Fungalpedia – Note 594, Pseudocercospora
Pseudocercospora Speg.
Citation when using this data: Zhang et al. 2025 (in prep.) – Fungalpedia, Ascomycota.
Index Fungorum, Facesoffungi, MycoBank, GenBank, Fig. 1
Classification: Mycosphaerellaceae, Mycosphaerellales, Dothideomycetidae, Dothideomycetes, Pezizomycotina, Ascomycota, Fungi
Pseudocercospora was introduced by Spegazzini (1910) and typified by P. vitis, which is a foliar pathogen of grapevines (Zhou et al 2023). Initially, Pseudocercospora was treated as an asexual morph of Mycosphaerella, but subsequent research recognized it as a distinct and monophyletic genus within Mycosphaerellaceae, Capnodiales, Dothideomycetes, Ascomycota (Deighton 1976; Crous 2009; Crous et al. 2013b; Bakhshi et al. 2014; Videira et al. 2017; Hyde et al. 2024c). Four gene regions, namely ITS, tef1-α, actA, and rpb2, were found to be suitable for species delimitation within Pseudocercospora (Nakashima et al. 2016; Silva et al. 2016), with rpb2 being confirmed as the preferred gene region for delineating genera within Mycosphaerellaceae (Nakashima et al. 2016). Morphologically, Pseudocercospora exhibits cercospora-like asexual morphs being synnematous, fasciculate or solitary conidiophores, and multiform, scolecosporous usually, subhyaline or pigmented conidia with unthickened or slightly thickened and integrated, mono- to polyblastic, sympodial conidiogenous cells with proliferating percurrently via inconspicuous or darkened, irregular annellations, or only thickened along the rim, or flat, and unthickened loci, but never pronounced (Chupp 1954; Crous et al. 2000a, b; Crous and Braun 2003; Braun et al. 2013; Crous et al. 2013b; Bakhshi et al. 2014; Silva et al. 2016; Pem et al. 2024).
Pseudocercospora is the second largest cercosporoid genus with over 1,700 epithets listed in Index Fungorum (August, 2024). Hongsanan et al. (2020a) accepted 1,498 morphological species under Pseudocercospora. These species are known to be important plant pathogens associated with various plant hosts worldwide, with a preference for subtropical and tropical regions (Chupp 1954; Deighton 1976,1987; Silva et al. 2016; Videira et al. 2017). They can cause leaf spot, blight, fruit spot, rot, canker and other symptoms, particularly Sigatoka disease on banana (Waterman 1954; Pretorius et al. 2003; Arzanlou et al. 2007a, 2010; Chang et al. 2016; Alakonya et al. 2018; Crous et al. 2021). Some Pseudocercospora species also act as endophytes and saprobes (Chupp 1954; van den Breeijen et al. 2006; Braun et al. 2013). Furthermore, certain Pseudocercospora species have significance in quarantine and biological control, such as P. borreriae, P. fijiensis and P. palicoureae (Pereira and Barreto 2005, 2006; Churchill 2011). During an investigation of fungi on pteridophytes, Pseudocercospora emerged as the third most species-rich fungal group associated with pteridophytes (Table 2). Additionally, the list and the key to the species of Pseudocercospora on ferns was provided by Braun et al. (2013), as well as the Tabular key to Pseudocercospora species on ferns. This study also provides an updated list of Pseudocercospora associated with ferns and their allies (Table 2).
Type species: Pseudocercospora vitis (Lév.) Speg.
≡ Septonema vitis Lév.
Other accepted species: Species Fungorum – search Pseudocercospora
Figure 1 – Pseudocercospora species. a The type species of Pseudocercospora vitis, redrawn from Bakhshi et al. (2014). b–d Some examples of Pseudocercospora species associated with ferns, redrawn from Braun et al. (2013)). b Pseudocercospora abacopteridicola on Abacopteris urophylla. c Pseudocercospora adianti on Adiantum tetraphyllum. d Pseudocercospora lygodii on Lygodium japonicum. Scale bars: = 10 µm
Table 2 – Checklist of fungi associated with pteridophytes from previous studies
References
Crous P, Phillips A, Baxter A 2000a – Phytopathogenic Fungi from South Africa. University of Stellenbosch, Dep Plant Pathol Press.
Deighton FC 1976 – Studies on Cercospora and allied genera. VI. Pseudocercospora Speg., Pantospora Cif. and Cercoseptoria Petr. Mycological Papers 140:1–168.
Hyde KD, et al. 2024c – The 2024 outline of fungi and fungus-like taxa. Mycosphere (in press).
Spegazzini C 1910 – Mycetes argentinenses, (Series V). Anales Del Museo Nacional De Historia Natural De Buenos Aires 20:329–467.
Entry by
Jing-Yi Zhang, School of Food and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Guizhou Institute of Technology, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China, Center of Excellence in Fungal Research, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, 57100, Thailand, School of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, 57100, Thailand, Guizhou Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang, 550009, People’s Republic of China.
Published online 11 June 2025