Kerala Forest Research Institute

During a survey of foliicolous fungi in India, two interesting anamorphic hyphomycetous fungal specimens were collected from infected leaves of Calotropis spp. and Mallotus philippensis. Calotropis spp. produce fascicles of conidiophores from stromata, accompanied by secondary superficial hyphae bearing solitary conidiophores. The specimen on Mallotus philippensis resembled Mycovellosiella, characterized by secondary superficial hyphae bearing micronematous to semi-macronematous, mononematous, unbranched, and aseptate conidiophores. A polyphasic approach—including morphological, cultural, and multilocus phylogenetic analyses (LSU-Rpb2-ITS), coupled with genealogical concordance phylogenetic species recognition—identified its relationship with cercosporoid fungi within the family Mycosphaerellaceae. The analysis confirmed that these fungal specimens represent distinct lineages without known morphological or DNA sequence counterparts. Consequently, two new genera are proposed: Marcstadlera and Neoclypeosphaerella, with M. malloti comb. nov. and N. calotropidis comb. nov. as their respective type species. Additionally, Clypeosphaerella calotropidis, Clypeosphaerella quasiparkii, and Pseudocercospora malloti are recognized as new synonyms. Several genera in the Mycosphaerellaceae, including Marcstadlera and Neoclypeosphaerella, are monophyletic. The ultrastructure of the conidiogenous loci and hila differs between these two genera. In Marcstadlera, the loci are cylindrical or peg-like, truncate at the apex, while the conidial base is narrowly obconically truncate. In Neoclypeosphaerella, the loci are slightly protuberant and surrounded by a circular rim-like structure, forming a truncated apex with a centrally positioned small apical depression. The conidial base is obconically truncated and also surrounded by a circular rim-like structure.

Abstract Potentially invasive fungal pathogens of tree species in Nepal were isolated and identified in this study. A survey was conducted throughout the country, and the infected parts of different host trees were cultured in potato dextrose agar medium to isolate the pathogenic fungi. Altogether, 10 fungal pathogens were identified as causing foliar and trunk diseases. Two of the pathogens, Nectria sp. (stem canker) and Phytophthora alni subsp. alni (bleeding canker), were reported from the stems and trunks of Alnus nepalensis and Shorea robusta , respectively. The pathogens Neonectria neomacrospora (needle cast), Aureobasidium apocryptum (anthracnose), Golovinomyces cichoracearum (powdery mildew), Calonectria reteaudii (blight), Dothistroma septosporum (needle cast), Calonectria indusiata (spot), Olivea tectonae (rust) and Rhytisma acerinum (tar spot) were isolated from the foliar part of the host trees Abies spectabilis, Acer laevigatum, Alnus nepalensis, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Pinus roxburghii, Rhododendron arboreum, Tectona grandis and Toona ciliata , respectively. These species could be the potential invasive forest pathogens in Nepal. An effective long-term future plan needs to be developed for managing these forest diseases to maintain the forest health of the country.

Abstract India has a rich history of ornithology, and bird research in this field has expanded considerably in recent decades, spurred by a growing number of birdwatchers and ornithologists. Despite this progress, critical gaps remain. This paper highlights key areas where further research is needed and identifies pressing questions that will shape Indian ornithology in the coming years. Drawing from diverse inputs, we present a curated list of 101 research questions spanning across the various disciplines in ornithology – Natural History, Physiology and Disease Ecology, Behaviour, Population and Community Ecology, Habitat Ecology, Macroecology and Biogeography, Population Genetics and Evolution, Applied/Economic Ornithology and Conservation. The list was compiled through a multi-stage process, starting with a public open call for questions, followed by review and curation by a smaller panel of subject specialists. Each question was independently scored by a panel of experts based on three criteria: generality, novelty, and relevance. To account for variation in scoring styles, scores were normalised using Z-scores. The top 101 research questions were then selected based on these standardised scores. Each question is accompanied by an annotation that describes the significance of the question, and highlights opportunities to address it. While our list of research questions highlights significant research priorities, it is not intended to be exhaustive. Rather, it reflects the perspectives of those involved in its curation, who deemed these questions particularly relevant and impactful towards advancing Indian ornithology. We expect these questions to spark new project ideas among students, researchers, and citizen scientists, while guiding funders, managers, and policymakers toward priority research areas.

ABSTRACT Understanding how plant-pollinator interactions change over time and space helps us better grasp the ecology of these relationships. This knowledge offers insights into evolution and supports effective conservation efforts. Musa plants have a mixed spadix inflorescence which is visited by various insects. The objective of the study was to derive the difference in the number and diversity of insect visitors coming to the spatially and temporally separated male and female flowers of the spadix of banana cultivar Musa acuminata var. Robusta. Parameters such as the height of flower bracts from ground, number of flowers per bract, nectar quantity per serving per bract and sugar concentration per serving per bract were correlated with number of insect visitors. The visitors’ composition includes the insect orders: Coleoptera, Dermaptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera and Thysanoptera. Among these, the highest representation was from the order Hymenoptera with 17 insect species followed by Diptera with 9 species. Formicidae was the most abundant family with 11 species taxonomically identified. The study observes significant differences in the number of insect visitors, their spatial distribution, nectar quantity, and sugar concentration between male and female flower bracts. A marked positive correlation between the spatial placement, quantity of nectar, and sugar concentration of nectar was also observed with the number of insects visiting. While spatially high female flowers accommodate significantly more number of insect species as visitors, male flowers stand significantly behind. The study implies that the relevance of the food serving position matters over the quality and quantity of the item served in the spatially separated male and female flowers.

A hyaline to pale olivaceous brown hyphomycetous fungus was collected on living leaves of Tinospora cordifolia in India. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of several loci (LSU-RPB2-ITS) indicated a relationship with cercosporoid fungi (Mycosphaerellaceae). As no other known lineage shares similar morphology or DNA sequences, a new genus, Uwebraunomyces, is proposed, with U. tinosporae comb. nov. based on Ramularia tinosporae as the type species. Conidiophores are pale olivaceous to very pale brown in colour, typically unbranched, and subcylindrical to geniculate-sinuous at the tip. Conidia are solitary, obclavate to obpyriform, straight to curved, and few-septate. Additionally, the conidiogenous loci are characterized by a centrally located small papilla and a minute, distinct frill that is typically evident in older scars. These characteristics distinguish Uwebraunomyces from other closely related members of the ramularioid complex. Additionally, Cercosporella bundelkhandae is recognized as a new synonym as it shares nearly identical morphological features with U. tinosporae. At the ultrastructural level, Uwebraunomyces is further characterized by conidiogenous loci that bulge outward, forming convex or truncated cone shapes, with wall thickening extending beyond the area originally occupied by the base of the conidium. Older scars display a minute papilla or small, somewhat conical protuberant like structure in the centre of their apical depression, often accompanied by a minute, distinct frill. The conidial base is obconically truncate, featuring a basal depression with a centrally located, slightly protuberant structure. These distinct ultrastructural features set Uwebraunomyces apart from other members of the ramularioid complex, underscoring its taxonomic significance within the Mycosphaerellaceae. Citation: Singh G, Kumari P, Rajwar S, Yadav S, Mall S, Kumar S, Singh R (2025). Uwebraunomyces, a novel genus of the family Mycosphaerellaceae. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 16: 197-214. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2025.16.11.