Search

Stictidaceae has ubiquitous distribution and its members inhabit a wide range of hosts and substrates. However, many genera in this family are represented by a limited number of species and molecular data is lacking for those old genera. Documentation and description of new species is necessary to bring insight into the natural classification of Stictidaceae. An investigation of microfungi in Yunnan Province, China led to the discovery of the novel genus et species, Neohormodochis septispora based on morphological evidence and phylogenetic characterization of combined LSU, ITS, mtSSU and RPB2 sequnces. White-pruinose conidiomata, crystalline conidiomatal wall, cylindrical conidiogenous cells and dominantly sepate conidia arranged in branched chain characterize the novel genus. The phylogenetic placement of Dendroseptoria was uncertain and in this study, we confirmed its placement in Stictidaceae based on the phylogenetic affiliation of D. mucilaginosa.

Laburnicola is a genus in Didymosphaeriaceae that includes saprobic and endophytic fungal taxa. The current study conducted in the subalpine region of Uzbekistan discovered a new species on a dead stem of a wild rose plant. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses of combined LSU, SSU, ITS, and TEF 1-ɑ dataset confirmed the new species’ taxonomic position in Laburnicola. Our new species, Laburnicola zaaminensis (TASM 6152), was clustered with L. dactylidis (MFLUCC 16-0285) with strong bootstrap support. A detailed description together with illustrations are provided for Laburnicola zaaminensis. Furthermore, an annotated species list, a distribution map, and a taxonomic key for Laburnicola species are provided. This is the first record of Laburnicola from Central Asia.

Diaporthe forlicesenica nom. nov. is proposed for D. dorycnii Dissan., Camporesi & K.D. Hyde, a later homonym of D. dorycnii (Mont.) Sacc. Diaporthe forlicesenica as well as the species D. goulteri have so far only been described in their asexual morphs. In this study, the sexual morphs for these species are recovered for the first time, from the dead branches of Cytisus sp. in Italy and from an unknown host in Thailand. The asexual-sexual morph connections of the species are confirmed by DNA sequence based phylogenetic analyses including the ITS, tef1, tub2 and his loci, supported by morphology. Detailed descriptions, illustrations and molecular data for the taxa are provided.

Neofusicoccum species are endophytes, saprobes and opportunistic pathogens of many economic and ornamental plants. There are few reports of Neofusicoccum species are available to be associated with orchids worldwide. In this study, five endophytic Neofusicoccum strains were isolated from Dendrobium orchid leaves and stems in southwestern China and northern Thailand. Morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of the combined partial nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS), partial RNA polymerase Ⅱ second largest subunit (RPB2), part of the translation elongation factor 1 alpha (EF-1α) and beta-tubulin (TUB2) dataset revealed that these isolates belong to two species Neofusicoccum occulatum and N. parvum. This is the first record of Neofusicoccum occulatum associated with Dendrobium chrysanthum while N. parvum associated with D. harveyanum and D. moschatum.

Austropleospora is a genus of Didymosphaeriaceae with only three extant species. A survey of saprobic ascomycetes in Guizhou Province, China, discovered a new Austropleospora species on dead twigs in a terrestrial habitat. The molecular phylogeny based on a combined SSU-LSU-tef1-ITS DNA sequence dataset confirmed the new species’ taxonomic position in Austropleospora. Austropleospora ochracea sp. nov. is characterized by globose to subglobose and uni-loculate ascoma with a centric short papilla, brown to dark brown peridium with cells of textura angularis to textura prismatica and conical, comparatively smaller ascospores with narrowly rounded polar ends. The new taxon is compared with similar species in Austropleospora, and its taxonomic status is briefly discussed.

A Kirschsteiniothelia species was found on decayed twigs of Ficus microcarpa collected at the Garden of Medicinal Plants in Chiang Rai, Thailand. Phylogenetic analyses of combined ITS, LSU and SSU sequence data showed the new isolate was phylogenetically distinct from other known species of Kirschsteiniothelia. Accordingly, Kirschsteiniothelia thailandica sp. nov. is described and illustrated and compared with other species in the genus.

