Phylogenetics and taxonomy of Telimenaceae (Phyllachorales) from Central America

Abstract

Since the circumscription of the genera Phyllachora and Telimena has been emended, several neotropical nongraminicolous species of Phyllachora have been transferred to Telimena, and several species of Telimena have been newly described. In order to better understand the species diversity and taxonomy of neotropical tar spot fungi, symptomatic leaves of non-graminicolous hosts of Trichilia sp. (Meliaceae) and Acalypha spp. (Euphorbiaceae) were collected in Costa Rica and Panama. Telimena trichiliae is newly described from Panama and Phyllachora acalyphae, Ph. Pichinchae, and Ph. balansae are newly combined into Telimena. Detailed morphological descriptions and illustrations are provided. New synonyms and records of Telimena are also presented, together with new morphological, host plant, and molecular data. We also present a revision and a dichotomous key for neotropical tar spot fungi on the host family Meliaceae.