Campestrisarida hudsoniicola gen. et sp. nov. (Gnomoniaceae, Diaporthales) from the pine barrens ecosystem

Campestrisarida hudsoniicola gen. et sp. nov. is described based on cultures isolated from Hudsonia ericoides (pine barren false heather) roots from the New Jersey Pine Barrens. Phylogenetic analysis with the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2), partial 28S large ribosomal subunit, partial 18S small ribosomal subunit, partial second largest subunit of the DNA-directed RNA polymerase II (RPB2), and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1) sequences showed that the new collections formed a distinct, well-supported clade in Gnomoniaceae, Diaporthales, and morphological characteristics also support this placement. The conidia of Campestrisarida hudsoniicola are hyaline, oval to oblong; conidiomata coelomycetic. Chlamydospore-like structures, which are not presently known to be produced by members of the Gnomoniaceae, were observed in some cultures. Phylogenetic analysis shows that Campestrisarida hudsoniicola has a close relationship with Cryptosporella, Ophiognomonia, and Occultocarpon, but they differ in morphology and ecologically (e.g., Cryptosporella and Ophiognomonia are only known to inhabit hardwood hosts). These findings broaden our knowledge on the root-associated fungal communities in the pine barrens, and contribute to the study of diversity, systematics, and function of Gnomoniaceae.