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Ascomycota: Diversity, Taxonomy and Phylogeny, 2nd Edition

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A special issue of Journal of Fungi (ISSN 2309-608X). This special issue belongs to the section "Fungal Evolution, Biodiversity and Systematics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2024) | Viewed by 16649

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Prof. Dr. Jian-Kui Liu

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School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
Interests: fungal diversity; fungal taxonomy; fungal phylogeny; plant pathogen (fungi); ascomycetes
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will be dedicated to Ascomycota, which is the most diverse and species-rich phylum in the Fungi kingdom, comprising ca. 110,000 species. A broad range of life modes such as pathogenic (agriculturally and clinically), saprobic, and endophytic have been extensively studied in Ascomycota. The concept of ‘one fungus, one name’ which was implemented in 2011, influences the nomenclature of pleomorphic taxa in Ascomycota, which reproduce both sexually and asexually. Precise species identification and establishment of generic/species boundaries, which were assisted by DNA-based phylogenetic analyses, resolved most of the confusion in this phylum. One of the topics that changes sporadically is the higher-level classification of Ascomycota, while some other interesting topics among mycologists are current species number, predicted species number, and discovering missing species in Ascomycota. Missing taxa could be discovered in less studied habitats, in species complexes, in biodiversity rich areas, and in existing collections. Recent studies confirmed that unculturable taxa are a vital group that needs to be studied, and environmental sequencing and metagenomics should assist in this regard. Hence, this volume is planned to embrace the aspects of diversity, taxonomy, and phylogeny of Ascomycota by providing timely needed updates to the phylum as well as to identify species from numerous locales all over the world.

Prof. Dr. Jian-Kui Liu
Guest Editor

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Keywords

asexual/sexual morph
classification
fungal ecology
molecular data
morphology
novel taxa
phylogeny

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Related Special Issue

Ascomycota: Diversity, Taxonomy and Phylogeny in Journal of Fungi (19 articles)

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 6414 KiB

Open AccessArticle

New Species of Byssosphaeria (Melanommataceae, Pleosporales) from the Mexican Tropical Montane Cloud Forest

by Aurora Cobos-Villagrán, Abigail Pérez-Valdespino, Ricardo Valenzuela, César Ramiro Martínez-González, Isolda Luna-Vega, Lourdes Villa-Tanaca, Aída Verónica Rodríguez-Tovar and Tania Raymundo

J. Fungi 2025, 11(2), 89; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11020089 - 24 Jan 2025

Viewed by 497

Abstract

Byssosphaeria Cooke is a monophyletic genus of the family Melanommataceae. The genus is characterized by ascomata smaller than 1000 µm, globose, well-developed subiculum, with a flat ostiole, and yellow-orange or reddish-brown color around the ostiole. The peridium is composed of an external layer of irregular cells followed by an internal layer of thinner cells. Clavate asci have fusiform ascospores, a hyaline-to-brown color, with one or more septa. The genus Byssosphaeria is composed of 29 species: saprophytes, endophytes, and parasites of woody angiosperms, and they are found in wood, leaves, and other decaying substrates. The distribution of these species is cosmopolitan, and four species have been described in Mexico. This study describes, through morphological characteristics and the phylogenetic analysis of molecular markers (ITS, SSU, LSU, tef1-α), four new species of Byssosphaeria: B. bautistae, B. chrysostoma, B. neorhodomphala, and B. neoschiedermayriana. These species are saprophytes on wood rot and are distributed in mountainous mesophilic forests from the states of Hidalgo, Puebla, and Oaxaca. The significance of this study is in the diversity of this genus in Mexico since eight species have been described. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ascomycota: Diversity, Taxonomy and Phylogeny, 2nd Edition)

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33 pages, 14672 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phylogenetic and Morphological Analyses Reveal Twelve New Species of the Genus Patellaria (Dothideomycetes, Ascomycota) from Mexico

by Ilian García-Jacobo, Tania Raymundo, Cesar R. Martínez-González, Michelle Martínez-Pineda and Ricardo Valenzuela

J. Fungi 2025, 11(1), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11010044 - 7 Jan 2025

Viewed by 756

Abstract

Patellaria species are widely distributed in terrestrial and marine habitats and are saprobes growing on decaying wood, stems, or bark. However, studies on this genus in Mexico are limited, and only the type species Patellaria atrata Fr. has been cited. This study describes twelve new Patellaria species in Mexico supported by molecular (ITS-LSU-SSU) and morphological data. Phylogenetic analysis shows that species of this genus in Mexico are not closely related to Patellaria atrata. Moreover, the results demonstrate that the greatest species diversity is found in dry climates, particularly in xerophilous scrub. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ascomycota: Diversity, Taxonomy and Phylogeny, 2nd Edition)

