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As part of a worldwide sampling nine black fungi were isolated from rocks collected in four distinct sites of the Alps at high altitudes. Based on a nucSSU, nucLSU and mtSSU multi-locus phylogeny, seven of them were found to cluster into a distinct and well-supported clade in a basal position within the Class Dothideomycetes. As in other rock fungi these new groups of isolates were characterized by a meristematic growth and a scarcely differentiated morphology with highly melanized and thick-walled toruloid hyphae. Nonetheless, few peculiar characters were also observed as convoluted hyphal tips and the production of spherical propagules. The new genus and species Saxomyces alpinus and S. penninicus, are here described based on morphological and molecular data, in a yet to be defined order of the Dothideomycetes. The remaining two black fungi clustered in Cryomyces, a genus previously exclusively found in rocks from the McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica. These two isolates were genetically distant from other Antarctic Cryomyces species based on ITS sequences, and they showed a peculiar morphology; they are here described as the new species C. montanus and C. funiculosus. Implications of our results on the evolution, adaptation and dispersal of rock-inhabiting fungi under extreme conditions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Ochroconis (Sympoventuriaceae, Venturiales) is revised and currently contains 13 species for which the phylogenetic position has been determined using multilocus sequencing. The older generic name Scolecobasidium is considered to be of doubtful identity because the type specimen is ambiguous. Within the Ochroconis lineage, phylogenetic distances of all markers analyzed are exceptionally large, both between and within species. A new genus Verruconis is proposed for the neurotropic opportunist Ochroconis gallopava. Species accepted within the lineages are keyed out on the basis of phenotypic characters. Main ecological traits within each species are discussed. Verruconis species are thermophilic and one of them is an important agent of infection in the brain, while Ochroconis is mesophilic, several species causing infections in cold-blooded animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ochroconis is a genus of ascomycete fungi that includes oligotrophic saprobes and some opportunistic species causing infections in vertebrates. The most important of these opportunists is the neurotropic species Ochroconis gallopava, which occurs in birds and occasionally in immunocompromised humans. Other Ochroconis species have been isolated from superficial infections of cats, dogs and fish. In their natural environment, these species are found in litter, soil, and on moist surfaces. Some thermophilic species have been isolated from hot springs, industrial effluents, and self-heated plant material. Although their ecology and epidemiology has been investigated, their classification within the ascomycetes is still unknown. Here, the phylogenetic placement of Ochroconis is investigated using a four-gene phylogeny (nuLSU, nuSSU, mtSSU and RPB2). The results show that Ochroconis and its recently described sister genus Verruconis belong to the order Venturiales (Dothideomycetes) and are nested within the Sympoventuriaceae, a family recently erected for a group of plant-saprobes or -pathogens sister to the Venturiaceae. They form a well-supported monophyletic group together with five species of the anamorphic genus Fusicladium isolated from leaf and needle litters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Article 59.1, of the International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants (ICN; Melbourne Code), which addresses the nomenclature of pleomorphic fungi, became effective from 30 July 2011. Since that date, each fungal species can have one nomenclaturally correct name in a particular classification. All other previously used names for this species will be considered as synonyms. The older generic epithet takes priority over the younger name. Any widely used younger names proposed for use, must comply with Art. 57.2 and their usage should be approved by the Nomenclature Committee for Fungi (NCF). In this paper, we list all genera currently accepted by us in Dothideomycetes (belonging to 23 orders and 110 families), including pleomorphic and nonpleomorphic genera. In the case of pleomorphic genera, we follow the rulings of the current ICN and propose single generic names for future usage. The taxonomic placements of 1261 genera are listed as an outline. Protected names and suppressed names for 34 pleomorphic genera are listed separately. Notes and justifications are provided for possible proposed names after the list of genera. Notes are also provided on recent advances in our understanding of asexual and sexual morph linkages in Dothideomycetes . A phylogenetic tree based on four gene analyses supported 23 orders and 75 families, while 35 families still lack molecular data.