<i>Ceratocystiopsis Proteae Sp. Nov.</i> , with a New Anamorph Genus

Abstract

A new species, Ceratocystiopsis proteae, collected from insect-infested Protea repens is described. Knoxdaviesia, a new genus of dematiaceous hyphomycetes is described to accommodate the anamorph of C. proteae. Ceratocystiopsis proteae shares characteristics of Ceratocystis sensu stricto (cycloheximide sensitivity), Ceratocystiopsis (falcate ascopores) and Ophiostoma (relatively long perithecial necks, divergent ostiolar hyphae and an anamorph with holoblastic conidium development) but is currently best accommodated in Ceratocystiopsis. Knoxdaviesia proteae superficially resembles the hyphomycete genera Leptographium and Stachybotrys. This is the first species of Ophiostomataceae described from an indigenous plant in southern Africa and its relationship with other Ophiostomataceae is discussed.