Najam Ul Sehar Afshan

University of the Punjab | PU · Institute of Botany

Two new species under the names of Lepiota brunneopileata and L. pakistanensis are described herein based on four collections during mushroom surveys in 2021-2022 from scrubland in district Gujrat, Pakistan. Morpho-anatomy and phylogenetic placement, based on Internal Transcribed Spacer (nrITS) and Larger Subunit (nrLSU), clustered them into Lepiot...

Based on morphological and molecular data, Bonomyces pakistanensis is described as a new species found in coniferous forests of Pakistan. Several collections of Bonomyces were made during mycological field trips conducted in different coniferous forests in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Detailed macro‐ and micro‐morphological descriptions and phylog...

Two new species of the lichen genus Lecaimmeria are described and illustrated from Pakistan, namely, Lecaimmeria asiatica and L. crispula. The former taxon is characterized by pale brown to dark brown thallus, up to 2-mm large areoles, flat to strongly convex apothecial disc, taller hymenium 120–150 µm, apically branched, not anastomosing paraphyse...

Pisolithus albus, collected from two different provinces is reported as a new record from Pakistan based on morphological and molecular analyses. This taxon is identified by off-white basidiomata with round, echinulate basidiospores. Phylogenetically this taxon belongs to P. albus complex. Morphological description, illustrations and phylogenetic p...

We analyzed smut fungi (Ustilaginales) parasitizing nine poaceous hosts from three districts (Shangla, Mansehra, and Dir Upper) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. Eight taxa were identified in two genera using both morphological and molecular techniques by amplifying ITS and LSU regions. We describe Ustilago pseudosyntherismae sp. nov. on Di...

Sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.) is an important cash crop in Pakistan, largely cultivated for its oil. However, its production is severely affected by a soil-borne fungal pathogen, Macrophomina phaseolina causing charcoal rot. The present study investigates the effectiveness of Trichoderma species, known antagonists to soil-borne pathogens for ma...

A new powdery mildew species, Erysiphe neelamensis , was found on Celtis eriocarpa in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. The identification was based upon morpho‐anatomical features and results of a molecular sequence analysis. This species is morphologically distinguished from phylogenetically allied Erysiphe species by having chasmothecia with few...

A powdery mildew fungus appearing on the leaves of Bistorta amplexicaulis in Pakistan is described as a new species, Erysiphe bistortae . This species is characterized by its large-sized chasmothecia and relatively small conidiophores. Because of biological and morphological differences from related species, supplemented by results of molecular seq...

Three new species Buellia darelensis , B. densitheca , B. kashmirensis and two new records B. elegans and B. taishanensis are added to the lichen biota of Pakistan. Buellia darelensis and B. kashmirensis share the same habitats found on the rock while B. densitheca colonized on bark of Pinus hardwoods in the Himalayan forest, Pakistan. Morphologica...

Circinaria pakistanica sp. nov. is described from the Himalayan moist temperate forests in Pakistan. The morphology, chemistry and ITS sequence support its distinction from other species of this genus. The taxon is characterised by a whitish to blackish grey thallus, greyish white epruinose apothecia, flat to slightly concave areoles, a hymenium 11...

Jasminum sambac L. is a species of jasmine native to a small region in the eastern Himalayas and is cultivated worldwide as an ornamental plant (USDA-ARS 2016). In Pakistan, it is cultivated for ornamental purposes throughout the country. The flowers of this plant are traditionally used in the preparation of essential oils and for making jasmine te...

A new species of powdery mildew fungus Erysiphe ahmadii and a new record, Erysiphe populicola , on Salicaceae are described from Pakistan. In addition to light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy is also done to clearly demonstrate the surface characters of chasmothecia. E. ahmadii sp. nov. is characterized by large conidia ((−26)29–35(−37) ×...

Biological control of fungi is a potential alternative to the use of chemical pesticides, which have been proved to be harmful to the environment. Pathogenic fungi were isolated and identified from wheat on PDA medium. Trichoderma harzianum have been isolated from soil and found to be effective biocontrol agent against various wheat-borne pathogeni...

