New species of Vandijckomycella from Cardaria draba in Iran

Vandijckomycella cardariae (Didymellaceae) is newly described and illustrated from the leaf spot of Cardaria draba. Phylogenetic analyses were based on the internal transcribed spacer regions 1 and 2 including the intervening 5.8S nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS), partial β-tubulin (tub2), and RNA polymerase II second-largest subunit (rpb2). The strains of V. cardariae formed strongly supported clades, distinct from other previously known species in the phylogenetic tree. This new species is characterized by semi-immersed to immersed pycnidia having papillate or non-papillate ostioles, hyphal outgrowths, and sometimes with a short neck; pseudoparenchymatous cell walls; ampulliform to doliiform, phialidic conidiogenous cells; and cylindrical, aseptate, straight conidia, which are rounded at both ends. In addition, V. cardariae is easily distinguished from the two other species of Vandijckomycella by producing its cylindrical and longer conidia.