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Karst formations represent a unique eco-environment. Research in the microfungi inhabiting this area is limited. During an ongoing survey of ascomycetous microfungi from karst terrains in Guizhou Province, China, we discovered four new species, which are introduced here as Hypoderma paralinderae , Terriera karsti , T. meitanensis and T. sigmoideospora placed in Rhytismataceae , based on phylogenetic analyses and morphological characters. Molecular analyses, based on concatenated LSU-ITS-mtSSU sequence data, were used to infer phylogenetic affinities. Detail descriptions and comprehensive illustrations of these new taxa are provided and relationships with the allied species are discussed, based on comparative morphology and molecular data.

Based on the morphological and phylogenetic analyses, four specimens, which were collected from China and Thailand respectively, are identified as two novel species Nigrograna hydei and N. obtusispora and a new record N. magnoliae in the present study. These share morphologic characters typical of Nigrograna, and cluster together with existing Nigrograna species in the phylogenetic analyses of a combined ITS-TEF1-α sequence dataset. Illustrations and comprehensive descriptions for these taxa are provided.

Two strains, representing trichocladium-like species, were collected from a freshwater lake in Guizhou Province, China. Based on the morphological characters, they were well identified as Trichocladium constrictum who lacked molecular data. In the phylogenetic analyses of combined LSU, ITS and SSU sequence data, the collections cluster together with Cirrenalia iberica within Halosphaeriaceae but formed a distinct clade to the type of Cirrenalia (Halosphaeriaceae) and Trichocladium (Chaetomiaceae). The significant long conidiophores of Trichocladium constrictum differ from those of other Trichocladium species. The straight conidia of Cirrenalia iberica is distinguished from curved conidia of other Cirrenalia species. In line with the morphological characters and phylogenetic analyses, Cucurbitinus gen. nov. is proposed to accommodate Trichocladium constrictum and Cirrenalia iberica as Cucurbitinus constrictus comb. nov. and Cucurbitinus ibericus comb. nov. Descriptions and illustrations of the new taxa are provided with discussion of the reclassification.

Members of Botryosphaeria encompass important plant pathogens, saprobes and endophytes on a wide range of woody hosts worldwide. Botryosphaeria species are difficult to differentiate due to the overlapping morphological characteristics and the molecular data analyses are necessary recently when species identification is carried out. In this study, 28 Botryosphaeria isolates were obtained from decaying woody hosts in six nature reserves in Guizhou province, China. Based on both morphological characteristics and molecular analysis of combined ITS and tef1-α sequence data, four known species (Botryosphaeria dothidea, B. minutispermatia, B. sinensia and B. wangensis) are identified and one new species B. guttulata is introduced. Botryosphaeria sinensia (32% of the isolates obtained from various hosts) is the abundant species, followed by B. dothidea (28.5% of the isolates), B. guttulata (28.5% of the isolates), B. minutispermatia (7% of the isolates) and B. wangensis (4% of the isolates). These results represent the first study of Botryosphaeria species associated with woody hosts from nature reserves in Guizhou province, China. Our findings indicate that there is a potential of Botryosphaeria species remain to be discovered in this unique landform (Karst formations) in Guizhou province, China.

Paphiopedilum is known as “slipper orchids”, which has a high ornamental value and can be used as household bonsai and garden plants. Paphiopedilum is also one of the most beautiful plants in the world due to their exotic and unique flowers. An asexual fungus was collected from diseased leaves of Paphiopedilum sp. from Guizhou Province, China, is described and illustrated on the basis of morphological characters and molecular evidence. The morphologies of Curvicladiella paphiopedili sp. nov. were characterized by penicillate conidiophores with a stipe, dull, tapering towards the apex and the curved stipe extension, cylindrical conidia. In the phylogenetic analyses of combined LSU, cmdA, his3, ITS, tef1 and tub2 sequence data, this taxon was clustered as sister to Curvicladiella cignea within Nectriaceae.

Distoseptispora is one of the sporidesmium-like taxa with great variation in asexual morphology and delineation of species. Phylogenetic analyses of four gene regions LSU, ITS, TEF1α, and RPB2 revealed the placement of several sporidesmium-like species in Distoseptispora (Distoseptisporaceae, Distoseptisporales, Sordariomycetes), collected on submerged decaying twigs from streams in China and Thailand. Based on morphological examination and molecular DNA data, six new species, Distoseptispora amniculi, D. atroviridis, D. effusa, D. fusiformis, D. hyalina, and D. verrucosa, are proposed. Among them, D. hyalina is the first sexual morph confirmed in the genus. A new geographical record is reported for D. lignicola in China. Conidial length proved to be of less taxonomic significance for some Distoseptispora species, whereas the type of conidial septa is informative at species level.