Acrocordiella yunnanensis sp. nov. is introduced here from dead twigs of an unidentified dicotyledonous host from Xishuangbanna Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. Phylogenetic analyses based on LSU and ITS sequence data revealed that this new species with a distinct sexual morph belongs to Requienellaceae (Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota). Acrocordiella yunnanensis is closely related to Acrocordiella omanensis in Requienellaceae. This novel taxon is illustrated, described, and a morphology-based key is provided to facilitate the identification of species in Acrocordiella.

The monotypic Neolophiotrema (typified by N. xiaokongense) is introduced for a wood-inhabiting taxon classified in Dothideomycetes. The genus is characterized by, coriaceous, immersed to semi-immersed ascomata, hamathecium with cellular pseudoparaphyses and overlapping 1–2-seriate, hyaline ascospores. Phylogenetic analysis of combined SSU, LSU, ITS, tef1-α and rpb2 sequence data supports the placement of Neolophiotrema in Anteagloniaceae (Pleosporales). A morphology-based synopsis key is provided to facilitate the identification of species of Anteagloniaceae. The classification and nature of species boundaries in Anteagloniaceae are discussed.

A new species and a first record of Volvariella are reported from Thailand based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence. The most important features that distinguish Volvariella rostricystidiata sp. nov. are the broadly clavate to obovoid cheilocystidia with a rostrate apex and the scattered, slender and usually fusiform pleurocystidia, which lack a rostrum. Volvariella pulla, recently described from Vietnam, is reported here from northern Thailand based on morphology and sequence data. Combined ITS and nrLSU gene regions were analyzed to confirm the placement and infer the phylogenetic affinities of the two studied species.

A new monotypic coelomycetous genus, Loculosulcatispora (type species L. thailandica) is introduced in Pleosporales from woody litter in Thailand. Phylogenetic analysis of combined non-translated loci (SSU, LSU, ITS) and protein-coding regions (tef1-α, rpb2) shows the genus is a distinct lineage in Sulcatisporaceae. Loculosulcatispora is distinguished from other genera in the family, by having 1-celled, oblong, hyaline, smooth-walled conidia with guttules. Comprehensive morphological descriptions and illustrations are provided for the new genus and species.

A cercosporoid fungus associated with leaf lesions of Dypsis lutenscens (Arecaceae) was observed in Chiang Rai, Thailand. This study describes the new species Pseudocercospora dypsidis based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses from three gene regions, ITS, TEF-1α, and ACT. Single gene analyses are generally insufficient for identification of Pseudocercospora species, or for segregation of other genera in the Pseudocercospora complex. A list is provided of all Pseudocercospora species known from Thailand and the need to confirm their identifications by a polyphasic approach is stressed.

The dematiaceous coelomycete Hyaloterminalis alishanensis gen. et sp. nov. (Coryneaceae, Diaporthales, Sordariomycetes) is introduced in this paper. It was isolated from dead branches of Cerasus sp. from the Ali Mountain, Taiwan. Coryneum was previously the only genus in Coryneaceae, and morphological similarity of Hyaloterminalis with the type genus is limited to broadly fusiform, brown conidia. Hyaloterminalis differs from Coryneum in having pycnidial conidiomata, persistent paraphyses and conidiophore morphology, with a long narrow hyaline tip to the apical cell and hyaline basal cells. Multigene phylogenetic analyses, using a combined LSU, ITS and TEF1-α sequence data generated from maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and MrBayes analyses, confirmed that Hyaloterminalis forms a distinct lineage within Coryneaceae and its establishment as a new genus is well-supported. The new taxon is described, illustrated and compared with Coryneum. The ITS (MH861215) and LSU (MH872982) sequences obtained from the ex-type strain of Talekpea foeticia, confirm its status as a member in Coryneaceae. Therefore, Talekpea is accepted as a distinct genus in Coryneaceae.

Roussoella guttulata sp. nov. (Roussoellaceae) was found on bamboo culms collected in the northeast of Thailand. Roussoella guttulata differs from other species in having immersed, gregarious, black pseudoascostromata, single and central ostiole with periphyses, thin-walled peridium composed of cells of textura angularis to textura prismatica and yellowish brown ascospores. The multigene phylogenetic analysis shows that the new species forms a distinct lineage basal to R. hysterioides, R. japanensis, R. scabrispora and R. verrucispora. The new species is compared with closely related Roussoella species. A full description, color photo plates and a phylogenetic tree to show the placement of the new species are provided.

