Search

During a survey of freshwater fungi in China and Thailand, seven fresh collections representing four species in Chaetosphaeriaceae are described and illustrated based on morphological characters and phylogenetic analyses of combined LSU and ITS sequence data. Cryptophiale udagawae, Cryptophialoidea fasciculata and Nawawia filiformis were re-collected and are reported with the first sequence data. Two collections of Phialosporostilbe from China and Thailand are identified and introduced as a new species named P. scutiformis with the first sequence data for the genus. A new genus Neonawawia is introduced to accommodate Ne. malaysiana. New combinations are proposed for the genera Neonawawia and Phialosporostilbe. Descriptions and illustrations of the new taxa and identified species are provided. Reference specimens of Cryptophiale udagawae, Cryptophialoidea fasciculata and Nawawia filiformis are designated in this study. Phylogenetic placements of the genera Cryptophiale, Cryptophialoidea, Nawawia, Neonawawia and Phialosporostilbe are discussed.

This is the fourth in a series of Mycosphere notes wherein we provide notes on various fungal genera. In this set of notes, we introduce Phaeoseptaceae as a new family, Pseudobyssosphaeria (Melanommataceae) as a new genus, 40 new species, 11 new host or country records, one reference specimen, one new combination and provide a description of the holotype of Uleodothis balansiana (Dothideaceae). The new species are Acrospermum longisporium (Acrospermaceae), Ascitendus aquaticus (Annulatascaceae), Ascochyta clinopodiicola (Didymellaceae), Asterina magnoliae (Asterinaceae), Barbatosphaeria aquatica (Barbatosphaeriaceae), Camarosporidiella populina (Camarosporidiellaceae), Chaetosphaeria mangrovei (Chaetosphaeriaceae), Cytospora predappioensis, Cytospora prunicola (Cytosporaceae), Dendryphiella phitsanulokensis (Dictyosporiaceae), Diaporthe subcylindrospora, Diaporthe subellipicola (Diaporthaceae), Diplodia arengae (Botryosphaeriaceae), Discosia querci (Sporocadaceae), Dyfrolomyces sinensis (Pleurotremataceae), Gliocladiopsis aquaticus (Nectriaceae), Hysterographium didymosporum (Pleosporomycetidae genera, incertae sedis), Kirschsteiniothelia phoenicis (Kirschsteiniotheliaceae), Leptogium thailandicum (Collemataceae), Lophodermium thailandicum (Rhytismataceae), Medicopsis chiangmaiensis (Neohendersoniaceae), Neocamarosporium phragmitis (Neocamarosporiaceae), Neodidymelliopsis negundinis (Didymellaceae), Neomassarina pandanicola (Sporormiaceae), Neooccultibambusa pandanicola (Occultibambusaceae), Neophaeosphaeria phragmiticola (Neophaeosphaeriaceae), Neosetophoma guiyangensis (Phaeosphaeriaceae), Neosetophoma shoemakeri (Phaeosphaeriaceae), Neosetophoma xingrensis (Phaeosphaeriaceae), Ophiocordyceps cylindrospora (Ophiocordycipitaceae), Otidea pseudoformicarum (Otideaceae), Periconia elaeidis (Periconiaceae), Phaeoisaria guttulata, Pleurotheciella krabiensis, Pleurotheciella tropica (Pleurotheciaceae), Pteridiospora bambusae (Astrosphaeriellaceae), Phaeoseptum terricola (Phaeoseptaceae), Poaceascoma taiwanense (Lentitheciaceae), Pseudobyssosphaeria bambusae (Melanommataceae) and Roussoella mangrovei (Roussoellaceae). The new host records or new country records are provided for Alfaria terrestris (Stachybotryaceae), Arthrinium phragmites (Apiosporaceae), Bertiella ellipsoidea (Melanommataceae), Brevicollum hyalosporum (Neohendersoniaceae), Byssosphaeria siamensis (Melanommataceae), Cerothallia subluteoalba (Teloschistaceae), Cryptophiale hamulata (Chaetosphaeriaceae), Didymella aliena (Didymellaceae), Epicoccum nigrum (Didymellaceae), Periconia pseudobyssoides (Periconiaceae) and Truncatella angustata (Sporocadaceae).

A survey of freshwater fungi in Thailand resulted in the discovery of two new species in Fuscosporellaceae, herein described as Fuscosporella aquatica and Mucispora phangngaensis. Fuscosporella aquatica has sporodochial colonies, irregular ellipsoidal and dark brown conidia with vesicular conidiogenous cells. Mucispora phangngaensis has macronematous, solitary conidiophores with percurrent proliferations and dark brown obovoid conidia. Phylogenetic analysis based on combined LSU and ITS sequence data support their placement in Fuscosporella and Mucispora (Fuscosporellaceae, Fuscosporellales). Both species formed distinct clades from their type species and present as the second species in each genus. Descriptions and illustrations of the new taxa are provided. DNA sequence data of Parafuscosporella mucosa (from ex-type strain) are provided in this study, and confirmed its phylogenetic placement.

This paper briefly discusses the history of fungal taxonomy and contributes to the concepts and the importance of ranking genera, families and orders. We propose recommendations for introducing species into appropriate ranks such as genera, families and orders, as well as the rationale to maintain species in one genus or segregate one genus into several genera. Various ways to rank fungi have commonly been based on morphological and phylogenetic species concepts. More recently, the use of molecular clocks, coupled with estimates of divergence times, has provided insights into how to assign species and support their establishment at different taxonomic hierarchical levels. Case studies are given from the order Botryosphaeriales and Pleosporales, and the genera Camarosporium, Colletotrichum, Diaporthe, Pestalotiopsis, Lophiostoma and Agaricus to demonstrate taxonomic ambiguities and the subjectivity in classification of fungi.