Abstract

A diatrypaceous ascomycete with polysporous asci and reniform to allantoid, pigmented ascospores was isolated from grapevine canes in South Africa and Australia. The fungus was identified as Cryptovalsa ampelina based on its characteristic morphology. Subsequent phylogenetic analyses confirmed this species to belong to the Diatrypaceae. Pathogenicity was also confirmed by means of wound inoculations on grapevine canes.