Two new species, Sarcogyne crispula and S. pakistanensis are described and illustrated from Pakistan. Sarcogyne crispula is similar to S. praetermissa. Both have lecideine apothecia with smooth melanized margins which curl inward above the apothecial disc and grow on calcareous rock, but they differ especially in S. crispula having larger apothecia...

A new species of Erysiphe infecting Duthie’s bay tree in Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan, is described and illustrated based on molecular and morphological analyses. Erysiphe machilicola sp. nov. is morphologically distinct from other Erysiphe species on hosts of the Lauraceae by having longer conidiophores, larger chasmothecia with longer appendage...

Phaeophyscia kaghanensis Niazi, Nadeem, Afshan & Khalid, sp. nov. is described from Himalayan moist temperate forest in Pakistan. It is characterized by a greyish white to grey thallus, absence of asexual propagules, flat to slightly concave lobes, white medulla, black lower surface, large Physciatype ascospores (24-30×12-17 µm) and absence of seco...

Fungal biocontrol agents (FBCAs) are target specific, have a short generation time with a comparatively high reproductive rate, thus considered to be an emerging field of biocontrol research area. They have become a substitute for chemical pesticides because of their complex mechanism of action without developing resistance in pests, insects, weeds...

Diploschistes pakistanicus sp. nov. is described from the Himalayan moist temperate forest, Pakistan. ITS sequences confirm its position within the genus Diploschistes and, together with its morphology and chemistry, suggest that it is separate from other species of this genus. The taxon is characterized by grey to greyish white pruinose thallus, p...

A novel mushroom, occurring on sandy soil was collected from scrubland of Gujrat district, Pakistan. Phylogenetic analyses of the nrDNA ITS region revealed that it clusters within Leucoagaricus section Leucoagaricus. Further morpho-anatomical analyses confirmed its uniqueness, and it is here described as Leucoagaricus gujratensis sp. nov. The disti...

A novel mushroom, occurring on sandy soil was collected from scrubland of Gujrat district, Pakistan. Phylogenetic analyses of the nrDNA ITS region revealed that it clusters within Leucoagaricus section Leucoagaricus. Further morpho-anatomical analyses confirmed its uniqueness, and it is here described as Leucoagaricus gujratensis sp. nov. The disti...

A novel species in the genus Squamulea , S. chikarensis, is described from Himalayan moist temperate forest in Pakistan. The morphology, chemistry and ITS sequences support its distinction from other species of this genus. The taxon is characterized by a pale green to yellow thallus, large apothecia up to 0.8–1.8 mm wide, pale yellow to yellow-oran...

A new powdery mildew fungus, Phyllactinia cornicola (Erysiphaceae) infecting dogwood trees is described from Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan. Identification is based upon morpho‐anatomical features and molecular analysis. This species is characterized by having shorter conidiophores, and smaller chasmothecia, asci and ascospores compared to P. gutta...

Afshan, N., Fayyaz, I., Iftikhar, F., Niazi, A. R., Habib, K. & Khalid, A. N. 2023. A new species of the genus Bacidina (Ramalinaceae, Ascomycota) from Pakistan. – Herzogia 36: 470– 478. Bacidina pakistanica from the Himalayan moist temperate forest in Pakistan is described as new to science. nrITS sequences confirm its position within the genus Ba...

U. (2023) A re-assessment of Erysiphe polygoni: Phylogenetic analyses suggest an undescribed species.-Sydowia 75: 233-242. Re-investigation of Erysiphe spp. on Polygonaceae in Iran, Germany, Pakistan, and Russia revealed that hitherto E. polygoni is a complex species. Precise morphological studies along with rDNA ITS and 28S data of fresh specimens...

In efforts to record pathogenic fungal diversity on ornamental plants of Pakistan, infected leaves of Chlorophytum comosum plants were collected from commercial nursery in Lahore, Pakistan. Investigation of leafspot symptoms led to identification of an ascomycete fungus, Thielavia terrestris. Analysis for fungal identification involved morphologica...