This is the second in a series of papers in which we examine the type species of genera in Parmulariaceae. Specimens of type species of Hysterostomella, Mintera, Rhipidocarpon and Viegasella are re-examined and their descriptions and illustrations are provided. Hysterostomella is characterized by large, black, circular or elliptical ascostromata, later becoming irregular, rather flat and opening by irregular fissures. Asci are subglobose, obovoid and bitunicate and ascospores are dark brown, ellipsoidal with a single septum. Mintera is similar to Viegasella in having radiating, loculate ascostromata forming on leaf surfaces. However, Mintera is distinguished by its appressoriate mycelium. Rhipidocarpon has carbonaceous, flattened ascostromata with ridges, irregularly radiating from centre to the outer rim, becoming a fan-shape, ridges containing elongated locules, which open by a longitudinal slit and contain numerous asci. Based on their morphological characters, the placement of the genera in Parmulariaceae is confirmed.

During our studies of the genus Lepiota in northern Thailand we collected a putatively new species with a distinct morphology and ITS nrDNA profile from Chiang Mai Province. The new species, Lepiota condylospora, is characterized by the presence of reddish brown to brownish orange or brown squamules on the pileus surface, triangular basidiospores with two lateral knobs, and a hymenidermal pileipellis composed of broadly to narrowly clavate elements. Two genetically distinct species of Lepiota section Lilaceae having triangular spores with two lateral knobs are compared with L. condylospora: Lepiota fraterna, from Papua New Guinea, differs in having larger basidiospores and cheilocystidia; while L. cristata var. macrospora, from China, has bigger basidiomata. A full description, color photographs, line drawings and a phylogenetic tree to show the position of the new species are provided.

The harvest from grapevines is berries which are derived from the flowers. Even though numerous studies have been conducted to understand the pathogens associated with grapes, less is known about the fungi associated with the flowering stage and their potential for infecting fruit as latent pathogens. In the present study, 99 endophytic strains were isolated from the calyptra of grape flowers of four different grape cultivars (Italia, Jingxiangyu, Kyoho and Zexiang). The isolates were Alternaria, Cladosporium, Diaporthe and Epicoccum species. Alternaria was the most abundant genus with 88 strains of A. alternata. Four Cladosporium species were identified including two new host records (Cladosporium ramotenellum and C. anthropophilum) and one new species (Cladosporium endoviticola sp. nov.). Diaporthe eres and a novel Epicoccum species (Epicoccum endophytica sp. nov) were also identified. This study provides evidence that some grape fruit pathogens occur as endophytes in flowers. The study enhances the current knowledge of grape pathogens and can be used to develop sustainable management strategies.

A species of Hypoxylon, found on dead wood in China, differs from H. hypomiltum and H. samuelsii in having highly carbonaceous stromata, asci with a long stipe and wider ascospores. Based on morphology and molecular phylogeny, it is described as a new species, H. wujiangensis sp. nov. A detailed description and illustration are provided, along with molecular evidence for the new species.

A novel species, Appendiculella viticis, was collected on freshly fallen leaves of Vitex canescens (Lamiaceae) in Chiang Rai, Thailand. This species is unique in having vertically striate, conoid cells, without larviform appendages and fusiform to ellipsoidal, guttulate ascospores. Morphological comparison and phylogenetic analysis of combined LSU and ITS sequence data provide evidence that the species is novel. Morphological comparisons of Appendiculella species are provided. The molecular data provides evidence to support the distinctness of Appendiculella.

Micropsalliota embraces approximately 70 species which are mainly distributed in tropical and subtropical areas. In this study, two new species named Micropsalliota albella and M. purpureobrunneola are introduced from northern Thailand. Phylogenetic analyses based on ITS and LSU data shows their placement in Micropsalliota in two distinct lineages. Micropsalliota albella is characterized by the white, tiny basidiomes and utriform cheilocystidia. Micropsalliota purpureobrunneola is characterized by the pileus finely covered with purple to brownish-purple scales, oblong basidiospores and narrowly clavate cheilocystidia. Descriptions, colour photographs and illustrations of both new species are presented.