During a survey of freshwater fungi in Guizhou Province, China, a collection from a submerged decaying twig in Baihua Lake was identified as a new species of Sporidesmium sensu lato based on morphological characters and phylogenetic analyses of combined LSU, SSU, ITS, TEF1α and RPB2 sequence data. Phylogenetic analyses supported its placement in Sordariomycetes but the fungus grouped distant from Sporidesmium sensu stricto, and its ordinal or familial position within the class remained inconclusive. Sporidesmium guizhouense sp. nov. is introduced with an illustrated account and notes on its taxonomy, phylogeny and systematic position are provided.

An Ascomycetous species was found from decaying woody stems in Guizhou, China. Morphologically, the fungus can be assigned well in Tremateia in having immersed ascomata, cellular pseudoparaphyses and muriform ascospores, but it differs from other species in having the 3–7 transverse septa ascospores surrounded by a gelatinous sheath. Phylogenetic analyses based on a concatenated dataset of ITS, LSU, SSUand TEF1-α sequence data indicated that the fungus belongs to the genus Tremateia, Didymosphaeriaceae, four taxa formed a monophyletic clade and represent the genus Tremateia with well supported. The new collection formed a distinct lineage and can be recognized as a new species. Therefore, a new species Tremateia murispora is introduced with detailed description and illustration, the notes on its morphologically and phylogenetically related taxa is provided.

Chinese rose (Rosa chinensis Jacq.) is cultivated for edible flowers in southwestern China (Zhang et al. 2014). In March 2020, a leaf spot disease was observed on about 3-5% leaves of Chinese rose cultivar 'Mohong' in Guizhou Botanical Garden (26°37' 45'' N, 106°43' 10'' E), Guiyang, Guizhou province, China. The symptomatic plants displayed circular, dark brown lesions with black conidiomata in grey centers on leaves, and leaf samples were collected. After surface sterilization (0.5 min in 75% ethanol and 2 min in 3% NaOCl, washed 3 times with sterilized distilled water) (Fang 2007), small pieces of symptomatic leaf tissue (0.3 × 0.3 cm) were plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and incubated at 28oC for about 7 days. Two single-spore isolates, GZUMH01 and GZUMH02, were obtained, which were identical in morphology and molecular analysis. Therefore, the representative isolate GZUMH01 was used for further study. The pathogenicity of GZUMH01 was tested through a pot assay. Ten healthy plants were scratched with a sterilized needle on the leaves. Plants were inoculated by spraying a spore suspension (106 spores ml-1) onto leaves until runoff, and the control leaves sprayed with sterile water. The plants were maintained at 25°C with high relative humidity (90 to 95%) in a growth chamber. The pathogenicity test was carried out three times using the method described in Fang (2007). The symptoms developed on all inoculated leaves but not on the control leaves. The lesions were first visible 48 h after inoculation, and typical lesions similar to those observed on field plants after 7 days. The same fungus was re-isolated from the infected leaves but not from the non-inoculated leaves, fulfilling Koch's postulates. Fungal colonies on PDA were villiform and greyish. The conidia were abundant, oval-ellipsoid, aseptate, 15.8 (13.7 to 18.8) × 5.7 (4.3 to 6.8) µm. The fungal colonies, hyphae, and conidia were consistent with the descriptions of Colletotrichum boninense Moriwaki, Toy. Sato & Tsukib. (Damm et al. 2012; Moriwaki et al. 2003). The pathogen was confirmed to be C. boninense by amplification and sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GADPH), actin (ACT), and chitin synthase 1 (CHS-1) genes using primers ITS1/ITS4, GDF1/GDR1, ACT512F/ACT783R, and CHS-79F/CHS-345R, respectively (Damm et al. 2012; Moriwaki et al. 2003). The sequences of the PCR products were deposited in GenBank with accession numbers MT845879 (ITS), MT861006 (GADPH), MT861007 (ACT), and MT861008 (CHS-1). BLAST searches of the obtained sequences of the ITS, GADPH, ACT, and CHS-1 genes revealed 100% (554/554 nucleotides), 100% (245/245 nucleotides), 97.43% (265/272 nucleotides), and 99.64% (279/280 nucleotides) homology with those of C. boninense in GenBank (JQ005160, JQ005247, JQ005508, and JQ005334, respectively). Phylogenetic analysis (MEGA 6.0) using the maximum likelihood method placed the isolate GZUMH01 in a well-supported cluster with C. boninense. The pathogen was thus identified as C. boninense based on its morphological and molecular characteristics. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the anthracnose disease on R. chinensis caused by C. boninense in the world.

