This study will define the taxonomy of three major genera of the Nectriaceae: Nectria, Cosmospora, and Neonectria. These genera are significant because they include several species that are widespread plant pathogens and potential biological control agents of insects. None of these genera have received modern monographic treatment. The proposed monographic projects include: (1) Nectria with Tubercularia asexual states, a group of about 30–40 taxa. Most species of Nectria occur on recently dead hardwood trees in temperate and tropical regions. (2) Cosmospora with asexual states in acremonium-like, Chaetopsina, Fusarium sect. Eupionnotes, Stilbella, verticillium-like, and Volutella. Cosmospora occur primarily on stromatic fungi and insects. (3) Neonectria with Cylindrocarpon asexual states. This genus includes species that cause cankers on hardwood and conifer trees in temperate and tropical regions, a subgroup common on recently dead woody plants in the tropics, and another group isolated from soil. The taxonomy of these genera will be studied using morphology, microscopy, cultural characteristics, and DNA-sequence analyses.

Two graduate students and one post-doc will be trained in this project. Catalina Salgado (Ph.D. student) is working with Neonectria/Cylindrocarpon. Cesar S. Herrera (Ph.D. student) is working on Cosmospora. Dr. Yuuri Hirooka (post-doc) is working with Nectria.

This project is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) more specifically by a program entitled "Partnerships for Enhancing Expertise in Taxonomy (PEET)." Principal investigators in this project are Dr. Priscila Chaverri, Dr. Amy Rossman (ARS, USDA), and Dr. Gary Samuels (ARS, USDA). Project period Sep. 2007 - Aug. 2012.

PUBLICATIONS

MONOGRAPHS AND BOOKS:

Hirooka, Y., Rossman, A.Y., Samuels, G.J., Lechat, C., Chaverri, P. 2011. A monograph of Allantonectria, Nectria, and Pleonectria (Nectriaceae, Hypocreales, Ascomycota) and their pycnidial, sporodochial, and synnematous anamorphs (submitted)

Chaverri, P., Huhndorf, S., Rogers, J., Samuels, G.J. 2010. Microhongos Comunes de Costa Rica y otras regiones tropicales (Ascomycota, Pezizomycotina, Sordariomycetes). Common Microfungi of Costa Rica and other tropical regions (Ascomycota, Pezizomycotina, Sordariomycetes). INBio Editorial: Heredia. 241 pp. + 60 Pl. (Book)

IN PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS:

Hirooka, Y., Rossman, A.Y., Chaverri, P. 2011. Morphological and phylogenetic analyses of the Nectria cinnabarina species complex. Studies in Mycology 68: 35-56.

Chaverri, P., Salgado, C., Hirooka, Y., Rossman, A.Y., Samuels, G.J. 2011. Delimitation of Neonectria and Cylindrocarpon and related genera with Cylindrocarpon-like anamorphs. Studies in Mycology 68: 57-78.

Hirooka, Y., Kobayashi, T., Ono, T., Rossman, A.Y., Chaverri, P. 2009. Verrucostoma, a new genus in the Bionectriaceae from the Bonin Islands, Japan. Mycologia 102: 418-429. PDF

Samuels G.J., Lu B.-S., Chaverri P., Candoussau F., Fournier J., Rossman A.Y. 2009. Cyanonectria, a new genus for Nectria cyanostoma and its Fusarium anamorph. Mycological Progress 8: 49-58. PDF

Rossman A.Y.; Farr D.F.; Akulov A.Y. (2008) Cosmospora stegonsporii Rossman, Farr & Akulov, sp. nov. Fungal Planet 23: 1.

USEFUL NECTRIACEAE RESOURCES AND LINKS

Database of Nectria sensu lato names: A searchable database of names in Nectria created at the Systematic Mycology and Microbiology Lab (USDA, ARS). This database includes many names under Nectria, nomenclature, authorities, and some notes about their taxonomy.

Hypocreales of the Southeastern United States: This is a web-based interactive identification key with descriptions and illustrations.

SMML-USDA-ARS fungal databases: The Systematic Mycology and Microbiology Lab (USDA, ARS) mantains several searchable databases. These are: Specimens at the U.S. National Fungus Collection (BPI), Fungus-Host Distributions, Literature, Index to Saccardo's Sylloge Fungorum, and Nomenclature.