Sarocladium spinificis, a new endophytic species from the coastal grass Spinifex littoreus in Taiwan

Yu-Hung Yeh; Roland Kirschner

doi:10.1186/1999-3110-55-25

Sarocladium spinificis, a new endophytic species from the coastal grass Spinifex littoreus in Taiwan

Bot Stud. 2014 Dec;55(1):25. doi: 10.1186/1999-3110-55-25. Epub 2014 Feb 5.

Authors

Yu-Hung Yeh¹, Roland Kirschner²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Life Sciences, National Central University, No. 300, Jhongda Road, Jhongli City, Taoyuan County, 32001, (R.O.C.), Taiwan.
² Department of Life Sciences, National Central University, No. 300, Jhongda Road, Jhongli City, Taoyuan County, 32001, (R.O.C.), Taiwan. Kirschner@ncu.edu.tw.

Abstract

Background: Sarocladium species are frequently associated with grasses as saprobes, parasites, and mutualistic endophytes. A species of Sarocladium (anamorphic Hypocreales) was isolated as endophytic fungus from the coastal grass Spinifex littoreus (Poaceae).

Results: According to characterization by LSU and ITS rDNA sequences and culture morphology and micromorphology, the species differed from the species hitherto described in Sarocladium. A key to the known species of Sarocladium is given.

Conclusions: Sarocladium spinificis is proposed as a new species. LSU rDNA sequences and conidiophore branching and conidium size are useful characters for distinguishing between species of Sarocladium.

Keywords: Ascomycota; Coastal dunes; Endophytes; Sandy beach; Taxonomy.