This paper reviews and determines the fungi growing on seeds and fruits of wild plants in various habitats. Such fungi colonise a wide range of substrates with most reported from cones, cupules, and leguminous pods that are high in cellulose and lignin content. There are 1348 fungal species (belonging to 230 families and 609 genera) reported from wild seeds and fruits in 84 countries, listed in this paper. Of these, 300 fungi were described from wild seeds and fruit substrates. Members of the Fabaceae support the highest number of taxa, namely 19% of the novel wild fruit fungi. Twenty-eight genera, including 5 fossil fungal genera have been described from wild seeds and fruits: Agarwalomyces, Amorocoelophoma, Anisogenispora, Archephoma, Centrolepidosporium, Cylindroaseptospora, Cylindromyces, Davidhawksworthia, Delonicicola, Discotubeufia, Glaxoa, Kionocephala, Leucaenicola, Naranus, Neolindgomyces, Pleohelicoon, Quercicola, Remotididymella, Repetoblastiella, Restilago, Soloacrosporiella, Strobiloscypha and Tainosphaeria. Archephoma, Meniscoideisporites, Palaeodiplodites, Palaeopericonia and Xylohyphites are the new fossil fungal genera. Fungal asexual morphs predominate on wild seeds and fruits rather than the sexual morphs. The dominant fungal genera on wild seeds and fruits include Alternaria, Aspergillus, Candida, Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Colletotrichum, Curvularia, Diaporthe, Drechslera, Fusarium, Mucor, Penicillium, Pestalotiopsis, Restiosporium, Rhizopus, Talaromyces, Trichoderma and Xylaria. Certain assemblages of fungi have specific and distinct relationships with their hosts, especially Xylaria species (e.g., Xylaria magnoliae on Magnolia fruits; X. xanthinovelutina (= X. ianthino-velutina) on Fabaceae pods; X. carpophila on Fagus cupules; X. persicaria on liquidambar fruits). Whether these species occur as endophytes and become saprobes following fruit fall requires further investigation. In this study, we also made several sexual morph collections of sordariomycetous taxa from different seed and fruit substrates mainly from Thailand, with a few from the UK. These include 15 new species, 13 new host records and 1 new geographical record. The new species are described and illustrated. © 2020, Guizhou Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biotechnology

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).

