Peter R Johnston

Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research · Systematics Team

Six species of Torrendiella are described and illustrated from Nothofagus, and a key is provided for their identification. T. madsenii occurs on wood in Australia, New Zealand, and southem South America, and although its host range is uncertain, may it be confined to Nothofagus. The other five species form fruiting bodies on fallen leaves, are rest...

Thirteen species of Coccomyces are reported for Australia; a further species is recognised but not described because of insufficient material. Six of the species are described as new. Most of the Australian species are C. leptosporus-like in morphology, a characteristic of most Coccomyces spp. from tropical and Southern Hemisphere regions. One of t...

Descriptions and illustrations are provided for seven species of fungi associated with tar-spot-like symptoms on living Nothofagus leaves ha New Zealand. The fungi treated are Trabutia nothofagi Syd. and its anamorph Baeumleria nothofagi (Henn.) Petr. & Syd., another Trabutia sp. (which is not formally described as the only known collection in imma...

Newly recorded plant pathogenic fungi from the Chatham Islands are listed. These include six fungi (Cercospora solanicola, Claviceps nigricans, Pestalotiopsis leucopogonis: Puccinia ernbergeriae, Ramularia beticola, Septoria betae) and 46 host/pathogen records which are new for New Zealand. Additional keywordshost plants–New Zealand–plant pathogen...

An annotated list is presented of all fungi known to be associated with indigenous species of Metrosideros in New Zealand. This includes information on 209 species of fungi, with records taken from the literature, as well as unpublished information associated with specimens held in Herbarium PDD and in Herbarium NZFRI(M). There are relatively few p...

Descriptions and illustrations are provided for three Meliolina hyperparasites from New Zealand: a new genus and species, Annellospermo‐sporella meliolinae, and Malacaria meliolinae on Meliolina leptospermi, and Eriomycopsis meliolinae on Meliolina novae‐zealandiae. Annellospermo‐sporella meliolinae may be the anamorph of Malacaria meliolinae. The...

The genetic relationships between several morphological groups recognized within Colletotrichum acutatum sensu lato were investigated using RAPD analysis and vegetative compatibility analysis. Isolates were examined from fruit rots originating in New Zealand and Australia, from Lupinus spp. in New Zealand, Canada, France and the U.K., and from Pinu...

The diversity and frequency of leaf endophytic fungi occurring in naturally regenerating and planted stands of manuka were investigated at several sites. A restricted and characteristic range of species was isolated from all sites, although marked differences were noted between natural and planted stands. In natural stands a Phyllosticta species wa...

The development of the pathogenic fungus Fusarium tumidum on gorse ( Ulex europaeus ), a major weed of pastures and plantation forests in New Zealand, was studied under controlled conditions. F. tumidum , like most other foliar fungal pathogens, requires moisture to infect plants. Long, continuous dew periods ( 24 h) after inoculation of plants pro...

Isolates of Colletotrichum associated with fruit rots in New Zealand were used to test the applicability of morphological, cultural, and rDNA sequence data to clarify relationships within this genus. Morphological and cultural features were used to recognize 16 distinct groups among the New Zealand fruit-rotting isolates. These included the current...

Isolates of Colletotrichum associated with fruit rots in New Zealand were used to test the applicability of morphological, cultural, and rDNA sequence data to clarify relationships within this genus. Morphological and cultural features were used to recognize 16 distinct groups among the New Zealand fruit-rotting isolates. These included the current...

Interest in the possibility of biological control of gorse and broom with fungal pathogens prompted a survey across New Zealand of fungi associated with diseased stem and leaf tissue of these weeds. New disease records made during the survey include: Ascochyta ulicis, Botryosphaeria dothidea, Gibberella avenacea, G. baccata, Glomerella cingulata an...

Eight species of Psilocybe are reported from New Zealand: P. argentina, P. aucklandii, P. coprophila, P. makarorae sp. nov., P. novae-zelandiae, P. semilanceata, P. subaeruginosa, and P. subcoprophila. Of these, P. aucklandii, P. makarorae, P. subaeruginosa, and P. semilanceata stain blue-green with damage, a reaction characteristic of Psilocybe sp...

Elsinoë dracophylli sp. nov. is described and illustrated from Dracophyllum pyrimidale and D. traversii. It is the first Elsinoë species to be described from a member of the Epacridaceae, and is distinguished from the Ericaceae-inhabiting species by ascospore size.

Single-ascospore isolates from perithecia belonging to a species of Gibberella found on diseased gorse (Ulex europaeus) plants produced an anamorph in culture identified as Fusarium tumidum. A teleomorph has not previously been reported for F. tumidum and it is described as Gibberella tumida sp. nov. ascospore size distinguishing it from all previo...

Sixty-three species of Rhytismataceae have been reported from New Zealand, on 76 host genera, eight of which are introduced. The species are listed with references to their original publication, additional descriptions and illustrations where appropriate, and host species. In an attempt to make this group of fungi more accessible to those who are n...

Gelineostroma swartii sp. nov. is described and illustrated, and compared with G. athrotaxi. The relationship of the genus to other members of the Rhytismatales is discussed.

