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This study introduces a novel genus Robiniigena , with its type R.hyalinospora . The specimen was collected on dead aerial branches of Robiniapseudoacacia in Italy. Based on the examination of morphology and the results of phylogenetic analyses involving nuclear 18S rDNA (SSU), nuclear 28S rDNA (LSU), nuclear rDNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS), translation elongation factor 1-alpha ( tef1-α ) and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit ( rpb2 ) sequences, Robiniigena is referred to the family Pleomonodictydaceae (Pleosporales). It is characterized by immersed to erumpent, ostiolate ascomata, filiform, septate and cellular pseudoparaphyses, bitunicate, clavate to cylindric-clavate asci and fusiform, hyaline ascospores surrounded by a mucilaginous sheath. This research also establishes the taxonomic placement of the previously unclassified Inflatispora (Pleosporales genus incertae sedis ) within the Pleomonodictydaceae. The sexual morph of Ampelomycesquisqualis (Phaeosphaeriaceae) is described for the first time and it is characterized by immersed, perithecial ascomata, a peridium comprising two layers, branched, septate and filiform pseudoparaphyses, short-pedicellate, bitunicate asci with an ocular chamber and sub-hyaline, fusiform, septate ascospores. This species, previously known only in its asexual morph, has been found as a saprobe on Sonchus sp. in Italy. Our identification of the sexual morph was based on LSU rDNA and ITS rDNA sequence data. Melomastiamaolanensis (Pleurotremataceae) is reported for the first time in Thailand, collected from Chromolaenaodorata , while M.oleae is documented as a new record from Durantaerecta in Thailand., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Digvijayini Bundhun, E. B. Gareth Jones, Ruvishika S. Jayawardena, Erio Camporesi, Dhanushka N. Wanasinghe, Indunil C. Senanayake, Vinodhini Thiyagaraja, Kevin D. Hyde.)

Trans-Himalayan winters are projected to become milder, with shifting precipitation patterns and freeze-thaw cycles; changing stressors for their lichen communities. Lichens from Antarctica and high latitudes are cryoresistant when dry, but susceptible to cell damage if frozen when wet, or subjected to repeated freeze-thaw events. Little is known regarding cryoresistance in high-elevation, mid-latitude lichens. We collected thalli of nine species of epiphytic lichenized fungi, from three regions of the trans-Himalayas; at ≈ 4000 m, 3400 m and 2400 m elevation. We subjected thalli to differing freezing (continuous - 18 °C and - 36 °C or freeze-thaw cycles in natural daylight) and moisture conditions. Even dry thalli suffered some damage. Frozen wet thalli had greater chlorophyll degradation and reduced chlorophyll content. There were no clear elevational trends in freeze-thaw susceptibility: it caused more damage than continuous freezing. The most freeze-thaw resilient lichens were Dolichousnea longissima (from 4000 m) and Usnea florida (from 2400 m). However, species from coldest sites were most resilient to extreme freezing. Under predicted climate change conditions these sites would experience fewer annual freeze-thaw cycles, annual sub-zero days and frost days. Reduced freezing constraints might allow range expansion of mid-elevation lichens, but increase competitive pressures and temperature stressors impacting high-elevation lichens., Competing Interests: Declarations Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The phytopathogenic genus, Entomosporium can cause serious leaf diseases worldwide. Entomosporium has long been regarded as a synonym of Diplocarpon . However, different morphologies between Entomosporium and Diplocarpon make this doubtful. Based on morpho-phylogenetic analyses, the placement of the genus was re-evaluated in this study. The combined the internal transcribed spacer gene region (ITS) and the 28S large subunit ribosomal RNA gene region (LSU) phylogenetic analysis shows that Entomosporium is an independent clade within Drepanopezizaceae and formed a sister clade to the generic type Diplocarpon . Moreover, Hymenula and Pseudopeziza do not cluster in Drepanopezizaceae. We propose to resurrect the name Entomosporium , and exclude Hymenulacerealis and Pseudopezizamedicaginis from Drepanopezizaceae and propose to treat them under Ploettnerulaceae. A new species, E.dichotomanthes is also introduced from China based on morpho-molecular analyses which is associated with Dichotomanthestristaniicarpa ., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Hong De Yang, Ruvishika S. Jayawardena, Xiang Yu Zeng, Vinodhini Thiyagaraja, Qi Zhao, Kevin D. Hyde.)