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30 pages, 10648 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Diversity of Lignicolous Freshwater Fungi from Yuanjiang River in Yunnan (China), with the Description of Four New Species

by Liang Zhang, Dan-Feng Bao, Hong-Wei Shen and Zong-Long Luo

J. Fungi 2024, 10(12), 881; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10120881 - 18 Dec 2024

Viewed by 653

Abstract

Yuanjiang River (Red River) is one of the six major water systems in Yunnan Province, which originates from western Yunnan Province. This river system features numerous tributaries, complex terrain, and abundant natural resources. During the investigation on the diversity of lignicolous freshwater fungi in the Yuanjiang River, nine species were collected and identified, five belonging to Dothideomycetes and four to Sordariomycetes. Based on morphology and multigene phylogenetic analyses, four species, namely, Aquadictyospora aquatica, Dictyosporium fluminicola, Myrmecridium submersum, and Neomyrmecridium fusiforme, are described as new species. Dictyocheirospora aquadulcis is reported as a new national record, and Myrmecridium hydei is reported as a new habitat record. Dictyocheirospora rotunda, Halobyssothecium aquifusiforme, and Pseudohalonectria lutea were known earlier from freshwater habitats, but we described them in detail in this paper. This study contributes significantly to the understanding of the diversity of lignicolous freshwater fungi in southwestern China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ascomycota: Diversity, Taxonomy and Phylogeny, 2nd Edition)

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25 pages, 15769 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Additions to Dictyosporiaceae: Neoxylochrysis typhicola comb. et gen. nov., Two New Species and Four New Host Records from Medicinal Plants in Southwestern China

by Na Wu, Hong-Zhi Du, Kandawatte Wedaralalage Thilini Chethana, Kitiphong Khongphinitbunjong, Sajeewa S. N. Maharachchikumbura, Kevin D. Hyde and Jian-Kui Liu

J. Fungi 2024, 10(12), 872; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10120872 - 16 Dec 2024

Viewed by 666

Abstract

Medicinal plants serve as vital resources for preventing and treating diseases, with their flowers, fruits, leaves, roots, or entire plants being utilized in the pharmaceutical industry or as direct therapeutic agents. During our investigation of microfungi associated with medicinal plants in Guizhou and Sichuan Provinces, China, several asexual and sexual fungal morphs were collected. Multi-locus phylogenetic analysis based on combined ITS, LSU, SSU and TEF1-α datasets revealed that these taxa are related to the family Dictyosporiaceae. Morphological characteristics, along with multi-locus phylogenetic analysis, supported the establishment of Dictyocheirospora alangii sp. nov. and Pseudocoleophoma rosae sp. nov., as well as the introduction of a novel genus Neoxylochrysis, which accommodates Neoxylochrysis typhicola comb. nov. (≡Pseudocoleophoma typhicola). In addition, four new host records are introduced for Aquadictyospora lignicola from Periploca forrestii, Dendryphiella eucalyptorum from Leonurus japonicus, Ophiopogon japonicus and Sambucus javanica, D. vinosa from Phytolacca americana, and Dictyocheirospora rotunda from Euonymus japonicus and Prinsepia utilis. Detailed descriptions, micrographs of the new taxa and a phylogenetic tree are provided. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ascomycota: Diversity, Taxonomy and Phylogeny, 2nd Edition)

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17 pages, 3679 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Six Species of Phyllachora with Three New Taxa on Grass from Sichuan Province, China

by Qi-Rong Sun, Xiu-Lan Xu, Zhen Zeng, Yu Deng, Feng Liu, Li-Ping Gao, Fei-Hu Wang, Ya-Qian Yan, Ying-Gao Liu and Chun-Lin Yang

J. Fungi 2024, 10(8), 588; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10080588 - 19 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1241

Abstract

Phyllachora (Phyllachoraceae, Phyllachorales) species are parasitic fungi with a wide global distribution, causing tar spots on plants. In this study, we describe three newly discovered species: Phyllachora chongzhouensis, Phyllachora neidongensis, and Phyllachora huiliensis from Poaceae in China. These species were characterized using morphological traits and multi-locus phylogeny based on the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) with the intervening 5.8S rRNA gene, the large subunit of the rRNA gene (LSU), and the 18S ribosomal RNA gene (SSU). Three known species of P. chloridis, P. graminis, and P. miscanthi have also been redescribed, because, in reviewing the original references of P. chloridis, P. graminis, and P. miscanthi, these were found to be relatively old and in Chinese or abbreviated. In addition, the illustrations were simple. In molecular identification, the ITS sequence is short, while the ITS, LSU, and SSU are incomplete. Therefore, this study provides new important references for the redescription of three known species and provides further evidence for the identification of new taxa. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ascomycota: Diversity, Taxonomy and Phylogeny, 2nd Edition)

