REVISION OF PREDACIOUS HYPHOMYCETES IN THE DACTYLELLA-MONACROSPORIUM COMPLEX

Nematophagous hyphomycete species described in the anamorph-genera Dac tylella Grove 1884, Monacrosporium Oudem. 1885, and allied genera are revised. These include most of the known predacious species that form trapping organs enabling them to capture nematodes and other microscop ic animals, with the exception of Arthrobotrys Corda. The revision is mainly based on isolates kept in the Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultu res, Baarn, and about 180 of my own isolates. Preserved material was o nly studied as far as type specimens were concerned. Emphasis is laid on morphological characters, especially on conidium and conidiophore m orphology and the type of trapping organ. In addition, a few physiolog ical-biochemical characters were assessed in order to clarify the spec ific and generic delimitation. Dactylella is typified by D. minuta whi ch is, as far as we know, a non-nematophagous species. The genus shoul d, therefore, be reserved for non-predacious species. The large group of nematode-trapping hyphomycetes are retained in (or newly transferre d to) the two genera Arthrobotrys and Monacrosporium. For practical re asons these two genera are kept distinct, though they are believed to be closely related. Their phylogeny is discussed. Drechsleromyces Subr am. and Gangliophragma Subram. are regarded as synonyms of Dactylella. Drechslerella Subram., Golovinia Mekht., Monacrosporiella Subram., an d Kafiaddinia Mekht. are synonymised with Monacrosporium, Dactylariops is Mekht., Geniculifera Rifai, Nematophagus Mekht., and Woroninula Mek ht. with Arthrobotrys. Thirty-nine species are accepted in Monacrospor ium. All these species are described and illustrated. A teleomorph con nection is reported for the first time for a species of Monacrosporium . A dichotomous key for the predacious species, primarily based on the morphology of trapping organs, is presented. A checklist of all speci fic epithets used in this complex (including excluded species) is prov ided. The following new combinations are proposed: Arthrobotrys nemato paga (Mekht. & Faisieva) A. Rubner, Dactylella cylindrospora (R.C. Coo ke) A. Rubner, Monacrosporium arcuatum (Scheuer & Webster) A. Rubner, M. asthenopagum (Drechsler) A. Rubner, M. copepodii (G.L. Barren) A. R ubner, M. iridis (Ts. Watan.) A. Rubner & W. Gams, M. leptosporum(Drec hsler) A. Rubner, M. lobatum(Dudd.) A. Rubner, M. multiforme (Dowsett, J. Reid & Kalkat) A. Rubner; M. tentaculatum A. Rubner & W. Gams nom. nov. replaces Laridospora appendiculata (Anastasiou) Nawawi.