosphaerella is also dist<strong>in</strong>ct <strong>in</strong>
www.studies<strong>in</strong>mycology.org <strong>Phylogenetic</strong> l<strong>in</strong>eageS <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Capnodiales</strong> Fig. 4. Brunneosphaerella protearum. A–D. Leaf spots on different Protea spp. E. Close up of leaf spot show<strong>in</strong>g ascomata. F. Substomatal ascomata. G–H. Vertical sections though ascomata, show<strong>in</strong>g wall structure. I–K. Germ<strong>in</strong>at<strong>in</strong>g ascospores on MEA. L–M, R. Bitunicate asci. N–Q, S. Juvenile to mature ascospores. Scale bars: G = 75 µm, H = 10 µm. 33