Saccharicola, a new genus for two Leptosphaeria species on sugar cane

Leptosphaeria bicolor, causal agent of a leaf scorch disease of sugar cane, is referred to the new genus Saccharicola. The ascospores are 1-3 transsep- tate and hyaline at first but become melanized and rough after release, as is the case in some members of Massarina and Lophiostoma. SSU rDNA data indi- cate that it is closely related to M. eburnea but is bio- trophic in leaves of sugar cane and not corticolous, the ascomata are less melanized, and it has Stagonos- pora- and Phoma-like synanamorphs, not a Ceratopho- ma-like anamorph. A second species, Leptosphaeria taiwanensis, is transferred to Saccharicola. It differs in slightly larger, normally 1-septate, hyaline spores with more attenuated ends. The family Massarinaceae is resurrected to accommodate Massarina s. str., Keis- sleriella, Saccharicola and Helminthosporium. These genera formed a clade with 100% bootstrap support in a parsimony analysis of SSU rDNA sequences from 38 ascomycetes, 30 of them members of Pleosporales (including Melanommatales).