This is the sixth in a series of papers where we bring collaborating mycologists together to produce a set of notes of several taxa of fungi. In this study we introduce a new family Fuscostagonosporaceae in Dothideomycetes. We also introduce the new ascomycete genera Acericola, Castellaniomyces, Dictyosporina and Longitudinalis and new species Acericola italica, Alternariaster trigonosporus, Amarenomyces dactylidis, Angustimassarina coryli, Astrocystis bambusicola, Castellaniomyces rosae, Chaetothyrina artocarpi, Chlamydotubeufia krabiensis, Colletotrichum lauri, Collodiscula chiangraiensis, Curvularia palmicola, Cytospora mali-sylvestris, Dictyocheirospora cheirospora, Dictyosporina ferruginea, Dothiora coronillae, Dothiora spartii, Dyfrolomyces phetchaburiensis, Epicoccum cedri, Epicoccum pruni, Fasciatispora calami, Fuscostagonospora cytisi, Grandibotrys hyalinus, Hermatomyces nabanheensis, Hongkongmyces thailandica, Hysterium rhizophorae, Jahnula guttulaspora, Kirschsteiniothelia rostrata, Koorchalomella salmonispora, Longitudinalis nabanheensis, Lophium zalerioides, Magnibotryascoma mali, Meliola clerodendri-infortunati, Microthyrium chinense, Neodidymelliopsis moricola, Neophaeocryptopus spartii, Nigrograna thymi, Ophiocordyceps cossidarum, Ophiocordyceps issidarum, Ophiosimulans plantaginis, Otidea pruinosa, Otidea stipitata, Paucispora kunmingense, Phaeoisaria microspora, Pleurothecium floriforme, Poaceascoma halophila, Periconia aquatica, Periconia submersa, Phaeosphaeria acaciae, Phaeopoacea muriformis, Pseudopithomyces kunmingnensis, Ramgea ozimecii, Sardiniella celtidis, Seimatosporium italicum, Setoseptoria scirpi, Torula gaodangensis and Vamsapriya breviconidiophora. We also provide an amended account of Rhytidhysteron to include apothecial ascomata and a J+ hymenium. The type species of Ascotrichella hawksworthii (Xylariales genera incertae sedis), Biciliopsis leptogiicola (Sordariomycetes genera incertae sedis), Brooksia tropicalis (Micropeltidaceae), Bryochiton monascus (Teratosphaeriaceae), Bryomyces scapaniae (Pseudoperisporiaceae), Buelliella minimula (Dothideomycetes genera incertae sedis), Carinispora nypae (Pseudoastrosphaeriellaceae), Cocciscia hammeri (Verrucariaceae), Endoxylina astroidea (Diatrypaceae), Exserohilum turcicum (Pleosporaceae), Immotthia hypoxylon (Roussoellaceae), Licopolia franciscana (Vizellaceae), Murispora rubicunda (Amniculicolaceae) and Doratospora guianensis (synonymized under Rizalia guianensis, Trichosphaeriaceae) were re-examined and descriptions, illustrations and discussion on their familial placement are given based on phylogeny and morphological data. New host records or new country reports are provided for Chlamydotubeufia huaikangplaensis, Colletotrichum fioriniae, Diaporthe subclavata, Diatrypella vulgaris, Immersidiscosia eucalypti, Leptoxyphium glochidion, Stemphylium vesicarium, Tetraploa yakushimensis and Xepicula leucotricha. Diaporthe baccae is synonymized under Diaporthe rhusicola. A reference specimen is provided for Periconia minutissima. Updated phylogenetic trees are provided for most families and genera. We introduce the new basidiomycete species Agaricus purpurlesquameus, Agaricus rufusfibrillosus, Lactifluus holophyllus, Lactifluus luteolamellatus, Lactifluus pseudohygrophoroides, Russula benwooii, Russula hypofragilis, Russula obscurozelleri, Russula parapallens, Russula phoenicea, Russula pseudopelargonia, Russula pseudotsugarum, Russula rhodocephala, Russula salishensis, Steccherinum amapaense, Tephrocybella constrictospora, Tyromyces amazonicus and Tyromyces angulatus and provide updated trees to the genera. We also introduce Mortierella formicae in Mortierellales, Mucoromycota and provide an updated phylogenetic tree. Fil: Hyde, Kevin D.. Mae Fah Luang University. Center Of Excellence In Fungal Research; Tailandia Fil: Norphanphoun, Chada. Mae Fah Luang University. Center Of Excellence In Fungal Research; Tailandia Fil: Abreu, Vanessa P.. Universidade Federal de Viçosa; Brasil Fil: Bazzicalupo, Anna. University of British Columbia; Canadá Fil: Thilini Chethana, K. W.. Mae Fah Luang University. Center Of Excellence In Fungal Research; Tailandia Fil: Romero, Andrea Irene. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Micología y Botánica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Micología y Botánica; Argentina Fil: Liu, Jian-Kui. Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences; China Fil: Liu, Zuo-Yi. Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences; China Fil: Longoni Plautz Jr., Helio. Instituto de Ciências Biológicas; Brasil Fil: Lumyong, Saisamorn. Chiang Mai University; Tailandia Fil: Maharachchikumbura, Sajeewa S. N.. Sultan Qaboos University; Omán Fil: Matočec, Neven. Ruđer Bošković Institute; Croacia Fil: McKenzie, Eric H. C.. Landcare Research Manaaki Whenua; Nueva Zelanda Fil: Mešić, Armin. Ruđer Bošković Institute; Croacia Fil: Miller, Daniel. Puget Sound Mycological Society; Estados Unidos Fil: Pawłowska, Julia. University of Warsaw; Polonia Fil: Pereira, Olinto L.. Universidade Federal de Viçosa; Brasil Fil: Promputtha, Itthayakorn. Mae Fah Luang University; Tailandia Fil: Ryvarden, Leif. University of Oslo; Noruega Fil: Su, Hong-Yan. Dali University; China Fil: Suetrong, Satinee. National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology; Tailandia Fil: Tkalčec, Zdenko. Ruđer Bošković Institute; Croacia Fil: Vizzini, Alfredo. Università di Torino; Italia Fil: Wen,Ting-Chi. Guizhou University; China Fil: Wisitrassameewong, Komsit. Seoul National University; Corea del Sur Fil: Wrzosek, Marta. University of Warsaw; Polonia Fil: Xu, Jian-Chu. Mae Fah Luang University; Tailandia Fil: Zhao, Qi. Chinese Academy of Sciences; República de China Fil: Zhao, Rui-Lin. Chinese Academy of Sciences; República de China Fil: Mortimer, Peter E.. Chinese Academy of Sciences; República de China

Phylogenetic analyses of multi-gene (LSU, SSU, TEF1α, RPB2 and ITS) sequence data support the placement of several Sporidesmium-like species within Sordariomycetes. The taxa collected in the present study were from unidentified submerged twigs in a stream in Prachuap Khiri Khan and Phang Nga Provinces, Thailand and Guizhou Province, China. Morphological examination and phylogenetic analyses provide evidence for several taxonomic novelties, including a new genus (Pseudostanjehughesia) and five novel species (Distoseptispora guttulata, D. phangngaensis, D. suoluoensis, Pseudostanjehughesia aquitropica and Sporidesmium gyrinomorphum). The collections also comprised three previously described species (Distoseptispora multiseptata, Sporidesmium thailandense and S. tropicale). Descriptions and illustrations of the above taxa are provided and their systematic placement is discussed. The description of Distoseptispora is emended.

