Neopestalotiopsis vitis Jayawardena, Maharachch., Yan, Li & K. D. Hyde, in Jayawardena, Liu, Maharachchikumbura, Zhang, Xing, Hyde, Nilthong, Li & Yan, Phytotaxa 258(1): 69 (2016)

Index Fungorum Number: IF 551766.

Etymology – based on the host species, from which the fungus was frequently isolated.

Holotype – MFLU 15–3563.

Pathogen on leaves, fruits and shoots (Jayawardena et al. 2015). Asexual morph: Conidiomata pycnidial in culture on PDA, globose to oval, solitary or aggregated in clusters, semi-immersed, black, 120–550 μm diam; exuding globose, black, glistening, conidial masses. Conidiophores indistinct, often reduced to conidiogenous cells. Conidiogenous cells discrete, fusiform, hyaline, cylindrical to subcylindrical or ampulliform to lageniform, rugose-walled, simple, 2–11× 1–5 μm, apex 1–2 μm diam. Conidia fusoid, ellipsoid, straight to slightly curved, 4-septate, (20–) 22–28 (–29) × (5–) 6–9.8 (–10.7) μm, x̄ ± SD = 24.7±1.4 × 7.7±0.9 μm (n = 40), L/W ratio = 3.2, basal cell conic to acute with a truncate base, hyaline, rugose, thin-walled, 3–7 μm long, three-median cells, doliform, (13–) 14–18 (–19) μm long, x̄ ± SD =16.2±0.9 μm, wall rugose, versicoloured, septa darker than the rest of the cell, somewhat constricted at the septa; second cell from base pale brown to olivaceous, 4.3–7.3 μm long; third cell olivaceous to darker brown, 4.1–7.6 μm long; fourth cell brown, 3.8–6.8 μm long; apical cell 2.5–4.8 μm long, hyaline, cylindrical to subcylindrical, thin and smooth walled, with 2–4 tubular apical appendages (mostly 3), arising from the apical crest, flexuous, unbranched, (14–) 19–38.6 (–43) μm long, x̄ ± SD =24.2±4.5 μm , basal appendage 1–2, tubular, unbranched, centric, 2.2–7.2 μm long.

Culture characteristics – Colonies on PDA reaching 50–60mm in diam. after 7 d at 25 °C, with lobate edge, whitish to pale honey coloured, with dense aerial mycelium on the surface with black, concentric conidiomata, reverse pale yellow.

Habitat – On Vitis vinifera.

Known distribution – China and India.

Material examined – China, GuangXi Province: WuMing City, Pathogenic on leaves of Vitis vinifera cv. Summer Black, 18 December 2014, X. H. Li (MFLU 15–3563, holotype), ex-type culture, MFLUCC15-1265=KUMCC15-0525; ibid., cultures MFLUCC 15-1266, 15-1267, 15-1268, 15-1269, 15-1270, 15-1271, 15-1272, 15-1273, 15-1274; ICMP 20418, 20417, 20412.

Notes – Neopestalotiopsis vitis is morphologically similar to its sister taxon N. australis. Conidiogenous cells of N. vitis are cylindrical to subcylindrical or ampuliform to lageniform and smaller (2–11 × 1–5 μm), while the conidiogenous cells of N. australis are ampuliform to lageniform and are larger (5–12 × 2–7 μm). Neopestalotiopsis australis has a single unbranched, centric basal appendage, while N. vitis has 1–2 unbranched, centric basal appendages. The apical cell of N. vitis conidia, are smaller (2.5–4.8 μm long) than the apical cell of N. australis conidia (3–6 μm long). Neopestalotiopsis egyptiaca is phylogenetically closely related to N. australis (Crous et al. 2015). However, this species differs from N. vitis by having larger conidiogenous cells (15–25 × 3–5 μm). Also, conidia of N. vitis are wider than those of N. egyptiaca. No additional isolates of N. australis are available to compare the morphological character variability. Based on the precedent set by Maharachchikumbura et al. (2014) for the species recognition of this genus comparing morphology and available gene sequence data we determined the species are to be distinct.

Fig. 2. Neopestalotiopsis vitis MFLUCC15-1265. a–c. Conidiomata on PDA. d–f. Conidiogenous cells. g. Conidium with two apical and basal appendages. h. Conidia with three apical appendages. i. Conidium with four apical appendages. J. Immature conidia. k. Mature conidia. l. Upper surface view of the 10d old culture. m. Reverse view of the culture 10d old culture. Scale bars: d–k = 15 μm.