RevisingClonostachysand allied genera inBionectriaceae

Abstract

Clonostachys(Bionectriaceae,Hypocrealesspecies are common soil-borne fungi, endophytes, epiphytes, and saprotrophs. Sexual morphs ofClonostachysspp.were placed in the genusBionectria,which was further segregated into the six subgeneraAstromata,Bionectria,Epiphloea,Myronectria,Uniparietina, andZebrinella. However, with the end of dual nomenclature,Clonostachysbecame the single depository for sexual and asexual morph-typified species. Species ofClonostachysare typically characterised by penicillate, sporodochial, and, in many cases, dimorphic conidiophores (primary and secondary conidiophores). Primary conidiophores are mononematous, either verticillium-like or narrowly penicillate. The secondary conidiophores generally form imbricate conidial chains that can collapse to slimy masses, particularly on sporodochia. In the present study, we investigated the species diversity within a collection of 420 strains ofClonostachysfrom the culture collection of, and personal collections at, the Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Strains were analysed based on their morphological characters and molecular phylogeny. The latter used DNA sequence data of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer regions and intervening 5.8S nrDNA (ITS) and partial 28S large subunit (LSU) nrDNA and partial protein encoding genes including the RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1) and β-tubulin (TUB2). Based on these results, the subgeneraAstromata,Bionectria,MyronectriaandZebrinellaare supported withinClonostachys. Furthermore, the genusSesquicilliumis resurrected to accommodate the former subgeneraEpiphloeaandUniparietina. The close relationship ofClonostachysandSesquicilliumis strongly supported as both are inferred phylogenetically as sister-genera. New taxa include 24 new species and 10 new combinations. Recognition ofSesquicilliumdistinguishes species typically forming a reduced perithecial stroma superficially on plant tissue from species inClonostachysoften forming well-developed, through bark erumpent stromata. The patterns of observed perithecial wall anatomies, perithecial wall and stroma interfaces, and asexual morph diversifications described in a previously compiled monograph are used for interpreting ancestral state reconstructions. It is inferred that the common ancestor ofClonostachysandSesquicilliummay have formed perithecia superficially on leaves, possessed a perithecial wall consisting of a single region, and formed intercalary phialides in penicilli of conidiophores. Character interpretation may also allow hypothesising that diversification of morphs occurred then in the two genera independently and that the frequently stroma-linkedClonostachysmorphs evolved together with the occupation of woody host niches and mycoparasitism.