This paper introduces a new genus Delonicicola, to accommodate D. siamense sp. nov., which was found associated with Delonix regia seed pods, collected in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. ITS sequence data confirmed a close relationship of Delonicicola with Liberomyces and Asteromella in Xylariomycetidae. Phylogenetic and molecular clock analyses of combined LSU, SSU and RPB2 sequence data provide evidence for a new family Delonicicolaceae and a new order Delonicicolales in Xylariomycetidae. Members of Delonicicolaceae are saprobes, endophytes or pathogens of angiosperms and it is characterized by pseudostromatal immersed, papillate ascomata, short pedicellate asci with a simple apex and 1-septate, hyaline ascospores. The asexual morph is coelomycetous with pycnidial conidiomata and allantoid, filiform or bacilloid, hyaline conidia.

The current classification system for the recognition of taxonomic ranks among fungi, especially at high-ranking level, is subjective. With the development of molecular approaches and the availability of fossil calibration data, the use of divergence times as a universally standardized criterion for ranking taxa has now become possible. We can therefore date the origin of Ascomycota lineages by using molecular clock methods and establish the divergence times for the orders and families of Dothideomycetes. We chose Dothideomycetes, the largest class of the phylum Ascomycota, which contains 32 orders, to establish ages at which points orders have split; and Pleosporales, the largest order of Dothideomycetes with 55 families, to establish family divergence times. We have assembled a multi-gene data set (LSU, SSU, TEF1 and RPB2) from 391 taxa representing most family groups of Dothideomycetes and utilized fossil calibration points solely from within the ascomycetes and a Bayesian approach to establish divergence times of Dothideomycetes lineages. Two separated datasets were analysed: (i) 272 taxa representing 32 orders of Dothideomycetes were included for the order level analysis, and (ii) 191 taxa representing 55 families of Pleosporales were included for the family level analysis. Our results indicate that divergence times (crown age) for most orders (20 out of 32, or 63%) are between 100 and 220 Mya, while divergence times for most families (39 out of 55, or 71%) are between 20 and 100 Mya. We believe that divergence times can provide additional evidence to support establishment of higher level taxa, such as families, orders and classes. Taking advantage of this added approach, we can strive towards establishing a standardized taxonomic system both within and outside Fungi. In this study we found that molecular dating coupled with phylogenetic inferences provides no support for the taxonomic status of two currently recognized orders, namely Bezerromycetales and Wiesneriomycetales and these are treated as synonyms of Tubeufiales while Asterotexiales is treated as a synonym of Asterinales. In addition, we provide an updated phylogenetic assessment of Dothideomycetes previously published as the Families of Dothideomycetes in 2013 with a further ten orders and 35 families.

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.

A survey of freshwater ascomycetes conducted in Thailand yielded a number of aquatic hyphomycetes. In this study, fresh collections of three chaetosphaeriaceous species from submerged wood in freshwater are characterized based on morphology and molecular phylogeny. Dictyochaeta siamensis sp. nov. and Tainosphaeria siamensis sp. nov. are introduced based on morphological and molecular data. A detailed description of Menisporopsis theobromae from the new collection is presented and the first molecular data for this genus are provided. Phylogenetic analysis of combined LSU and ITS sequence data was carried out to determine the phylogenetic placement of these species within the family Chaetosphaeriaceae. Menisporopsis theobromae showed a close phylogenetic relationship with Rattania, but has significantly different morphology; D. siamensis clustered together with Codinaeopsis, Menispora, and Zignoella; while T. siamensis clustered together with T. crassiparies but presented as a distinct clade. The phylogenetic relationship between the new taxa and their relatives are compared and discussed.