An investigation of aquatic fungi in Thailand resulted in the collection and isolation of a new species of Wicklowia (Wicklowiaceae) from submerged wood. Wicklowia phuketensis sp. nov. differs from known species in morphology and multigene phylogenetic analyses. Both W. submersa and W. phuketensis lack appendages at both ends, while W. aquatica has basal appendages. Wicklowia phuketensis differs from other species in the dimensions of the ascomata, asci and ascospores. The combined LSU and SSU sequence data placed the new species within Wicklowiaceae.

Two new Dactylellina (nematode-trapping fungi) species, D. yushanensis and D. cangshanensis from the burned forest soil in Cangshan Mountain, Yunnan Province, China are introduced in this paper based on morphology and phylogenetic analysis. Their descriptions and illustrations are provided. Dactylellina yushanensis is characterized by its geniculate branched conidiophore, two types conidia and fusiform, clavate or drop-shaped microconidia grown in conidiophore or produced by macroconidia with micro-cycle conidiation pathway. Dactylellina cangshanensis is characterized by its fusiform, spindle-shaped, clavate or drop-shaped conidia with 2-4-septate. Phylogenetic analysis based on combined ITS, EF1-α and RPB2 sequence showed that these two species cluster together with D. ellipsospora with obvious genetic differentiation.

Fusarium xiangyunensis sp. nov., isolated from hot-spring waterlogged soil in China, which is an endoparasitic fungus of nematodes, is described and illustrated. Evidence for the new species is provided by morphology and phylogenetic analyses of combined ITS, EF-1α and RPB1 sequence data. Phylogenetic analyses showed that F. xiangyunensis clustered with those species belonging to the F. solani species complex and grouped together with F. witzenhausenense. This species differs from F. witzenhausenense in habitat (parasitic on Hibiscus sp.), conidia and chlamydospores. Furthermore, the nematicidal activity of its microconidia was determined and causes infection and death of nematodes in both sterile water and solid medium.

Bimuria is a monotypic genus in Didymosphaeriaceae, typified by B. novae-zelandiae collected in terrestrial habitats from New Zealand soil. In our study, Bimuria omanensis, a novel species was isolated from unidentified decaying leaves in Oman. The phylogenetic placement of B. omanensis is resolved based on maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses of combined LSU, ITS and TEF1-α sequence data of Didymosphaeriaceae. The placement of Bimuria omanensis as a distinct species, is confirmed based on phylogeny. This is the first record of an asexual morph in Bimuria and first record of a Bimuria species from Oman. The relationship of this taxon with other phylogenetically closely related Didymosphaeriaceae species is shown.

A survey of lignicolous terrestrial ascomycetes conducted in Thailand yielded a number of novel species. In this paper, we report on a terrestrial collection of a taxon from dead branches of an unidentified plant. Triseptata gen. et sp. nov. is characterized by immersed, uni- to multi-loculate ascomata, filamentous pseudoparaphyses, bitunicate, fissitunicate, cylindrical-clavate asci and 3-septate, light brown spores, with asymmetrical ends, in its sexual form. In culture, it produced hyphomycetous, globose to subglobose, multi-septate and darkly pigmented conidia-like structures. Phylogenetic analysis of a combined LSU, ITS and SSU dataset shows Triseptata to be a well-separated lineage from all genera in Latoruaceae. Based on multigene phylogeny, Triseptata gen. nov. is introduced to accommodate a single new species Triseptata sexualis and placed in Latoruaceae. Illustrations, descriptions and notes are provided for the new genus and species.

Amphisphaeria yunnanensis sp. nov. and Lepteutypa qujingensis sp. nov. are introduced in this study from dead twigs collected from an evergreen broadleaf forest area in Yunnan Province, China. Both species have immersed, sub-globose ascomata and overlapping uniseriate asci and multi-guttulate, fusiform, brown ascospores. Amphisphaeria yunnanensis is distinguished among similar taxa in having long and narrow ostiole and comparatively small fusiform ascospores. Lepteutypa qujingensis is characterized by smaller ascomata and ascospores compare to other Lepteutypa species. Based on LSU-ITS phylogeny and macro-micro morphology, both species are placed in Amphisphaeriaceae. Morphological comparisons of the accepted species in Amphisphaeria and Lepteutypa are provided.