Within the Rhytismataceae one new genus, Pureke, and four new species, Pureke zelandicum, Hypoderma liliensis, Lophodermium nematoideum, and Propolis desmoschoeni are described from New Zealand.

Colpoma agathidis sp. nov. on bark of Agathis australis, Colpoma nothofagi sp. nov. on bark and wood of Nothofagus spp., and Propolomyces versicolor (Fries) Dennis on decorticated wood of unidentified plants, are described and reported from New Zealand.

Bivallum gen. nov. is described with the type species B. zelandicum sp, nov. and five other species: B. diselmatis sp. nov.; B. heterosporum (Butin), comb. nov.; B. microstrobi sp. nov.; B. pilgerodendri (Butin), comb. nov.; B. podocarpi (Butin), comb. nov. The genus is southern hemisphere is distribution, being found on Cupressaceae and Podocarpac...

The genus Hypoderma is redefined, based primarily on features associated with ascomatal development, rather than on ascospore shape. Twelve species are reported from New Zealand of which eleven are described as new: H. alborubrum, H. bidwillii, H. bihospitum, H. campanulatum, H. carinatum, H. cookianum, H. cordylines, H. dundasicum, H. obtectum, H....

The potential for fungi to control 14 important weeds in New Zealand is reviewed. Information provided includes the fungi already known from these weeds in New Zealand, fungi recorded from the native ranges of the weeds, and past work on the control of these weeds using fungi, both in New Zealand and elsewhere. The 14 weeds are: Berberis spp.; Budd...

Asci of most members of the Coryneliaceae were examined. All species of Corynelia, Coryneliospora Fitzpatrickiella, Lagenulopsis, and Tripospora, and representative species of Caliciopsis and Coryneliopsis were studied by light microscopy. Two species of Corynelia were also examined using transmission electron microscopy. Except in Coryneliopsis, a...

Twenty-one species of Lophodermium are reported from New Zealand. Sixteen species are described as new: L. asteliae L. atrum L. brunneolum L. croesicum L. hauturuanum L. inclusum L. irregulare L. kaikawakae L. mahuianum L. mangatepopense L. medium L. nigrofactum L. rectangulare L. rubrum L. tindalii,. L. unciniae and L. breve (Berkeley) de Notaris...

Asci of most members of the Coryneliaceae were examined. All species of Corynelia, Coryneliospora Fitzpatrickiella, Lagenulopsis, and Tripospora, and representative species of Caliciopsis and Coryneliopsis were studied by light microscopy. Two species of Corynelia were also examined using transmission electron microscopy. Except in Coryneliopsis, a...

A fungus causing a leaf-spotting disease and leaf drop of Citrus spp. in the Pacific Islands is described as Cryptosporiopsis citri sp. nov. Previously, this fungus was recorded as Guigndrdia citricarpa Kiely. C. citri differs from G. citricarpa in morphology, cultural characteristics, and disease symptoms.

Ten species of Coccomyces and four species of Propolis are reported from New Zealand. In addition to C. crystalligerus Sherwood, C. limitatus (Berkeley & Curtis) Saccardo, C. radiatus Sherwood, P. emarginata (Cooke & Massee) Sherwood, and P. quadrifida (Leveille) Montagne, there are nine newly described species, C. clavatus, C cupressinum, C. globo...

Twenty-three species and 1 variety of the Ostropalean genus Stictis Persoon:Fries are reported from New Zealand: S. brachyspora Saccardo et Berlese, S. carnea Seaver et Waterson, S. dicksoniae Sherwood, S. dumontii Sherwood, S. fuscella Sherwood, S. hawaiiensis Cash, S. prominens Sherwood, S. radiata Persoon: Fries , S. ramuligera Starbäck, S. serp...

A survey was made of diseases occurring on blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) in New Zealand. The most important disease, both of nursery stock and of mature plants growing in poorly drained sites, was Phytophthora root rot (P. cinnamomi Rands). Botrytis cinerea Pers. ex Nocca & Balbis, was important as the cause of target-spot stem lesion, a flow...

Two new species of Phoma Sacc. are described. Phoma nigricans sp. nov. was isolated from dead leaf and twig tissue on various woody and herbaceous plants; P. pratorum sp. nov. was isolated from the leaves of grasses. Neither species initiated disease symptoms during inoculation tests.

Fifteen species of Phoma were isolated from grasses and legumes in New Zealand pastures: P. chrysanthemicola Hollós, P. exigua Desm., P. fimeti Brun., P. glomerata (Corda) Wollenw. et Hochapf., P. herbarum Westend., P. huancayensis Turkensteen, P. leveillei Boerema et Bollen, P. macrostoma Mont. var. macrostoma, P. macrostoma var. incolorata (Home)...

Verticillium fungicola (Preuss) Hassebrauk (= V, malthousei Ware) and V. psalliotae Treschow were isolated from diseased, commercially grown mushrooms (Agaricus bispoms (J. Lange) Imbach) in New Zealand where benomyl was used as the main method of control. In in vitro tests with benomyl, these isolates had low ED50 values (0.8-2.1 μg/ml, as determi...