Tamarix species are small trees that grow in various natural habitats and have a wide geographic distribution. Microfungal species previously found on Tamarix and recently collected in Italy and Russia were identified based on morphological characters and analyses of gene sequence data. The sexual morph of the coelomycetous genus Homortomyces was collected for the first time and is described and illustrated. A new family, Homortomycetaceae (Dothideomycetes, families incertae sedis) is introduced to accommodate Homortomyces. Two new genera Neomicrosphaeropsis (Didymellaceae) and Tamaricicola (Pleosporaceae) are introduced in this paper. Phoma tamaricicola was recollected and is placed in Neomicrosphaeropsis based on morphology and molecular data. Ten new species, Cytospora italica, C. unilocularis, Diaporthe ravennica, Eutypella tamaricis, Neomicrosphaeropsis italica, N. novorossica, N. rossica, Keissleriella tamaricicola, Paracamarosporium tamaricis and Tamaricicola muriformis are introduced, while Alternaria tenuissima, Dothiorella sarmentorum, Neofusicoccum luteum, Paraepicoccum amazonense, Pleospora herbarum and Pseudocamarosporium propinquum are reported for the first time on Tamarix spp. with descriptions and illustrations. Multi-gene analyses show that Paraepicoccum amazonense should be placed in Pleosporineae, Pleosporales, where it is closely related to Camarosporium sensu stricto. Several herbarium specimens were studied to illustrate other fungal species recorded on Tamarix species. A comprehensive account of microfungi on Tamarix is provided, which includes a list with data from the literature, as well as those identified in the present study. The taxonomic placement of most taxa discussed in this study is based on a modern taxonomic framework based on analysis of multi-gene sequence data.

Sordariomycetes is one of the largest classes of Ascomycota that comprises a highly diverse range of fungi characterized mainly by perithecial ascomata and inoperculate unitunicate asci. The class includes many important plant pathogens, as well as endophytes, saprobes, epiphytes, coprophilous and fungicolous, lichenized or lichenicolous taxa. They occur in terrestrial, freshwater and marine habitats worldwide. This paper reviews the 107 families of the class Sordariomycetes and provides a modified backbone tree based on phylogenetic analysis of four combined loci, with a maximum five representative taxa from each family, where available. This paper brings together for the first time, since Barrs’ 1990 Prodromus, descriptions, notes on the history, and plates or illustrations of type or representative taxa of each family, a list of accepted genera, including asexual genera and a key to these taxa of Sordariomycetes. Delineation of taxa is supported where possible by molecular data. The outline is based on literature to the end of 2015 and the Sordariomycetes now comprises six subclasses, 32 orders, 105 families and 1331 genera. The family Obryzaceae and Pleurotremataceae are excluded from the class.

Rhytidhysteron (Hysteriaceae) species are widely distributed as saprobes or weak pathogens on a wide range of woody plants. In this study, several Rhytidhysteron collections were made in northern Thailand and multi-gene phylogenetic analyses were used to resolve the phylogenetic boundaries of species. Two novel species, R. thailandicum and R. neorufulum are introduced, based on morphological traits and multi-gene phylogeny. The genus is revised with a key to species. Fil: Thambugala, Kasun M.. Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences; China. Center of Excellence in Fungal Research; Tailandia. Mae Fah Luang University; Tailandia Fil: Hyde, Kevin D.. Center of Excellence in Fungal Research; Tailandia. Mae Fah Luang University; Tailandia. Chinese Academy of Science. Kunming Institute of Botany; China Fil: Eungwanichayapant, Prapassorn D.. Mae Fah Luang University; China Fil: Romero, Andrea Irene. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Micología y Botánica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Micología y Botánica; Argentina Fil: Liu, Zuo-Yi. Guizhou Academy Of Agricultural Sciences; China

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.

Aquapteridospora lignicola gen. et sp. nov. was found on wood submerged in a freshwater stream in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. Phylogenetic analysis of LSU sequence data placed the isolate in Diaporthomycetidae, genera incertae sedis. Aquapteridospora is a hyphomycete with polyblastic conidiogenous cells with several sympodial proliferations, bearing tiny, protuberant, circular scars and fusiform conidia, with pale to dark brown central cells and subhyaline end cells, sometimes with a conspicuous sheath. Aquapteridospora is compared to Pleurophragmium and Minimelanolocus which share some similar characters. A new genus and species is introduced to accommodate this new lineage with notes on its taxonomy and phylogeny.

A survey of freshwater fungi on submerged wood in China and Thailand resulted in the collection of three species in Dictyocheirospora and four species in Dictyosporium including two new species in the latter genus. Morphological characters and phylogenetic analyses based on ITS, LSU and TEF1α sequence data support their placement in Dictyocheirospora and Dictyosporium (Dictyosporiaceae). An updated backbone tree is provided for the family Dictyosporiaceae. Descriptions and illustrations of the new taxa and re-collections are provided. Four new combinations are proposed for Dictyocheirospora.