Fayyaz, I., Afshan, N., Iftikhar, F., Rehman Niazi, A. & Khalid, A. N. 2022. A new species of the lichen genus Buellia (lichenized Ascomycota, Caliciaceae) from Pakistan. – Herzogia 35: 613 – 620. Buellia densipruinosa from the Himalayan moist temperate forest in Pakistan is described as new to science. nrITS sequences confirm its position within t...

A new species in the genus Phaeophyscia is described from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan, supported by nrITS sequences, morphology and chemistry. The taxon is characterized by a green to greyish green thallus, usually narrow (0.5–2 mm), flat to convex lobes with abundant marginal soralia, black, dense small rhizines, small Physcia-type ascospores...

During a survey of mushrooms of Pakistan, Macrocybe gigantea was collected from University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan under the Morus species. For the domestication of this wild species, its culturability and cultivation potential was assessed by using different synthetic culture media and substrates. Among these different media used, maximum...

The new genus Kudratoviella for the former Caloplaca zeorina group having the highest level of bootstrap support in the phylogenetic tree of the Teloschistaceae, based on combined dataset of nrITS, 28S nrLSU DNA and 12S SSU mtDNA sequences, which does not belong to any other earlier proposed genera of the subfamily Xanthorioideae, is described. The...

In this study, a number of specimens of the genus Gyalolechia were collected from different areas of Pakistan and characterized using morpho-anatomical and molecular techniques. The present work revealed that collected specimens belong to two species of genus Gyalolechia i.e. G. fulgens and G. fulgida which are additions to the lichens of Pakistan....

Tulostoma loonbanglaense sp. nov. is described from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. ITS sequences confirm its position within the genus Tulostoma, and suggest that it is separate from other identified species of this genus. The species has globose to subglobose, with wide, solitary and appressed spines basidiospores, the basidio-spores are relati...

Plants of Cotinus coggygria were observed with powdery mildew symptoms during field surveys in Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan in 2020. Morpho-anatomical and molecular phylogenetic analyses were used to identify the powdery mildew species parasitizing these plants as Erysiphe verniciferae. Pathogenicity was confirmed on healthy leaves...

Plants of Cotinus coggygria were observed with powdery mildew symptoms during field surveys in Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan in 2020. Morpho-anatomical and molecular phylogenetic analyses were used to identify the powdery mildew species parasitizing these plants as Erysiphe verniciferae. Pathogenicity was confirmed on healthy leaves...

The newly described species, Lecidella iqbalii sp. nov., is so far only known from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan. A comparative morpho-anatomical study combined with a phylogenetic analysis based on the marker ITS placed this species together with two accessions from southern South America in a distinct and highly supported group at the base of...

A comprehensive study of a powdery mildew observed on leaves of Celtis tetrandra Roxb. was carried out by the authors. The symptoms appeared as white mycelium on leaves with embedded small black to brown spherical ascomata. Infected plants were collected from Thandiani (District Abbottabad, Division Hazara) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan,...

Three new species Lobothallia elobulata, L. iqbalii, and L. pakistanica from Pakistan are described as new to science and illustrated. Lobothallia elobulata is characterized by the absence of lobes, the presence of a distinct black hypothallus, and small, almost sphaeric ascospores 9–12 × 5–8 μm. Lobothallia iqbalii is characterized by its crustose...

During a survey of the lichens in the state of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, many specimens were collected from the Jhelum and Neelum valley and characterized using morpho-anatomical, molecular and chemical test methods. Two taxa new for Pakistan, i.e., Physciella chloanta and Xanthoparmelia protomatrae s. l., were found in the collection while Physconia...

The robust monophyletic branch having the highest level of bootstrap support in the phylogenetic tree of the Teloschistaceae, based on combined dataset of nrITS, 28S nrLSU DNA, and mtSSU sequences, which does not belong to any other earlier proposed genera of the subfamily Teloschistoideae, is described as new genus. The genus Iqbalia is characteri...

A powdery mildew fungus of the genus Phyllactinia was found on leaves of Juglans regia in Pakistan. This species is well characterized by having large-sized chasmothecia, rather short appendages and small ascospores. Sequences retrieved from this species formed a separate clade distant from the clade constituted by Phyllactinia juglandis, a common...