Freshwater fungi are highly diverse in China and frequently reported from submerged wood, freshwater insects, herbaceous substrates, sediments, leaves, foams, and living plants. In this study, we investigated two freshwater species that were collected from Yunnan and Guizhou provinces in China. Detailed morphological analysis complemented by multi-gene phylogenetic analyses based on LSU, SSU, ITS, RPB2 and TEF1-α sequences data revealed them to be two new saprobic species, namely Acrogenosporaalangii sp. nov. and Conioscyphayunnanensis sp. nov. in their asexual morphs. Additionally, Acrogenosporaalangii sp. nov. is reported for the first time as a freshwater ascomycete associated with the medicinal plant Alangiumchinense (Alangiaceae). Detailed morphological descriptions, illustrations and updated phylogenetic relationships of the new taxa are provided herein., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Mycocaliciales comprise non-lichenized either saprotrophic or lichenicolous fungi which occur in temperate and tropical regions. The mazaediate, saprotrophic and monospecific genus, Pyrgidium , is currently assigned to this order, yet the phylogenetic placement of the genus has remained uncertain due to the absence of molecular data. In order to investigate the systematic position of Pyrgidium , two specimens collected in Brazil and Thailand, respectively, were used to generate mtSSU, SSU, LSU and ITS sequences. However, given that most other representatives of this order only have LSU and ITS sequences available, the phylogenetic reconstruction was limited to these two markers. The phylogenetic analyses confirmed placement of the genus within Mycocaliciales , the genus possessing a sister group relationship with the lichenicolous genus Sphinctrina . Detailed morphological descriptions and illustrations are provided, including those for type specimens of the various synonyms subsumed under the hitherto only accepted species, Pyrgidium montellicum (Beltr.) Tibell. The ascospore morphology was investigated using compound and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed for the ascospore size using PC-ORD 7. The molecular data and re-examination of the type specimens support the monospecific nature of this genus.

Stictidaceae comprises taxa with diverse lifestyles. Many species in this family are drought resistant and important for studying fungal adaptation and evolution. Stictidaceae comprises 32 genera, but many of them have been neglected for decades due to the lack of field collections and molecular data. In this study, we introduce a new species Fitzroyomyces hyaloseptisporus and a new combination Fitzroyomyces pandanicola . We also provide additional morphological and molecular data for Ostropomyces pruinosellus and O. thailandicus based on new collections isolated from an unidentified woody dicotyledonous host in Chiang Rai, Thailand. Taxonomic conclusions are made with the aid of morphological evidence and phylogenetic analysis of combined LSU, ITS and mtSSU sequence data. Characteristics such as the shape and septation of ascospores and conidia as well as lifestyles among genera of Stictidaceae are discussed.

Background: Mendogia belongs to Dothideomycetes and its members are epiphytic on living bamboo culms or palms and distributed in tropical regions. Currently, the genus comprises seven species. Another collection resembling Mendogia was collected from the leaves of Fagales sp. in Thailand. Morphological characteristics and multilocus phylogenetic analyses, using ITS, LSU and SSU sequences, showed that the fungus is new to science, described herein as Mendogiadiffusa . Mendogiadiffusa is characterised by apothecial ascostromata, a carbonised epithecium, dark brown setae on the ascostromatal surface, hyaline paraphysoids, ovoid to clavate asci and oblong to elliptical, muriform ascospores. The fungus has a dark pigmented surface and is occasionally facultatively associated with patches of green algae, but not actually lichenised. Instead, the fungus penetrates the upper leaf surface, forming dark pigmented isodiametric cells below the epidermis., New Information: Re-examination of specimens of M.chiangraiensis , M.macrostroma and M.yunnanensis revealed the absence of algal associations. The status of Mendogiaphilippinensis (= M.calami ) and M.bambusina (= Uleopeltisbambusina ) was established, based on morphological comparisons and previous studies. Comprehensive morphological descriptions with phylogenetic analyses support M.diffusa as a novel species in Myriangiaceae . An updated key to the known species of the genus is also provided., (Vinodhini Thiyagaraja, Robert Lücking, Damien Ertz, Milan C. Samarakoon, Dhanushka N. Wanasinghe, Samantha C. Karunarathna, Ratchadawan Cheewangkoon, Kevin D. Hyde.)

Ostropales sensu lato is a large group comprising both lichenized and non-lichenized fungi, with several lineages expressing optional lichenization where individuals of the same fungal species exhibit either saprotrophic or lichenized lifestyles depending on the substrate (bark or wood). Greatly variable phenotypic characteristics and large-scale phylogenies have led to frequent changes in the taxonomic circumscription of this order. Ostropales sensu lato is currently split into Graphidales, Gyalectales, Odontotrematales, Ostropales sensu stricto , and Thelenellales. Ostropales sensu stricto is now confined to the family Stictidaceae, which includes a large number of species that are poorly known, since they usually have small fruiting bodies that are rarely collected, and thus, their taxonomy remains partly unresolved. Here, we introduce a new genus Ostropomyces to accommodate a novel lineage related to Ostropa , which is composed of two new species, as well as a new species of Sphaeropezia , S. shangrilaensis . Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses of mitochondrial small subunit spacers (mtSSU), large subunit nuclear rDNA (LSU), and internal transcribed spacers (ITS) sequence data, together with phenotypic data documented by detailed morphological and anatomical analyses, support the taxonomic affinity of the new taxa in Stictidaceae. Ancestral character state analysis did not resolve the ancestral nutritional status of Stictidaceae with confidence using Bayes traits, but a saprotrophic ancestor was indicated as most likely in a Bayesian binary Markov Chain Monte Carlo sampling (MCMC) approach. Frequent switching in nutritional modes between lineages suggests that lifestyle transition played an important role in the evolution of this family.