A survey of freshwater fungi on submerged wood in China and Thailand resulted in the collection of three species in Dictyocheirospora and four species in Dictyosporium including two new species in the latter genus. Morphological characters and phylogenetic analyses based on ITS, LSU and TEF1α sequence data support their placement in Dictyocheirospora and Dictyosporium (Dothideomycetes). An updated backbone tree is provided for the family Dothideomycetes. Descriptions and illustrations of the new taxa and re-collections are provided. Four new combinations are proposed for Dictyocheirospora.

veA belongs to the velvet regulatory system that regulates the development and secondary metabolism of many fungi. To identify the function of veA in Aspergillus cristatus, veA deletion mutants were constructed by homologous recombination via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Deletion of veA led to increased conidial production and reduced sexual sporulation. The regulatory role of veA in A. cristatus was not light-dependent, and this differed from its role in other Aspergilli. Furthermore, veA deletion mutants were more sensitive to environmental stressors, including salt, osmotic pressure, temperature and pH. In contrast, deletion of veA resulted in increased resistance to oxidative stress. veA also affected aerial vegetative growth. Transcriptomic analysis of the veA-null mutant and wild type indicated that most asexual and sexual development genes were upregulated and downregulated, respectively. These findings confirmed that veA has a positive effect on sexual development but represses conidial formation. Overall, these results suggested that the veA gene plays a critical role in maintaining a developmental balance between asexual and sexual sporulation and is involved in vegetative growth and environmental stress response in A. cristatus.

The genera Lophiostoma, Misturatosphaeria and several other allied taxa in Lophiostomataceae are revisited. Accounts of these taxa, including their history, morphology, and family placement, based on molecular phylogeny, are provided. Type or representative specimens of Lophiostoma and Misturatosphaeria were examined and fresh specimens were obtained from Germany, Italy, Japan and Thailand. A multi-gene phylogenetic analysis of the lophiostomataceous genera Floricola, Lophiostoma, Misturatosphaeria and related taxa is provided. Sixteen genera including Lophiostoma, Lophiohelichrysum, Dimorphiopsis, Platystomum and Vaginatispora, plus eleven newly introduced genera Biappendiculispora, Alpestrisphaeria, Capulatispora, Coelodictyosporium, Guttulispora, Lophiopoacea, Neotrematosphaeria, Paucispora, Pseudolophiostoma, Pseudoplatystomum and Sigarispora are accepted in Lophiostomataceae based on morphology and phylogeny. Lophiostoma caulium, Lophiostoma arundinis and Lophiostoma caudatum are accommodated in Sigarispora. Lophiostoma winteri and Lophiostoma fuckelii are placed in the genera Lophiopoacea and Vaginatispora respectively. Three Curreya species and Misturatosphaeria claviformis are transferred to a new genus, Neocurreya. All other Misturatosphaeria species except Misturatosphaeria aurantiinotata and M. uniseptata are separated in the new genera Asymmetrispora, Aurantiascoma, Magnibotryascoma, Pseudoaurantiascoma and Pseudomisturatosphaeria based on their morphological and phylogenetic affinities. Another new genus, Ramusculicola is introduced for a new collection from Thailand. These seven new genera are accommodated in a new family Floricolaceae, together with Floricola and Misturatosphaeria. Several massarina-like species clustered as a sister clade to Amorosia littoralis and are accommodated in a new genus Angustimassarina. A new family Amorosiaceae is proposed to accommodate the genera Amorosia and Angustimassarina. The putatively named species Decaisnella formosa and Thyridaria macrostomoides form a separate clade together with a new genus Lignosphaeria which is placed in Dothideomycetes, genera incertae sedis.

Leptosphaeriaceae is a family in the order Pleosporales comprising economically important plant pathogens. Species may also be endophytes or saprobes on various host plants. In recent classifications Alternariaster, Leptosphaeria, Neophaeosphaeria, Paraleptosphaeria, Heterospora, Subplenodomus and Plenodomus were included in the family. The taxonomy of genera and species in Leptosphaeriaceae has been problematic due to the lack of understanding of the importance of morphological characters used to distinguish taxa, as well as the lack of reference strains. In order to establish evolutionary relationships and to provide a backbone tree for Leptosphaeria and allied genera, we sequenced the 18S nrDNA, 28S nrDNA, ITS, RPB2, TEF and ACT gene regions of Leptosphaeriaceae species and analysed this data. Multi-locus phylogenies together with morphology robustly support the monophyletic nature of Leptosphaeriaceae among the other families in Pleosporales, and the inclusion of the genera Alternariaster, Heterospora, Leptosphaeria, Paraleptosphaeria, Sphaerellopsis, Subplenodomus, Plenodomus and three novel genera Alloleptosphaeria, Neoleptosphaeria and Pseudoleptosphaeria. Five new species, Alternariaster centaureae-diffusae, Leptosphaeria cichorium, Paraleptosphaeria rubi, Plenodomus guttulatus and P. salviae are introduced. An account of sexual morph of Alternariaster centaureae-diffusae is provided, and the sexual morph of Leptosphaeria doliolum is re-described and illustrated using modern concepts from fresh collections. A novel family Neophaeosphaeriaceae is established to accommodate the genus Neophaeosphaeria and its species.