A new species of terrestrial ascomycetes belonging to the genus Lonicericola (Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes) found on dead branches of Caprifolioideae sp. in Yunnan Province, China is described and illustrated. A new classification is proposed to accommodate the new taxon based on the interpreted results from multigenic phylogenetic inference and micro morphological comparisons. The analysis of a combined SSU, LSU, ITS rDNA and tef1 dataset significantly supports both the shared monophyletic origin of Lonicericola in Parabambusicolaceae as well as L. fuyuanensis as a distinct new species. Comparisons of the distinct morphology of the new species L. fuyuanensis with the type species of the genus, L. hyaloseptispora, and other genera of the family Parabambusicolaceae are made.

A survey of monocotyledon plant-inhabiting fungi in Guangdong Province, China, revealed a leptosillia-like taxon from living leaves of Cordyline fruticosa in the Shenzhen University garden. Phylogenetic relationships were investigated based on morphology and combined analysis of the ITS, LSU, RPB2, β-tubulin and tef 1–α gene sequence data. Based on ecological, morphological and phylogenetic data, we introduce Leptosillia cordylinea sp. nov. with a description and illustrations. The morphology of other Leptosillia species is reviewed and a taxonomic key is provided.

In order to establish the phylogenetic relationships and to resolve the natural classification of species in Dothideomycetes, it is necessary to use multi-gene phylogeny as well as morphology. Phaeodothis mori is a new species collected from dead leaves of Morus australis from Chiayi, Taiwan. Maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses were performed based on multi-locus phylogenies of ITS, LSU, SSU and tef1-α to clarify the phylogenetic affinities of the species. Phaeodothis mori is distinguished from the other Phaeodothis species based on distinct size differences in ascomata, asci, ascospores and base pair differences in DNA sequence data. Remarkably, this is the first Phaeodothis species recorded from Morus australis. The new species was compared with the type species of Phaeodothis and a comprehensive description and micrographs were provided.

A new Collodiscula, found on a bamboo culms in China, differs from C. japonica, C. fangjingshanensis, C. leigongshanensis, C. bambusae and C. chiangraiensis in having 5-septate ascospores (42.5–65 × 10–15.5 µm). It is described as a new species, Collodiscula tubulosa sp. nov. based on the morphology and molecular phylogeny.

Four strains, CNUFC SKT18002, CNUFC FKT18033, CNUFC SKT19001, and CNUFC SKT18228 were isolated during an investigation of fungi belonging to the orders Mucorales and Umbelopsidales from amphibian feces and soil samples in Korea. Based on morphological characteristics and the sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and 28S rDNA sequences, the strains CNUFC SKT18002, CNUFC FKT18033, CNUFC SKT19001, and CNUFC SKT18228 were identified as Cunninghamella binariae, Mucor ardhlaengiktus, Mucor gigasporus, and Umbelopsis changbaiensis, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, the species C. binariae, M. ardhlaengiktus, M. gigasporus, and U. changbaiensis have not been previously reported in Korea.

Keissleriella bambusicola sp. nov., collected from Yunnan Province in China, is described and illustrated in this paper. The new taxon was well placed in the genus Keissleriella based on subglobose to ampulliform, uni- to bi-loculate ascostromata with an ostiole covered by dark setae, 8-spored, bitunicate, fissitunicate, cylindrical to cylindric-clavate asci and yellowish brown, ellipsoidal to cylindrical (4–)5(–6)-septate ascospores. Keissleriella bambusicola is introduced based on a comparison of the morphological characteristics of morphologically (K. rosae, K. taminensis, K. yonaguniensis) and phylogenetically (K. caraganae, K. yonaguniensis) closely related taxa. The species can be distinguished from the above mentioned species in having uni- to bi-loculate, raised, superificial ascostromata and (4–)5(–6)-septate ascospores. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses based on the combined LSU, SSU, TEF1-α and ITS sequence dataset showed that our new taxon forms a sister lineage, with K. caraganae and clustered with K. yonaguniensis in the genus Keissleriella. In addition, Keissleriella is reported on bamboo for the first time.

