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Issue: Vol. 741 No. 1: 12 Feb. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-02-12
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.741.1.2
Page range: 18-26
Abstract views: 33
PDF downloaded: 28

Phylogenetic analyses, morphological characteristics, and host specificity of a smut fungus on Zonotriche (Poaceae) from Tropical Africa reveal a new species, Tilletia zonotriches (Tilletiaceae)

Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 2 Gagarin St., 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria; IUCN SSC Rusts and Smuts Specialist Group, Sofia, Bulgaria
Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 2 Gagarin St., 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria; IUCN SSC Rusts and Smuts Specialist Group, Sofia, Bulgaria
Meise Botanic Garden, Domain of Bouchout, B-1860 Meise, Belgium
IUCN SSC Rusts and Smuts Specialist Group, Sofia, Bulgaria; Universität Hamburg, Institute of Plant Science and Microbiology, Organismic Botany and Mycology, Ohnhorststraße 18, 22609 Hamburg, Germany
Democratic Republic of the Congo new species phylogeny smut fungi taxonomy Tilletia Zambia Fungi

Abstract

Tilletia species are highly specialized parasitic fungi on grasses. During examination of specimens of grasses in herbarium of the Meise Botanic Garden, Belgium, an ovariicolous smut fungus belonging to Tilletia was found on specimens of Zonotriche decora from the D.R. Congo and Zambia. These were the first finds of Tilletia specimens on Zonotriche. To clarify the taxonomic status of this species, we conducted a molecular study based on ITS and LSU rDNA sequences. The phylogenetic analyses indicate that this species differs from the Tilletia species with available molecular data. Additionally, this species possesses a distinctive morphological character, by which it can be easily distinguished from all species currently recognized in Tilletia. It produces by far the largest-sized spores in Tilletia, (45–)48–63(–68) μm long. Based on molecular and morphological evidence, and host specialization, a new species, Tilletia zonotriches, is described and illustrated. The phylogenetic placement and affinities of the new species in Tilletia are analyzed. Tilletia zonotriches differs from the only known smut fungus on Zonotriche, Macalpinomyces zonotriches on Z. inamoena from Zambia, by having significantly larger spores.

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How to Cite

Denchev, T.T., Denchev, C.M., Fraiture, A. & Kemler, M. (2026) Phylogenetic analyses, morphological characteristics, and host specificity of a smut fungus on Zonotriche (Poaceae) from Tropical Africa reveal a new species, Tilletia zonotriches (Tilletiaceae). Phytotaxa 741 (1): 18–26. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.741.1.2