Taxonomy and phylogeny of three rust fungi parasitic on Vitaceae in Korea, with Neophysopella viticola sp. nov. on Vitis vinifera.

Rust fungi are important pathogens of trees, ornamental plants, and food crops. Field research targeting rust diseases across Korea uncovered three distinct species of Neophysopella, affecting different members of the family Vitaceae. In our examination of both wild and cultivated grapevine (Vitis) species, including V. amurensis, V. coignetiae, and V. vinifera, we found N. meliosmaemyrianthae as well as a previously undescribed rust species, which we describe here as N. viticola sp. nov. Neophysopella ampelopsidis, which was previously identified as a rust pathogen of Vitis spp., has been observed to specifically infect Ampelopsis brevipedunculata. Through molecular sequence analysis of the ITS, LSU rDNA, and cox3 mtDNA regions, we determined the phylogenetic placements of these three species. Our morphological studies revealed the distinguishing features of N. viticola, particularly its unique teliospore layer and urediniospore dimensions. The emergence of N. viticola on economically valuable grapevines raises concerns about potential agricultural losses, highlighting the urgency for developing specialized management approaches in viticulture. Citation: Na DH, Choi Y-J, Shin H-D (2024). Taxonomy and phylogeny of three rust fungi parasitic on Vitaceae in Korea, with Neophysopella viticola sp. nov. on Vitis vinifera. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 14: 127-138. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2024.14.08.