A new powdery mildew fungus, Erysiphe pakistanica (Erysiphaceae) infecting Indian willows is described from north-western areas of Pakistan. Identification is based upon morpho-anatomical features and molecular analysis. This species is characterized by having nipple-shaped appressoria, small chasmothecia and ascospores. Phylogenetic analysis of nr...

A new species of Megasporaceae, Aspicilia nigromaculata sp. nov. is described and illustrated from Pakistan. A comparative morpho–anatomical study and ITS– LSU-based molecular analyses confirmed its position within the genus Aspicilia. It differs from the other species of the genus by the following set of features: a well–developed, grey to greenis...

The recently submitted 62-page ???Checklist of rust fungi (Pucciniales) in Pakistan??? by Afshan & Khalid will be available for downloading from the Mycotaxon mycobiota webpage following final editorial approval during April 2023. This will bring to 156 the number of free access fungae uploaded or linked to http://www.mycotaxon.com/mycobiota/index....

During August–September 2018, powdery mildew symptoms were observed on both surfaces of leaves of Isodon rugosus in the Abbottabad and Malakand districts of Pakistan. The causal agent was identified as Erysiphe bunkiniana , based on its asexual morph and chasmothecia, and its identity was confirmed by molecular data. This is the first Pakistani rep...

Powdery mildew (Golovinomyces ambrosiae) is one of the most significant leaf diseases in sunflower plants (Helianthus annuus). In the current study, the causative agent is identified morpho-anatomically as well as by molecular methods and is being reported here as a new record for Pakistan. The impact of the causative agent was observed regarding c...

In order to explore the biodiversity of mushrooms from Pakistan, authors come across a new Humaria sp. associated with Pinus wallichiana from Pakistan’s part of Himalayan moist temperate forests. Morpho-anatomical and phylogenetic characterization were used to elucidate their taxonomic affinities. Morphological and phylogenetic analysis confirms th...

The 10-page "Checklist of powdery mildew fungi ( Erysiphaceae ) in Pakistan " by Afshan, Zafar, and Khalid may now be downloaded from Mycotaxon's mycobiota webpage. This annotated species list brings to 149 the number of freeaccess fungae now available on our website: http://www.mycotaxon.com/mycobiota/index.html

A new species Cantharocybe habibii is described from lowland northern Pakistan based on morphological and molecular data. Molecular phylogenetic analyses were based on the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacers (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS) and D1–D2 domains of the 28S region. The species is characterized by a broadly convex to hemispheric pil...

Coprinopsis hispida is described and illustrated as a new species from lowland northern Pakistan. Morphological characters and phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacers (ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2 = ITS) were used to clarify the taxonomic identity of the species. Coprinopsis hispida belongs to C. section Alopeciae and is distingu...

In this 7th contribution to the Fungal Systematics and Evolution series published by Sydowia, the authors formally describe 14 species: Cantharomyces paschalis, Cryptandromyces pinguis, C. tricornis, Laboulbenia amblystomi (Laboulbeniales); Cortinarius squamosus, Entoloma brunneicoeruleum, E. callipygmaeum, E. minutigranulosum, E. perasprellum, E....

Sonchus arvensis (Asteraceae) is a traditional medicinal herb. The aerial parts are a rich source of vitamins, essential amino acids, and minerals, which may help in treatment of fever, inflammation, detoxication, and blood circulation (Li et al. 2018). In October 2018, typical rust symptoms were observed on S. arvensis leaves and stems in Buner di...

Fungal Systematics and Evolution (FUSE) is one of the journal series to address the “fusion” between morphological data and molecular phylogenetic data and to describe new fungal taxa and interesting observations. This paper is the 6th contribution in the FUSE series—presenting one new genus, twelve new species, twelve new country records, and thre...

