MYCOLOGIA BALCANICA 8: 1–77 (2011) 1 Smut fungi in Africa – a checklist Kálmán Vánky ¹*, Christine Vánky ¹ & Cvetomir M. Denchev ² ¹ Herbarium Ustilaginales Vánky (H.U.V.), Gabriel-Biel-Str. 5, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany ² Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 2 Gagarin St., 1113 Sofi a, Bulgaria Received 27 June 2010 / Accepted 23 February 2011 Abstract. Th e checklist of the smut fungi of Africa and adjacent islands contains 427 species in 47 genera, arranged alphabetically. A short description of each genus is provided. For each species the author(s), place of publication, type(s), nomenclatural and taxonomic synonyms are given, as well as the host plant family, host plant genus (genera), and general distribution are mentioned. For each species the African host plants and the countries from where they are known are enumerated. A chapter of doubtful, excluded or invalidly published taxa is compiled. A list of selected literature is completing the paper. Th e checklist refl ects the great, but incompletely known biodiversity of Africa. Key words: Africa, biodiversity, smut fungi, taxonomy Introduction collecting trip in regions with good vegetation, towards the end of the rainy period is also an evidence for the fact that the Th e checklist includes 427 species of smut fungi smut fungi of Africa are poorly known. Th e number of still (Basidiomycota) of Africa and adjacent islands, e.g., Canary undescribed species must be very large. Unfortunately, due to I., Cape Verde I., Madagascar, Madeira, Mauritius, Reunion, the “population explosion”, many natural habitats disappear Seychelles, Socotra Island, and Zanzibar. Th e genera, and being used for agriculture. With their natural habitats, the species within each genus, are arranged alphabetically. numerous species of plants and animals becomes extinct. Th e aim of this list is to give an account of the smut fungi According to the report of the World Conservation Union, of this continent. Th e list is based mainly on specimens at least further 11 167 species of plants and animals face a preserved in Herbarium Ustilaginales Vánky (H.U.V.), many high risk of extinction soon. In this number no microscopic of them collected by K. Vánky and his family, but also on creatures are included. Th e “explosion” of human population specimens held in other herbaria which were accessible for and increased consumption of food during the 20th century study. Also fragments of innumerable African specimens, are resulting in an entirely new environmental crisis in the many of them types, obtained from the late Prof. Zambettakis history of humankind and the world. (PC), facilitated the preparation of this list. Data from the Numerous botanists and mycologists collected smut literature were taken into consideration if there was no or fungi in diff erent parts of Africa, often accidentally, but also only little doubt about the correctness of both host plant systematically. To this last group belong, i.a., E.M. Doidge and fungus identifi cation. Th e aim of this list is also to pave (South Africa), J.C. Hopkins (S Rhodesia, = Zimbabwe), R. the way towards smut fungus monographs of various African Maire (Algeria, Morocco), I.B. Pole-Evans (South Africa), countries. H. Vanderyst (Congo), K. Vánky, C. Vánky & T. Vánky Th e smut fungi of Africa are relatively little known. Th is (Cameroon, Ethiopia, Gambia, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, is evident from the great number of smut fungi collected Morocco, Reunion, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, only once (90 species = 21 %). Th e great number of new Zambia, and Zimbabwe), and G. Viennot-Bourgin (Guinea, smut fungi, which can be found during a 3–4 weeks long Madagascar, and Madeira). *Corresponding author: e-mail: [email protected] 2 Vánky , K. et al. — Smut fungi in Africa – a checklist New species were described by numerous authors but only Agriculture”, published a revised list of plant diseases in few compiling papers have been published about smut fungi Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), which included 39 smut fungi from Africa, including short lists. Th e following authors are on 43 host plants, but without date of collection. mentioned: • Zambettakis (1963, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1977, • Ainsworth (1941) published 25 smut fungi from Uganda, 1980) published numerous smut fungi from Africa, of which 3 are new species. between them also several new species. • Beeli (1922a, b), published microfungi from Congo, • Zambettakis and Foko (1971) published a new Mycosyrinx collected mainly by H.J.R. Vanderyst, including smut (= Geminago) from Cameroon. fungi. He described also several new taxa. • Zundel (1930, 1931, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1943, 1944, • Castellani and Ciferri (1937) published 35 smut fungi 1953) published a great number of smut fungi from NE Africa (today Ethiopia and Eritrea). from diff erent parts of Africa, between them many • Doidge (1950) published a detailed list of 125 South new species. He also prepared a monograph of