An unusual anamorphic dictyosporous species, Tubeufia sahyadriensis, was collected on decaying Bambusa bambos litter in the Tamhini Ghats in the northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India. This new species can be easily differentiated from allied Tubeufia species by its dark brownish to umber, maize corncob-like dictyoseptate conidia with reduced, simple cylindrical conidiogenous cells. Phylogenetic analyses using ITS, LSU and TEF1α sequence data delineated the new species within the genus Tubeufia under family Tubeufiaceae.

Despite the ecological and economic significance of Ganoderma, the taxonomy of this group of mushrooms remains largely unresolved. In line with an attempt to further our understanding of Ganoderma, we describe a new species collected from Yunnan Province, China. Ganoderma weixiensis is described here based on the morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of combined ITS, LSU and TEF1-α gene regions. This new species is characterized by a reddish-brown pileus, cream colored pore surface and context, eccentrically or centrally attached stipe, and broadly ellipsoid basidiospores Comparisons of the morphological characteristics of G. weixiensis and its close relatives G. lucidum and G. leucocontextum are also presented.

Acremonium arthrinii sp. nov. was collected from Phyllostachys heteroclada in the forest of Sichuan Province, China. This mycopathogenic fungus was frequently found on the top of the ascomata of Arthrinium yunnanum, and presumably causes its death. In this study, the new species was examined morphologically and maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses of a combined LSU, SSU, ITS and TEF 1-α were performed to clarify the taxonomic affinity of the species. Acremonium arthrinii can be distinguished from other Acremonium species based on conidiogenesis, size differences in conidiophores, conidiogenous cells and conidia, and its DNA sequence differences and phylogeny. Detailed descriptions, micrographs and phylogenetic relationships of the new taxon were provided.

Pestalotiod taxa commonly occur in plants as endophytes, pathogens or saprobes. Endophytic Pestalotiopsis and Neopestalotiopsis species were isolated from Dendrobium cariniferum, D. loddigesii and two unidentified orchid species sampled in southwestern China and northern Thailand. Morphological and molecular comparison identified the isolates as two new species; Neopestalotiopsis dendrobii, and Pestalotiopsis doitungensis; two existing species P. lushanensis and P. trachicarpicola. This is the first report of Neopestalotiopsis isolated from the orchid genus Dendrobium and is the first report of pestalotiod fungi in D. careniferum. Pestalotiopsis lushanensis and P. trachicarpicola are new recorded fungal endophytes in Dendrobium orchids.

A new species, Colletotrichum artocarpicola, on Artocarpus heterophyllus from Chiang Rai, Thailand, is introduced using both morphological and molecular approaches. Combined phylogenetic analysis of ITS, GAPDH, CHS-1, ACT and TUB2 sequence data demonstrate that Colletotrichum artocarpicola is a distinct species within the gloeosporioides species complex. The new species is illustrated and compared with related taxa, and evidence of its pathogenicity is provided.

Thyrostroma ephedricola, isolated from Ephedra equisetina from Uzbekistan is introduced as a new species and a new combination, Thyrostroma jaczewskii (B. Sutton) is proposed. Both species are characterised by sporodochial, punctiform conidiomata, and brown cylindrical to subcylindrical, 1–3-septate conidiophores, cylindrical, clavate, or ellipsoid to pyriform brown conidia. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on analyses of ribosomal DNA (ITS, LSU and SSU regions) of Thyrostroma species, strongly supports the recognized taxa as a monophyletic group. The introduction of the new species is supported by both morphological and molecular data.

We are currently studying lignicolous freshwater fungi in China. In this paper, we introduce two taxonomic accounts to the family Amniculicolaceae in Pleosporales viz. Murispora aquatica sp. nov (from Yunnan) and a new record of Murispora fagicola (from Tibet). The conclusions were derived from both morphological comparisons and the results of phylogenetic analyses (concatenated ITS, LSU, SSU and TEF1-α sequence data). The new species is compared with other existing species of Murispora and comprehensive descriptions and micro-photographs are provided.

Conioscypha is an asexual morph genus placed in the family Conioscyphaceae. During our study of brown-spored hyphomycetes, a new taxon C. tenebrosa was found on decaying wood collected in Guizhou Province, China. The new species is characterized by having micronematous, hyaline conidiophores which are often reduced to conidiogenous cells, with a cup-shaped, percurrently developed, multi-collaretted phialide, and globose to subglobose, obovoid conidia with broadly rounded apex and subtruncate base. The phylogenetic analysis of combined LSU, SSU, ITS and RPB2 sequence data showed that isolates of C. tenebrosa are phylogenetically distinct from other species. Conioscypha tenebrosa sp. nov. is therefore introduced here with a description and morphological illustration. Taxonomic notes and a morphological comparison of Conioscypha species are provided.

