<Emphasis Type="Italic">Acuminatispora palmarum</Emphasis> gen. et sp. nov. from mangrove habitats

Fungi play a vital role as decomposers in mangrove ecosystems. A new ascomycete species, Acuminatispora palmarum, inhabiting decayed petioles and rachides of palms in mangrove habitats, is introduced in this paper based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence. Phylogenetic relationships of related taxa were inferred from combined LSU, SSU, TEF1α, and RPB2 sequence data, and the analyses indicate that A. palmarum could be recognized as a distinct group in Pleosporales, but its familial placement needs to be further resolved. The morphological characters of this new taxon are also different from other members in Pleosporales by its deeply immersed ascomata, long pedicellate asci, and biseriate to triseriate, 1-(rarely 3) septate, brown, fusiform ascospores with acute or narrowly pointed ending cells. Acuminatispora gen. nov. (Pleosporales, incertae sedis) is therefore established to accommodate the new taxon A. palmarum. Furthermore, phylogenetic relationships of Acrocordiopsis and Caryospora are discussed with a consideration of morphological observations.     

A new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cosmospora</Emphasis> and the first record of sexual state of <Emphasis Type="Italic">C. lavitskiae</Emphasis>

A new fungicolous species, Cosmospora inonoticola, is described and illustrated based on a specimen collected from northeast China. It is characterized by the occurrence of fruitbodies of Inonotus sp.; perithecia nonstromatic, subglobose to pyriform, not collapsing when dry; clavate asci containing (3–)6(?8) spores; ascospores ellipsoidal to broadly ellipsoidal, pale brown, finely warted, bicellular, conspicuously constricted at septum; and producing a verticillium-like asexual state. A multi-locus analysis of the combined ITS, rpb1 and tub sequences confirmed its taxonomic position, and revealed the distinction from its morphologically similar species including the type species, C. coccinea, which occurs also on Inonotus. A specimen with sexual state of C. lavitskiae is reported for the first time, and a reference specimen is indicated.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Thyridariella</Emphasis>, a novel marine fungal genus from India: morphological characterization and phylogeny inferred from multigene DNA sequence analyses

A novel saprobic fungal genus, Thyridariella (Thyridariaceae), is herein described to include Thyridariella mangrovei, the type species and T. mahakoshae spp. nov. Both species were collected as saprobes on decaying wood of Avicennia marina, a common mangrove species found near Kaveri River Delta, Tamil Nadu, on the east coast of India. Thyridariella is diagnosed by having an exclusive combination of characters, such as ascomata with ostiolar necks thickened laterally, hyaline, and centrally constricted muriform ascospores with a single longitudinal septum in each segment and surrounded by a mucilaginous sheath. These characters demarcate these taxa from morphologically similar genera such as Halojulella and Julella. In addition, the new genus also differs from Parathyridaria and Thyridaria in having hyaline, muriform ascospores with distinct mucilaginous sheaths. The monophyly of Thyridariella is well supported in the phylogenetic analysis based on a concatenated dataset from two proteins and three nuclear gene regions. The phylogeny also depicts a sister group relationship of our new genus to Parathyridaria and Thyridaria and hence confirms its position within Thyridariaceae.     

Three new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stigmatodiscus</Emphasis> from Mallorca (Spain)

During a survey on corticolous Dothideomycetes in Mallorca, several collections with ascomata, asci, and ascospores matching the genus Stigmatodiscus (Stigmatodiscales, Dothideomycetes) were revealed, which did not fit any described species. Therefore, these collections were cultured and sequenced, and a multigene matrix of four loci (nuc18S-ITS-28S rDNA, rpb2, tef1 and tub2) was produced. Based on the results of the phylogenetic analyses of this matrix and of morphological investigations, three new species (Stigmatodiscus labiatus, S. oculatus, and S. pinicola) are described and illustrated, Asterodiscus is synonymised with Stigmatodiscus and the new combination S. tamaricis is proposed. A key to all currently known species of Stigmatodiscus is provided.     

A revision of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sphaeria pilosa</Emphasis> Pers. and re-evaluation of the Trichosphaeriales

Sphaeria pilosa, the basionym of the type of Trichosphaeria, T. pilosa, was insufficiently described by Persoon. The current interpretation of T. pilosa comes from Fuckel and is based on his own material published in the exsiccatal series Fungi Rhen. Exs. no. 946. The examination of the type and other authentic material of S. pilosa and T. pilosa revealed several different fungi. Fresh material of T. pilosa is not available and Fuckel’s historical specimens have never been sampled for DNA. In order to reconcile Persoon’s concept of S. pilosa with Fuckel’s concept of T. pilosa, we designate a neotype in our study. The species is a unitunicate ascomycete characterized by perithecial ascomata, persistent paraphyses, and cylindrical short-stipitate asci without visible apical annulus containing eight hyaline, ellipsoidal ascospores. The genus Trichosphaeria includes 87 described species and the Trichosphaeriales with the single family Trichosphaeriaceae recently accommodate 17 genera of apparently diverse phylogenetic affinity. Although the relationship of Trichosphaeria with other members of the Sordariomycetes is unknown, the family and order based on it are widely used to label incertae sedis clades inferred in phylogenetic analyses. Based on these findings, the Trichosphaeriales are re-evaluated and their use in phylogenetic studies is recommended to be abandoned until recognition of T. pilosa by molecular data.     

