Phylogenetics of the rust fungi (Pucciniales) of South Africa, with notes on their life histories and possible origins.

South Africa has an indigenous rust (Pucciniales) funga of approximately 460 species. This funga was sampled with species from as many genera as possible. The nuclear ribosomal large subunit (28S) region was amplified from samples representing 110 indigenous species, as well as the small subunit (18S) region and the cytochrome oxidase subunit 3 (CO3) in some cases, and these were used in phylogenetic analyses.

The life cycle of on and species in South Africa.

Rust fungi are important plant pathogens and have been extensively studied on crops and other host plants worldwide. This study describes the heterecious life cycle of a rust fungus on (finger grass) and the species (large yellow bitter apple), (bitter apple), and (eggplant) in South Africa. Following field observations, inoculation studies involving telial isolates collected from plants produced spermogonia and aecia on , and .

Redescription of Mitodiplosis graminis (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), a gall midge inhibiting the flowering of pyp grass Ehrharta villosa (Poaceae) in South Africa.

Mitodiplosis graminis Kieffer, the only species of the genus Mitodiplosis (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), was described in 1914 as the causative agent of an unspecified gall on pyp grass Ehrharta villosa (Poaceae) in South Africa. The type specimens are presumed lost. We reared all developmental stages of the gall midge, redescribe here the male and female, and describe for the first time the gall, egg, larva and the pupa.

The Genera of Fungi - fixing the application of the type species of generic names - G 2: Allantophomopsis, Latorua, Macrodiplodiopsis, Macrohilum, Milospium, Protostegia, Pyricularia, Robillarda, Rotula, Septoriella, Torula, and Wojnowicia.

The present paper represents the second contribution in the Genera of Fungi series, linking type species of fungal genera to their morphology and DNA sequence data, and where possible, ecology. This paper focuses on 12 genera of microfungi, 11 of which the type species are neo- or epitypified here: Allantophomopsis (A. cytisporea, Phacidiaceae, Phacidiales, Leotiomycetes), Latorua gen.

Morphological and molecular characterization of Endophyllum species on perennial asteraceous plants in South Africa.

Endophyllum osteospermi is an autoecious, endocyclic rust fungus, which has only been recorded on Chrysanthemoides monilifera ssp. monilifera (Asteraceae, Calendulae), a perennial woody shrub. Both organisms are indigenous to South Africa.