Sordariomycetes is one of the largest classes of Ascomycota and is characterised by perithecial ascomata and inoperculate unitunicate asci. The class includes many important plant pathogens, as well as endophytes, saprobes, epiphytes, and fungicolous, lichenized or lichenicolous taxa. The class includes freshwater, marine and terrestrial taxa and has a worldwide distribution. This paper provides an updated outline of the Sordariomycetes and a backbone tree incorporating asexual and sexual genera in the class. Based on phylogeny and morphology we introduced three subclasses; Diaporthomycetidae, Lulworthiomycetidae and Meliolomycetidae and five orders; Amplistromatales, Annulatascales, Falcocladiales, Jobellisiales and Togniniales. The outline is based on literature to the end of 2014 and the backbone tree published in this paper. Notes for 397 taxa with information, such as new family and genera novelties, novel molecular data published since the Outline of Ascomycota 2009, and new links between sexual and asexual genera and thus synonymies, are provided. The Sordariomycetes now comprises six subclasses, 28 orders, 90 families and 1344 genera. In addition a list of 829 genera with uncertain placement in Sordariomycetes is also provided.

— A new taxon of Botryosphaeriaceae associated with Arrhenatherum and Dactylis was collected in Italy. Single ascospore isolates were obtained and formed asexual morphs in culture. Multi-gene phylogenetic analysis was carried out using ITS, LSU nrDNA and EF1-α sequence data and the resulting phylogenetic tree showed that new species clustered in Botryosphaeriaceae together with Tiarosporella species with high bootstrap support. The new species is introduced as a sexual morph of Tiarosporella and detailed descriptions and illustrations are provided. A discussion of the asexual morphs of Tiarosporella is provided.

Fungus resources are abundant in China, many species are of medicinal value. Unfortunately, most of them mainly depend on collection from the nature. As the excessive exploitation and utilization in recent years, biodiversity and habitats of the medicinal fungi have suffered serious damage, which has made the resources sharply decline, which has severely restricted the medicinal fungal production and utilization. This paper mainly summarizes the status of distribution and utilization of the medicinal fungus in China, analyzes current problems, and a series of worthy protection countermeasures, and propose suggestions for further development and utilization of the medicinal fungus resources.

An interesting hyphomycetous taxon was collected on submerged wood in a freshwater stream in Trat Province, Thailand. It is morphologically similar to endophragmiella-like taxa, characterized by macronematous, mononematous conidiophores, monoblastic, enteroblastic conidiogenous cells and clavate to obovoid, septate brown conidia. The unique feature of this taxon is that the mature conidium often bears a young new conidial primordium which develops percurrently from a lower semi-transparent cell and they secede simultaneously. Phylogenetic analyses of a combined LSU, SSU and RPB2 sequence data support the placement of this fungus together with Platytrachelon and close to the family Papulosaceae within Diaporthomycetidae, Sordariomycetes. A new genus is introduced to accommodate the new taxon as Aquimonospora. The novel species Aquimonospora tratensis is described and illustrated and is compared with other morphologically similar taxa.

Arthrinium (Apiosporaceae) and Didymella (Didymellaceae) are species-rich genera and most of the members in these genera are plant pathogenic, saprobic or endophytic species that have been recorded from a wide range of hosts. The present study introduces Didymella eriobotryae sp. nov. and a new record of Arthrinium arundinis which are associated with decaying fruit of Eriobotrya japonica in China. Morphology and DNA sequence data are employed to determine the taxonomic placement of these species.

Bletilla is a temperate, terrestrial genus of orchids containing 6 species. For the species whose whole genome is unknown, we used magnetic bead hybridization method to develop microsatellite Simple Repeat Polymorphoresis (SSR) for Bletilla striata and 9 primer sets were characterized in two wild populations of B. striata and one wild population of Bletilla ochracea . The number of alleles per locus ranged from 1 to 12. The expected and observed heterozygosities ranged from 0 to 0.7646 and 0 to 0.950 in B. striata , respectively. In B. ochracea , the expected and observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.296 to 0.871 and 0.05 to 1, respectively. The 9 pairs of primers we designed can be used to distinguish different ecotypes and species, and might be used for other subspecies or species in genera Bletilla . Keywords: Bletilla striata , cross-species amplification, simple repeat polymorphoresis (SSR).

Shiraia bambusicola is a medicinal fungus growing on the twigs of bamboo plants, with the higher value in medicinal use. The natural resource of S. bambusicola has rapidly reduced recently because of the large-scale over-collection and the habitat destruction. The resource would be in extinction if there are no any protective measures and availability of sustainable use strategies. In this paper it is summarized that the application and development of S. bambusicola. A comprehensive analysis on the progress of research as well as the current problems in application and the future outlook are also proposed in the paper.