Four new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichoderma</Emphasis> with hyaline ascospores from central China

Collections of Trichoderma producing hyaline ascospores from central China were examined. Four new species, Trichoderma asterineum, T. henanense, T. odoratum and T. pseudobritdaniae, were discovered, described and illustrated. Their phylogenetic positions were explored based on sequence analyses of the combined RNA polymerase II subunit b (rpb2) and translation elongation factor 1 alpha (tef1) genes. As a sister of T. leguminosarum, T. asterineum can be easily recognised by its pale yellow stromata, ochre to brown ostiolar dots surrounded by stellate cracks, green conidia and slow growth. Trichoderma henanense is distinctive in pulvinate or discoid, dirty yellow to brownish yellow stromata, brown to dark brown ostiolar dots, small monomorphic ascospores in relatively short asci and white colonies with dense aerial hyphae in cultures. Trichoderma odoratum forms an independent lineage as a sister of T. henanense and is characterised by yellow to greyish yellow, pulvinate stromata with dark brown or reddish brown projecting ostiolar dots, slow growth, trichoderma- to verticillium-like conidiophores, hyaline conidia and producing a mushroom-like odour in culture. Trichoderma pseudobritdaniae is closely associated with but easily separated from T. britdaniae in pulvinate, brownish yellow or greyish yellow stromata with dark brown or grey black ostiolar dots, relatively large perithecia, monomorphic ascospores, somewhat low growth rate, trichoderma- to verticillium-like conidiophores and hyaline conidia. Morphological distinctions and sequence divergences between the new species and their close relatives are discussed.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Calcarisporium xylariicola</Emphasis> sp. nov. and introduction of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Calcarisporiaceae</Emphasis> fam. nov. in Hypocreales

During a survey of fungicolous fungi, a novel taxon from the surface of stroma of an unidentified Xylaria species was collected. Phylogenetic analyses showed that this taxon clustered with Calcarisporium sp. and C. arbuscula isolates, but was resolved as a distinct species. A detailed morphological examination coupled with phylogenetic analysis indicated that the taxon represented a new species. Calcarisporium xylariicola sp. nov. is thus introduced. The new taxon is characterized by short conidiophores with swollen bases and less length/width ratio of conidia that distinguish it from other Calcarisporium species. Calcarisporium is presently placed in Hypocreales genera, incertae sedis genus. Species in the genus are largely fungicolous, or occasionally caulicolous or foliicolous, and have hyaline, erect, verticillate conidiophores and sympodial, polyblastic conidiation. A phylogenetic analysis of combined SSU, ITS, LSU, TEF and RPB2 sequence data from Calcarisporium species and other taxa in Hypocreales indicate that Calcarisporium is a distinct lineage from other families. Therefore, a new family, Calcarisporiaceae, in Hypocreales is introduced.     

Phylogenetic characterization of two novel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Kamalomyces</Emphasis> species in Tubeufiaceae (Tubeufiales)

Two novel species of bambusicolous fungi in the genus Kamalomyces, collected from northern Thailand, are described and illustrated herein. Kamalomyces bambusicola and K. thailandicus spp. nov. are typical of the genus Kamalomyces (Tubeufiaceae, Tubeufiales) and are morphologically distinct from known species with respect to their size of ascomata, asci and ascospores, ascospore septation and peridium structure, including the subiculum comprising hyphae on the host surface. Morphological examination reveals that the asexual morph of K. bambusicola is associated with its sexual morph in a subiculum forming dictyochlamydosporous conidia, which are similar to the asexual morph of Chlamydotubeufia. Phylogenetic analyses of combined LSU, ITS and TEF1-α sequence data also support these two species as distinct and confirm their phylogenetic affinities within the Tubeufiaceae. In particular, Kamalomyces shares a close phylogenetic relationship to Helicoma.     

Contribution to the knowledge of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Peziza</Emphasis> with multiguttulate ascospores,including <Emphasis Type="Italic">P. retrocurvatoides</Emphasis> sp. nov.

A few Peziza species have multiguttulate ascospores. Our study of several collections made during the year 2015 allows us to improve our knowledge of these species morphologically and phylogenetically, especially P. retrocurvata. A new species, morphologically close to P. retrocurvata, is also described and illustrated under the name P. retrocurvatoides. Finally, our examination of the type collection of P. brunneoatra proved this to be a distinct species.     