In an investigation of related pleosporalean taxa collected from Italy and Russia, a novel species, Stemphylium dianthi and new host and geographical records ofS. beticola, S. gracilariae, S. simmonsii and S. vesicarium are reported. Stemphylium is a genus of filamentous ascomycetes comprising plant pathogens and saprobes in the family Pleosporaceae. Our new species, S. dianthi is a dematiaceous hyphomycete, which can be distinguished from other hyphomycetes as it forms phaeodictyospores based on the percurrent rejuvenation of its conidiophores, and apically swollen conidiogenous cells. The sexual morphs ofS. gracilariaeand S. vesicarium are new host records from Italy and Russia respectively. Stemphylium beticola from dead stem of Dianthus capitatus and S. simmonsii from Acer campestre are herein described from a natural host substrate for the first time. An updated phylogenetic tree for Stemphylium is constructed using multi-genes (ITS, gapdh and cmdA) to confirm the phylogenetic relationships of Stemphylium species presented in this study. This paper provides morphological descriptions, illustrations and molecular data for each taxon.

A new freshwater ascomycetous species, Wicklowia submersa was found on submerged wood in a freshwater stream in Krabi Province in southern Thailand. This is a second species in a monotypic family. Morphological examination and phylogenetic analysis of LSU and SSU sequence data support this new species as belonging to Wicklowia in the family Wicklowiaceae (Pleosporales). Wicklowia submersa possesses ascomata that are immersed, erumpent when mature, raised and visible as dark oval or slit-like structures on host surface. The bitunicate asci have well-developed ocular chambers when immature with a short pedicel. Ascospores are ellipsoidal-oblong, asymmetrical, 1-septate, guttulate when immature, hyaline, with a distinctly mucilaginous sheath. The characteristics of the asci, and ascospores which lack both apical and basal appendages distinguish it from the type species W. aquatic. A description, illustration and comparison of the new species is provided. The risk of introducing monotypic families is discussed.

Two asexual trichocladium-like species were recorded from coastlines in Japan and Thailand. Phylogenetic analysis of multi-gene sequence data placed them in Savoryella (Savoryellaceae), grouping with an unidentified strain isolated from submerged wood in a saline environment, but distinct from other Savoryella species. In this paper, we propose a new combination as Savoryella nypae based on Trichocladium nypae and a new species Savoryella sarushimana. Savoryella sarushimana differs from S. nypae in having larger conidial dimensions, with a rough to spiny surface and the proliferation of conidia. Detail morphological features coupled with sporulation in culture of the new taxa are illustrated. Notes on the phylogenetic placement of the discussed taxa and emendation of the genus Savoryella are provided.

A new species of Neoroussoella (Roussoellaceae) collected in Taiwan is introduced from Pennisetum purpureum with both asexual and sexual morphs. Phylogenetic analysis of a concatenated LSU-ITS-SSU-TEF1-α-RPB2 sequence dataset reveals that the new species forms a distinct sister clade with N. bambusae with high statistical support (100% ML/ 1.00 BYPP). Neoroussoella alishanense is morphologically similar with the generic type, N. bambusae, but N. alishanense is distinct in having larger ascomata and its ascospores lack a mucilaginous sheath. While, N. bambusae has smaller ascomata and its ascospores are surrounded by a mucilaginous sheath. A comparison of ITS, RPB2 and TEF1-α nucleotide bases shows that they are distinct species.

Phaeosphaeria ampeli is a new species collected from dead leaves of Ficus ampelas in Fanlu Township area, Dahu forest, Chiayi, Taiwan. Phaeosphaeria musae is a new record from dead leaves of Roystonea regia. Both species are described, illustrated and compared with similar species. Phaeosphaeria ampeli is distinguished from other Phaeosphaeria species based on distinct size differences of the ascomata, asci, ascospores and analyses of DNA sequence data. Maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses of combined ITS, LSU, SSU and tef1-α sequence data are used to clarify the phylogenetic affinities of the species.

