Polyphasic Systematics of the Fungicolous Genus Cladobotryum Based on Morphological, Molecular and Metabolomics Data

(1) Background: Species of the anamorphic genus Cladobotryum, are known for their fungicolous lifestyle, making them important mycopathogens in fungiculture. Many morphological, ecological, and molecular phylogenetic studies of the genus have been done to date, but taxonomic uncertainties and challenges still remain. Fungal secondary metabolites, being vastly diverse, are utilised as an extra tool in fungal systematics. Despite being studied for their potentially bioactive compounds, Cladobotryum species are insufficiently investigated regarding metabolomics. (2) Methods: The aim of this study is the identification of Greek strains of Cladobotryum by integrating morphological data, ITS-based phylogeny, and ¹H NMR-based metabolomics into a polyphasic approach. (3) Results: Twenty-three strains, isolated from sporophores of macromycetes inhabiting diverse Greek ecosystems, were morphologically identified as Cladobotryum apiculatum, C. fungicola, C. mycophilum, C. varium, C. verticillatum, and Hypomyces rosellus (anamorph C. dendroides), whereas seven strains, which produced red-pigmented metabolites, presented an ambiguous taxonomic position at the species level. Molecular phylogenetics and metabolomics corroborated the morphological findings. (4) Conclusions: Thorough morphological study, ITS region-based phylogeny, and NMR-based metabolomics contribute complementarily to resolving the genus Cladobotryum systematics.

Phylogenetic and morphological assessment of two new species of Amniculicola and their allies (Pleosporales)

Two new species of Amniculicola, A. immersa sp. nov. and A. parva sp. nov. from submerged wood in a freshwater environment in Denmark and France are respectively described and illustrated. In addition, partial 28S rDNA sequence data is analysed to investigate their phylogenetic relationships with other pleosporalean taxa. All presently known Amniculicola species, A. immersa, A. lignicola and A. parva, form a robust clade together with the anamorphic species Anguillospora longissima, Spirosphaera cupreorufescens and Repetophragma ontariense. These six species, which are all from freshwater and mostly from Europe, constitute a well-supported group containing Pleospora rubicunda and Massariosphaeria typhicola. This putative monophyletic assemblage may represent an aquatic group in the Pleosporales. It is also pertinent that all five ascomycete taxa in this group stain their host substrates purple.