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21 pages, 11983 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Morphological and Phylogenetic Analyses Reveal Three New Species of Entomopathogenic Fungi Belonging to Clavicipitaceae (Hypocreales, Ascomycota)

by Zhi-Qin Wang, Jin-Mei Ma, Zhi-Li Yang, Jing Zhao, Zhi-Yong Yu, Jian-Hong Li and Hong Yu

J. Fungi 2024, 10(6), 423; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10060423 - 14 Jun 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1562

Abstract

This study aims to report three new species of Conoideocrella and Moelleriella from Yunnan Province, Southwestern China. Species of Conoideocrella and Moelleriella parasitize scale insects (Coccidae and Lecaniidae, Hemiptera) and whiteflies (Aleyrodidae, Hemiptera). Based on the phylogenetic analyses of the three-gene nrLSU, tef-1α, and rpb1, it showed one new record species (Conoideocrella tenuis) and one new species (Conoideocrella fenshuilingensis sp. nov.) in the genus Conoideocrella, and two new species, i.e., Moelleriella longzhuensis sp. nov. and Moelleriella jinuoana sp. nov. in the genus Moelleriella. The three new species were each clustered into separate clades that distinguished themselves from one another. All of them were distinguishable from their allied species based on their morphology. Morphological descriptions, illustrations, and comparisons of the allied taxa of the four species are provided in the present paper. In addition, calculations of intraspecific and interspecific genetic distances were performed for Moelleriella and Conoideocrella. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ascomycota: Diversity, Taxonomy and Phylogeny, 2nd Edition)

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15 pages, 3128 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Phylogeny and Taxonomy of Cryptothecia (Arthoniaceae, Ascomycota) and Myriostigma (Arthoniaceae, Ascomycota), including Three New Species and Two New Records from China

by Junxia Xue, Yutong Cai and Lulu Zhang

J. Fungi 2024, 10(4), 274; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10040274 - 9 Apr 2024

Viewed by 1715

Abstract

Cryptothecia and Myriostigma are important elements of crustose lichen communities in tropical to subtropical forests, but little research has been done on these two genera in China. Morphological and molecular phylogenetic approaches to investigate species diversity of Cryptothecia and Myriostigma from Southern China were carried out in this study. We find five species of Cryptothecia and Myriostigma in our study, including three new species (M. flavescens, M. hainana and M. laxipunctata) and two new records (C. bartlettii and C. inexspectata). In addition, a phylogenetic tree based on mtSSU, RPB2 and nLSU illustrates the placement of the five species and supports the delimitation of the three new taxa. Detailed descriptions of morphological, ecological and chemical characteristics and illustrations are provided for every species. A key to all known Chinese Cryptothecia and Myriostigma species is also provided. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ascomycota: Diversity, Taxonomy and Phylogeny, 2nd Edition)

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31 pages, 13668 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Microfungi Associated with Peach Branch Diseases in China

by Ying Zhou, Ishara S. Manawasinghe, Zhizheng He, Wei Zhang, Mei Liu, Jinyan Song, Shifang Li, Zaifeng Fan and Jiye Yan

J. Fungi 2024, 10(3), 217; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10030217 - 15 Mar 2024

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1834

Abstract

Peach (Prunus persica L.) is one of the most important and oldest stone fruits grown in China. Even though P. persica is one of the most commonly grown stone fruits in China, little is known about the biodiversity of microfungi associated with peach branch diseases. In the present study, samples were collected from a wide range of peach growing areas in China, and fungal pathogens associated with peach branch diseases were isolated. In total, 85 isolates were obtained and further classified into nine genera and 10 species. Most of the isolates belonged to Botryosphaeriaceae (46), including Botryosphaeria, Diplodia, Neofusicoccum, Phaeobotryon, and Lasiodiplodia species; Ascochyta, Didymella, and Nothophoma species representing Didymellaceae were also identified. Herein, we introduce Ascochyta prunus and Lasiodiplodia pruni as novel species. In addition, we report the first records of Nothophoma pruni, Neofusicoccum occulatum, and Phaeobotryon rhois on peach worldwide, and Didymella glomerata, Nothophoma quercina, and Phaeoacremonium scolyti are the first records from China. This research is the first comprehensive investigation to explore the microfungi associated with peach branch disease in China. Future studies are necessary to understand the pathogenicity and disease epidemiology of these identified species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ascomycota: Diversity, Taxonomy and Phylogeny, 2nd Edition)

