Mycologia (2017) 109, 391-407

Peng Zhao, Makoto Kakishima, Qi Wang and Lei Cai (2017)
Resolving the Melampsora epitea complex
Mycologia 109 (3), 391-407
Abstract: Melampsora epitea (Pucciniales, Basidiomycota) has been widely known as the main rust pathogen on willows, but its species boundary has been extremely confusing. Melampsora epitea was often confused with several morphologically similar species, such as M. arctica, M. humilis, and M. epiphylla. Recent DNA-based studies using specimens from North America and Europe suggested that M. epitea was a complex of several phylogenetic species. In this study, we examined the species boundary of M. epitea based on rDNA phylogeny and the general mixed Yule coalescent (GMYC) model from 534 specimens. Twelve distinct species corresponding to 10 known species and 2 new species were recognized from East Asian specimens. We also evaluated the association of morphological characteristics, geographic origins, and host ranges with phylogenetic relationships. Our results revealed that several previously overlooked morphological characters in uredinial and telial stages were informative in delimiting M. epitea and allied species. Two novel species, M. salicis-futurae and M. salicis-triandrae, are described and compared with closely related species. A lectotype for M. epitea and epitypes for M. epitea, M. epiphylla, and M. humilis are designated to stabilize the use of names.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Qi Wang, Makoto Kakishima

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
identification/taxonomy

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Melampsora epitea	Willow (Salix)
	Melampsora humilis
	Melampsora epiphylla