Dothiorella vidmadera, a novel species from grapevines in Australia and notes on Spencermartinsia

Abstract

Strains of a coelomycete isolated from grapevine cankers insoutheasternAustraliaand identifiedasDothiorella iberica in previous studies are redescribed in this study as a novel species based on morphological characters and phylo- genetic analyses of DNA sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2), and partial sequences of the translation elongation factor 1-α and β-tubulin genes. Dothiorella vidmadera sp. nov. is most closely related to D. iberica, D. americana and D. sarmentorum, but differs in morphological characters and DNA sequences. All four spe- cies are known to be associated with Botryosphaeria dieback of grapevines. Additionally, an unidentified ascomycete iso- lated from dead wood of grapevines in Western Australia is described. Phylogenetically, strains were most closely related to Spencermartinsia viticola, and bore conidia with morpho- logical characters and dimensions consistent with published descriptions. However, ascospores were shorter and narrower than previously reported and lacked the terminal apiculi that typify the genus.