Arthrinium phyllostachium sp. nov. collected in Sichuan Province is described and illustrated from decaying culms of Phyllostachys heteroclada. Its phylogenetic placement is explored with a combined ITS, LSU, TUB2 and TEF 1-α dataset. It is introduced as a new novelty mainly based on phylogeny, and phylogenetic close to A. euphorbiae, A. malaysianum and A. vietnamensis, however it can be split from other taxa with a distinct clade and base pair differences. It is characterized by uni-loculate conidiomata with a slit-like opening, holoblastic conidiogenous cells and olive to dark brown conidia usually with a longitudinal germ-slit. An updated phylogram for Arthrinium based on multi-loci analysis is also provided.

Termitomyces floccosus and T. upsilocystidiatus nov., are introduced from China and Thailand based on morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic analyses. Termitomyces floccosus is characterized by a squamulose pileus and stipe, and utriform cheilocystidia. Termitomyces upsilocystidiatus is characterized by Y-shaped cheilocystidia. Phylogenetic analyses of combined mrSSU and nrLSU sequence data confirmed that the two taxa are distinct Termitomyces species. Comprehensive descriptions, colour photographs and a phylogenetic tree showing the position of the two new species are provided.

The fungal kingdom is estimated to comprise between 2.2 to 3.8 million species with only about 7% named and classified. Novel biochemical, physiological and molecular techniques have been utilized to improve the systematics of fungal taxa and estimates of their diversity. Multidisciplinary approaches should be used for resolving species and higher taxa of the fungi. However, even with all the benefits of the new techniques, they are also providing unclear results and taxonomic instability. Taxonomists should be aware of these issues and should follow pragmatic approaches. In order to overcome these taxonomic challenges, cooperation and communication among mycologists worldwide are crucial for the study of fungal diversity.

Cytospora species are important phytopathogens causing severe canker disease with a worldwide distribution and broad host range. However, identification of taxa to species level is difficult due to poor phylogenetic understanding and lack of sequenced type species. Morphological and phylogenetic studies have been carried out on several important hosts such as Eucalyptus and Malus in China, Iran, and South Africa. In this study destructive canker diseases of the anti-desertification plants, Elaeagnus angustifolia , Hippophae rhamnoides , and Salix psammophila , were investigated in northwest China. Multilocus phylogenetic analyses of ITS, nrLSU, RPB2, and ACT gene regions, combined with detailed morphological analyses and comparison with ex-type strains revealed six Cytospora species, C. chrysosperma , C. elaeagni , C. hippophaes , C. nivea , C. populina comb. nov. and C. gigaspora sp. nov. causing cankers on these hosts. The novel species C. gigaspora has flat multiple locules with a conceptacle and unusually long 12 µm conidia. Detailed descriptions and molecular data for the Cytospora species causing cankers on the three psammophilic host plants are provided. Cytospora elaeagni and C. hippophaes have previously been recorded from Elaeagnus angustifolia and Hippophae rhamnoides , whereas the other species causing Cytospora canker of Elaeagnus angustifolia and Salix psammophila are new records.

The genus Alternaria contains a large number of diverse species which include many phytopathogens, endophytes and saprobes, as well as environmental species. An Alternaria species was isolated from dead wood of unknown plant collected from the Al Jabal al-Akhdar Mountain in Oman. This species did not have a conclusive match to any known Alternaria in the GenBank database using BLAST searchers based on ITS gene sequences. The analysis of a sequence dataset based on SSU, LSU, ITS, GPDH, TEF and RPB2 genes of the newly discovered species showed that it represented a new section in Altenraria. A detailed morphological comparison of both sexual and asexual morphs support the conclusions based on the sequence data. Therefore, we introduce a new Alternaria section Omanenses and a new species, Alternaria omanensis.

Verruconis heveae, a new species accommodated in Sympoventuriaceae was isolated from dried latex on bark of a rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) collected from Phayao Province, Thailand. The comparison of its morphological characters distinguished V. heveae from other Verruconis species by having brown, woolly mycelium on the natural substrate and solitary, ellipsoidal to subglobose, 1–3 septate conidia. Phylogenetic analysis of a combined LSU and ITS dataset revealed a distinct lineage within Sympoventuriaceae.