Annellosympodia orbiculata gen. et sp. nov. and Scolecostigmina flagellariae sp. nov. from Australia

Two new fungi, Annellosympodia orbiculata and Scolecostigmina flagellariae, on Acacia ligulata and Flagellaria indica, respectively, from Australia are described and illustrated. The former species is placed in the new genus Annellosympodia, which is characterised by an unusual combination of features, viz. fasciculate conidiogenous cells (conidiophores reduced to conidiogenous cells), holoblastic conidiogenesis with sympodial, but rectilinear proliferation leaving annular structures and lateral conspicuous conidiogenous loci, and rhexolytic conidial secession. The generic placement of these two fungi is discussed.

Austropleospora osteospermi gen. et sp nov and its host specificity and distribution on Chrysanthemoides monilifera ssp rotundata in Australia.

Hendersonia osteospermi was found for the first time in Australia on leaf spots of the introduced invasive plant Chrysanthemoides monilifera ssp. rotundata (bitou bush) in coastal regions of New South Wales. Pathogenicity tests on species from 11 tribes in the family Asteraceae, demonstrated that H. osteospermi caused severe necrosis on leaves and stems of C. monilifera ssp. rotundata and its congener C. monilifera ssp. monilifera (boneseed). Small necrotic spots also developed on Osteospermum fruticosum and Dimorphotheca cuneata in the Calenduleae and on Helianthus annuus (sunflower) in the Heliantheae. None of the other plant species tested developed leaf spots, although H. osteospermi was re-isolated from senescent leaves of Cynara scolymus (globe artichoke) in the Cynareae and Vernonia cinerea in the Vernonieae. Single ascospores from ascomata of a Pleospora-like fungus found on diseased stems of bitou bush produced H. osteospermi in culture, which proved the anamorph/teleomorph connection. The ITS region of both a single-ascospore isolate and a single-conidium isolate were sequenced and found to be identical. The taxonomic status of H. osteospermi is re-examined and Austropleospora osteospermi gen. et sp. nov. is described as its teleomorph based on morphology, host range tests and DNA sequence analysis. The potential of A. osteospermi for the biological control of bitou bush and boneseed in Australia is discussed.