During a survey of plant pathogenic fungi of Khanspur, Thandiani, and adjacent areas, two plant species— Hedera helix ( Araliaceae ) and Peristrophe sp. ( Acanthaceae )—were found to be infected with rust fungi. After careful morphological and anatomical observations, these rusts were identified as Aecidium hederae and A. peristrophes, with A. peri...

During September-October 2017, powdery mildew symptoms were observed on both surfaces of leaves of Chenopodium ambrosioides in Abbottabad, Malakand, and Upper Dir districts of Pakistan. The causal agent was identified as Erysiphe betae, based on its asexual morphology and chasmothecia, and its identity was confirmed by molecular data. This is the f...

A new species of smut fungi, Urocystis piptatheri is described from Kumrat Valley, Pakistan based on morphological characters and molecular phylogenetic analysis of nuclear ribosomal DNA comprising the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions along with large subunit (LSU). The new species is characterized by the large size of its spore balls, siz...

Pileolaria pistaciae is a species originally found attacking Pistacia chinensis Bunge in Japan and a few other Asian countries. In this study, we report the presence of P. pistaciae in Pakistan. Infected leaves of P. chinensis were collected from two different sampling sites in the Abbottabad and Shangla districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of...

The rust pathogen Aecidium viburni and the powdery mildew Erysiphe viburni were isolated from leaves of Viburnum grandiflorum, establishing new records for Pakistan mycobiota.

Mushrooms with a thin-fleshed pileus that becomes plicate on opening, deliquescent lamellae and dark brown to blackish basidiospores are commonly called coprinoid mushrooms. The genus Coprinellus is one of the important lineages of coprinoid mushroom in the family Psathyrellaceae. Species-level taxonomy in Coprinellus is based mainly on the presenc...

During a uredinological survey carried out in September 2012 in the Ushu valley of Swat district, Pakistan, leaves of the medicinally important tree Salix alba L. commonly known as white willow, were found to be infected with a rust fungus. Uredinia were abaxial, scattered, rounded and brownish yellow. Urediniospores were found of two different typ...

Parasola is a genus of small, veil-less coprinoid mushrooms in the family Psathyrellaceae (Agaricales). The genus is not well documented in Asia, specifically in Pakistan. In this study we describe two new species Parasola glabra and P. pseudolactea from Pakistan, based on morphological and molecular data. Phylogeny based on three DNA regions: nuc...

The large genus Leucoagaricus (Basidiomycota) is poorly studied in Pakistan, where the northern parts of the country are considered hotspots for biodiversity. Based on morphological and molecular data, five new species are described: Leucoagaricus badius, L. lahorensiformis, L. pakistaniensis, L. sultanii and L. umbonatus. Descriptions and illustra...

Xanthagaricus pakistanicus is described as a new species from lowland northern 12 Pakistan, based on morphological and molecular data. It is characterized by a yellowish pileus, 13 covered with dark brown squamules, stipe with yellowish fibrils, globose basidiospores and pileal 14 squamules made up of pseudoparenchymatous epithelium with encrusted...

Aecidium saussureae-affinis and Uredopeltis chevalieri are first time described and illustrated from Pakistan and are new records for this area. Grewia optiva, Carpesium trachelifolium and Malus pumila are being reported here as new host records for rust fungi. Telial stage of Phakopsora ziziphi-vulgaris is first time recorded from Pakistan and is...

Parasola malakandensis sp. nov. is described as a new species from Malakand, Pakistan, based on morpho-anatomical and molecular data. Morphological description and line drawings of anatomical structures for the new species and comparison with closely allied taxa are provided. Phylogenetic analyses based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS), large s...

Galium L. belongs to the Rubaceae family and comprises about 400 species, distributed mainly in temperate regions. Traditionally, Galium has been used as a medicinal plant by people with lymph cancer, fever, hypertension, insomnia, jaundice, leukemia, swellings, and wounds. In Pakistan, this genus is represented by 24 species that are sold in local...

Parasola lilatincta a lilaceous coprinoid mushroom (Psathyrellaceae, Agaricales) is characterized and illustrated from Malakand, Pakistan. Morpho-anatomical description and sequencing of the ITS region of the rDNA are given. This is a new record for Pakistan.