Pestalotioid fungi from Restionaceae in the Cape Floral Kingdom

AbstractEight pestalotioid fungi were isolated from the Restionaceae growing in the Cape Floral Kingdom of South Africa. Sarcostroma restionis, Truncatella megaspora, T. restionacearum and T. spadicea are newly described. New records include Pestalotiopsis matildae, Sarcostroma lomatiae, Truncatella betulae and T. hartigii. To resolve generic affiliations, phylogenetic analyses were performed on ITS (ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2) and part of 28S rDNA. DNA data support the original generic concept of Truncatella, which encompasses Pestalotiopsis species having 3-septate conidia. The genus Sarcostroma is retained as separate from Seimatosporium.Taxonomic novelties: Pestalotiopsis matildae (Richatt) S. Lee & Crous comb. nov., Truncatella betulae (Morochk.) S. Lee& Crous comb. nov., Sarcostroma restionis S. Lee & Crous sp. nov., Truncatella megaspora S. Lee & Crous sp. nov., Truncatella restionacearum S. Lee & Crous sp. nov., Truncatella spadicea S. Lee & Crous sp. nov