Myrothecium-like (Ascomycota,Hypocreales) species from tropical areas: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Digitiseta</Emphasis> gen. nov. and additions to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Inaequalispora</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Parvothecium</Emphasis>

Inaequalispora and Parvothecium are two myrothecium-like, closely related genera of Hypocreales. They are also morphologically similar, sharing sporodochial conidiomata, penicillate conidiophores, fusiform to ellipsoidal conidia accumulating in a green slimy drop, and hypha-like setoid extensions emerging through the conidial mass. During a revision of myrothecium-like isolates originating from rainforest areas of South America (Ecuador, Brazil) and Southeast Asia (Singapore), multilocus phylogenetic inferences (based on DNA sequence data of ITS, partial nuc 28S, and partial tef1a, rpb2 and tub2) and morphological studies concordantly revealed the occurrence of two undescribed species of Inaequalispora (I. longiseta sp. nov. and I. cylindrospora sp. nov.) and one undescribed species of Parvothecium (P. amazonensesp. nov.). Myrothecium setiramosum, M. dimorphum, and two undescribed taxa form the base of a new lineage, sister to the current Parvothecium lineage. This lineage is recognized as Digitiseta gen. nov., typified by D. setiramosa comb. nov. Digitiseta dimorpha comb. nov. is also proposed, and the new species D. parvodigitata sp. nov. and D. multidigitata sp. nov. are described.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phialemoniopsis endophytica</Emphasis> sp. nov., a new species of endophytic fungi from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Luffa cylindrica</Emphasis> in Henan,China

During a survey of endophytic fungi in the cucurbit plants collected from Henan, China, a new species, Phialemoniopsis endophytica was isolated from the lower stem of Luffa cylindrica. It differs from other Phialemoniopsis species by its cylindrical to flask-shaped phialides, falcate conidia with blunt ends, ostiolate pycnidium-like conidiomata without marginal setae and ellipsoidal chlamydospores. Multi-locus (ITS, LSU, ACT, and TUB) phylogenetic analysis confirmed that P. endophytica is distinct from other species. A synopsis of the morphological characters of the new species is provided.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Neurospora tetrasperma</Emphasis> crosses heterozygous for hybrid translocation strains produce rare eight-spored asci-bearing heterokaryotic ascospores

During ascogenesis in Neurospora, the ascospores are partitioned at the eight-nucleus stage that follows meiosis and a post-meiotic mitosis, and the ascospores that form in eight-spored asci are usually homokaryotic. We had previously created novel T ^Nt strains by introgressing four Neurospora crassa insertional translocations (EB4, IBj5, UK14-1, and B362i) into N. tetrasperma. We now show that crosses of all the T ^Nt strains with single-mating-type derivatives of the standard N. tetrasperma pseudohomothallic strain 85 (viz. T ^Nt a × 85A or T ^Nt A × 85a) can produce rare eight-spored asci that contain heterokaryotic ascospores, or ascospores with other unexpected genotypes. Our results suggest that these rare asci result from the interposition of additional mitoses between the post-meiotic mitosis and the partitioning of nuclei into ascospores, leading to the formation of supernumerary nuclei that then generate the heterokaryotic ascospores. The rare asci probably represent a background level of ascus dysgenesis wherein the partitioning of ascospores becomes uncoupled from the post-meiotic mitosis. Ordinarily, the severest effect of such dysgenesis, the production of mating-type heterokaryons, would be suppressed by the N. crassa tol (tolerant) gene, thus explaining why such dysgenesis remained undetected thus far.     

The genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusariella</Emphasis>

The genus Fusariella, typified by F. atrovirens, is characterised by semi- to macronematous, mononematous conidiophores, with cylindrical, subulate or lageniform phialidic conidiogenous cells that produce catenate, septate, curved to straight, subhyaline to brown conidia. During a survey of hyaline-spored hyphomycetes from karst areas in Thailand, we collected a new species of Fusariella with curved conidia and introduce it in this paper as Fusariella curvata sp. nov. In addition, all hitherto described species of Fusariella are reviewed. The result of phylogenetic analyses, based on combined SSU, LSU, TEF and RPB2 sequence data, indicates that the genus belongs in the family Bionectriaceae (Hypocreales, Sordariomycetes).     

Ectomycorrhizae of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tuber huidongense</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">T. liyuanum</Emphasis> with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Castanea mollissima</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus armandii</Emphasis>

Tuber huidongense and T. liyuanum are common commercial white truffles in China that belong to the Rufum and Puberulum groups of the genus Tuber, respectively. Their mycorrhizae were successfully synthesized with two native trees—Castanea mollissima and Pinus armandii—under greenhouse conditions. The identities of the mycorrhizae were confirmed through internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analyses, and their morphological characteristics were described. All of the obtained mycorrhizae have an interlocking pseudoparenchymatous mantle, which is a typical feature of truffle mycorrhizae. The mycorrhizae of T. huidongense on the two trees have hyaline branched emanating hyphae, similar to the documented mycorrhizae of the Rufum group. The unramified, spiky, and hyaline cystidia on the mycorrhizae of T. liyuanum with both C. mollissima and P. armandii further confirmed that this characteristic is constant for the mycorrhizae of the Puberulum group. The successful mycorrhizal syntheses on the two nut-producing trees will be of economic importance in the cultivation of the two truffles.