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20 pages, 7666 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Morpho-Molecular Characterization Reveals a New Genus, Three Novel Species and Two New Host Records in Xylariomycetidae

by Wen-Li Li, Rui-Ru Liang, Jing Yang and Jian-Kui Liu

J. Fungi 2024, 10(3), 189; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof10030189 - 29 Feb 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1860

Abstract

Xylariomycetidae comprises extremely diverse taxa that are widespread on decaying wood worldwide. An investigation of the diversity of microfungi on oil tree plantations in Sichuan Province was conducted during 2020–2021. Twelve saprobic taxa representing five species were identified as members of Amphisphaeriales and Xylariales through morphological comparisons. Phylogenetic analyses of combined ITS, LSU, rpb2, tub2 and tef1 sequence data indicated a distinct clade formed by three strains within Xylariomycetidae, unrelated to any currently recognized families. Thus, a novel anthostomella-like genus, Bicellulospora, is proposed and treated as Xylariales genera incertae sedis. Bicellulospora is characterized by dark brown to black, immersed, subglobose ascomata with a clypeus, cylindrical asci, and hyaline to yellowish brown, inequilaterally ellipsoidal ascospores with a large upper cell and a dwarf lower cell. Two new species of Amphisphaeria, namely A. oleae and A. verniciae, are introduced based on multi-gene phylogenetic analyses (ITS, LSU, rpb2 and tub2) coupled with morphological characteristics. Amphisphaeria micheliae and Endocalyx ptychospermatis are reported as new host records. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ascomycota: Diversity, Taxonomy and Phylogeny, 2nd Edition)

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16 pages, 4286 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Taxonomy and Phylogeny of Eight New Acrophialophora Species (Sordariales, Chaetomiaceae) from China

by Lan Peng, Yan-Wei Zhang, Hai-Yan Wang, Chun-Bo Dong, Wan-Hao Chen, Jian-Dong Liang and Yan-Feng Han

J. Fungi 2023, 9(6), 645; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9060645 - 5 Jun 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2188

Abstract

The genus Acrophialophora belongs to the family Chaetomiaceae. With the addition of new species and transferred species from other genera, the genus Acrophialophora has expanded. In this study, eight new species related to Acrophialophora were isolated from soil samples in China. Using muti-locus phylogenetic (ITS, LSU, tub2 and RPB2) analysis combined with morphological characteristics, eight new species (Acrophialophora curvata, A. fujianensis, A. guangdongensis, A. longicatenata, A. minuta, A. multiforma, A. rhombica, and A. yunnanensis) are described. Descriptions, illustrations, and notes of the new species are also provided. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ascomycota: Diversity, Taxonomy and Phylogeny, 2nd Edition)

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10 pages, 2103 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Three New Species of Fusicolla (Hypocreales) from China

by Zhao-Qing Zeng and Wen-Ying Zhuang

J. Fungi 2023, 9(5), 572; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof9050572 - 15 May 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2295

Abstract

To explore the species diversity of the genus Fusicolla, specimens from Henan, Hubei and Jiangsu Provinces in China are examined, and three undescribed taxa are encountered. The morphological characteristics and DNA sequence analyses of the combined acl1, ITS, LSU, rpb2 and tub2 regions support their placement in Fusicolla and their recognition as new species. Fusicolla aeria sp. nov. is distinguished by the formation of abundant aerial mycelia on PDA, falcate, (1–)3-septate macroconidia 16–35 × 1.5–2.8 μm and subcylindrical, aseptate microconidia 7.5–13 × 0.8–1.1 μm. Fusicolla coralloidea sp. nov. has a coralloid colony on PDA, falcate, 2–5-septate macroconidia 38–70 × 2–4.5 μm and rod-shaped to ellipisoidal, aseptate microconidia 2–7 × 1–1.9 μm. Fusicolla filiformis sp. nov. is characterized by filiform, 2–6-septate macroconidia 28–58 × 1.5–2.3 μm and lacking microconidia. Morphological differences between these novel species and their close relatives are compared in detail. The previously recorded species of the genus in China are listed and a key to these taxa is provided. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ascomycota: Diversity, Taxonomy and Phylogeny, 2nd Edition)

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