the African smut fungi with their host plants, synonyms Ustilaginales of South Africa and adjacent territories and collection data. (Zundel 1938) in which 117 species are treated. • Duke (1926) enumerated 9 smut fungi from Kenya, of Th e sole attempt to compile a smut fungus mycota of which one was a new species. Africa was made by Zambettakis (1970, reprinted in 1971, • Foko (1974) mentioned 8 smut fungi from Cameroon. and supplemented in 1980). Unfortunately, the richly • Guyot, Malençon, and Massenot (1955, 1958, 1960, illustrated papers with beautiful drawings of diseased plants 1969) collected and published a great number of smut and spores, are of little use. Not only because they abound in fungi from the Mediterranean area, including North inaccuracy and faults, but especially because the descriptions Africa, between them many new species. and illustrations in most of the cases cannot be referred to • Hennings, in his papers (1892, 1893a, b, 1895a, b, c, a certain specimen; many times representing another species 1898a, b, 1901, 1905, 1907a, b, c, 1908) published than the indicated one. smut fungi from Africa, describing several new species. Because of repeated changes in names of administrative • Hopkins (1938) listed 19 smut fungi from Rhodesia, territories, and also borders, many specimens are diffi cult together with their host plants and brief collection to attribute to a certain country. Th erefore, often names details. of localities of the original publications are retained. For • Kukkonen and Gjærum (1977), treating the seven simplicity, for the names of Belgian Congo, Zaire, and “Cintractia” (= Ustanciosporium) species on Scleria, Democratic Republic of Congo, we are using the name described two new species from Africa. Congo, or for Union of South Africa and Republic of South • Maire (1905, 1906a, b, 1907, 1909, 1914, 1915a, b, c, Africa, the name South Africa or S Africa. 1916, 1917a, b, c, 1919a, b, 1921, 1926, 1927, 1929, 1931a, b) published numerous smut fungi from North Africa, between them many new species. Checklist • Maire and Werner (1937), published 57 smut fungi from Morocco, including two new species. • Piątek and Vánky (2005, 2007), and Piątek et al. (2008) I. ANTHEROSPORA R. Bauer et al., in Bauer et al., Mycol. published three new species from Africa. Res. 112: 1300, 2008. • Rothwell (1983) updated Whiteside (1966), including 3 Sori in the fl owers, usually in the anthers, but also additional smut fungi from Zimbabwe. on fi laments, gynoeceum or in the ovaries of host plants • Vánky (1995a, b, 1996, 1997a, b, c, 1999a, b, 2000a, in Hyacinthaceae (Liliaceae s. lat.), lacking peridium and b, 2001, 2002a, 2003a, b, 2004, 2005a, b, 2006a, b, columella. Spore mass blackish brown, powdery. Infection 2008, 2009, 2010) published a great number of smut systemic, all fl owers of an infl orescence aff ected. Spores single, fungi from Africa, between them 25 new species. pigmented (yellowish brown, without violet tint, orange or • Vánky (2005c) published 63 smut fungi from Ethiopia rusty colour). Sterile cells absent. Spore germination results and Eritrea belonging to 19 genera, on 69 host plant in phragmobasidia. species. Antherospora has eight known species of which seven • Vánky, K. and C. (2002), in their checklist, published occur in Africa. 116 species of smut fungi, belonging to 20 genera from Type: A. vaillantii. Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. • Viennot-Bourgin published smut fungi from Africa, 1. Antherospora albucae (Syd. & P. Syd.) R. Bauer et al., in especially from Madeira, Guinea, and Madagascar Bauer et al., Mycol. Res. 112: 1300, 2008. — Ustilago (1937, 1938, 1939, 1946, 1951, 1952, 1957, 1958, albucae Syd. & P. Syd., in Mildbraed, Wissensch. Ergebn. 1959, 1963a, b), describing several new species. Deutsch. Zentral-Afrika Exped. 1907–1908, Bd. 2: 95, • Whiteside (1966), based on collections held by the 1914. — Type on Albuca sp., Rwanda, Buganza, S of the “Plant Pathology Section of the Rhodesian Ministry of Mycologia Balcanica 8 (2011) 3 Lake Mohasi, 28.VII.1907, collector unknown, no. 610 AFR: Bellevalia mauritanica Pomel, B. trifoliata (Ten.) (type lost in B). Kunth, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco. On Hyacinthaceae (Liliaceae s. lat.): Albuca spp.; Africa. AFR: on Albuca altissima Dryand., A. fastigiata Dryand., 6. Antherospora urgineae (Maire) R. Bauer et al., in Bauer Albuca sp.; Rwanda, S Africa. et al., Mycol. Res. 112: 1304, 2008. — Ustilago urgineae Maire, in Recueil de Traveaux Cryptogamiques dédiés 2. Antherospora eucomis Vánky, Mycotaxon 110: 293, à Louis Mangin: 359, 1931. — Lectotype on Urginea 2009. — Type on Eucomis punctata, South Africa, Cape maritima (design. by Vánky 1991: 166), Morocco, Prov., Kentani Distr., Kentani, 12.XII.1914, A. Pegler, Larache, 10.XII.1929, R. Maire, Herb. Maire 9956, H.U.V. 18257(!); isotype PREM 8795. Paratype ibidem, MPU(!). 12.XII.1911, A. Pegler, PREM 2001(!); isoparatype BPI On Hyacinthaceae (Liliaceae s. lat.): Urginea maritima (L.) 169328(!). Baker (Scilla maritima L., U. anthericoides (Poir.) Steinh., U. On Hyacinthaceae (Liliaceae s.