An integrated approach to Phoma systematics.

Physiological and morphological characters were recorded from 55 strains of 17 Phoma taxa and one Pyrenochaeta. The results were subjected to numerical analysis and UPGMA dendrograms produced. The full results were compared with TLC profiles of secondary metabolites. Seven distinct clusters were recovered from dendrograms based on full and partial character sets and the grouping of strains within each cluster discussed. The new combination Phoma sambuci-nigrae (Sacc.) Monte, Bridge & Sutton is proposed for P. herbarum f. sambuci-nigrae Sacc.