Phylogenetic assessment and taxonomic revision of Halobyssothecium and Lentithecium (Lentitheciaceae, Pleosporales)

Abstract

Our studies on lignicolous aquatic fungi in Thailand, Sweden, and the UK resulted in the collection of three new Halobyssothecium species (H. bambusicola, H. phragmitis, H. versicolor) assigned to Lentitheciaceae (Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes). Multi-loci phylogenetic analyses of the combined large subunit, small subunit, internal transcribed spacers of ribosomal DNA, and the translation elongation factor 1-alpha sequence data enabled a revision of the taxa assigned to Lentithecium and the transfer of L. cangshanense, L. carbonneanum, L. kunmingense, L. unicellulare, and L. voraginesporum to Halobyssothecium. Collection of an asexual morph of L. lineare and phylogenetic analysis confirmed its taxonomic placement in Keissleriella. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of H. bambusicola, H. phragmitis, and H. versicolor are provided.

Crassoascoma gen. nov. (Lentitheciaceae, Pleosporales): Unrevealing Microfungi from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China

“…However, Lentithecium contains saprobic species from aquatic habitats, usually have semi-immersed, thin-walled ascomata, and fusiform, hyaline, or yellowish-brown ascospores, with or without a sheath [8,53,54]. The superficial, black, thick-walled ascomata of Crassoascoma resemble species in Halobyssothecium [10,55], but they can be distinguished by the ascospores (hyaline to pale brown vs. versicolored; with sheath vs. lacking sheaths or appendages) and habitat (terrestrial semiarid region vs. marine).…”

Bambusicolous Fungi in Pleosporales: Introducing Four Novel Taxa and a New Habitat Record for Anastomitrabeculia didymospora

“…Bambusicolous fungi are highly diverse and distributed in various families within Pleosporales. Since 2015, over 85 bambusicolous species have been introduced in Pleosporales [ 3 , 27 , 33 , 39 , 41 , 45 , 46 , 49 , 50 , 52 , 55 , 59 , 63 , 68 , 71 , 74 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 100 , 104 , 117 , 118 , 119 , 120 , 121 , 122 , 123 , 124 , 125 , 126 , 127 , 128 , 129 , 130 , 131 , 132 ]. Even though novel taxa have been continuedly introduced in recent years, studies into the diversity of bambusicolous fungi correlating with specific bamboo genera are still limited due to the lack of host species identification.…”

Fungal Biodiversity in Salt Marsh Ecosystems

“…Phragmites australis harbors diverse fungi that totals to 137 taxa (101 genera) [39][40][41]50,79,115]. Seven species (Arthrinium arundinis [62], Halazoon fuscus [87], Halobyssothecium phragmitis [85], Keissleriella linearis [85], Phomatospora dinemasporium [62], Remispora hamata [87], Setoseptoria phragmitis [87]) were recorded in unidentified Phragmites species.…”

“…This shows how salt marsh fungal studies were concentrated in countries in the Atlantic Ocean specifically the USA (232 taxa) and the UK (101 taxa). Many salt marsh areas remain unexplored, especially those in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and these areas are hotspots of biodiversity and novel fungal taxa based on the exploration of various habitats [85,100,163,[182][183][184][185][186][187]. Recently, novel species were isolated in halophytes [85,100,145] and further taxa remain to be discovered, isolated, and sequenced, while vast areas worldwide have yet to be surveyed.…”

“…Many salt marsh areas remain unexplored, especially those in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and these areas are hotspots of biodiversity and novel fungal taxa based on the exploration of various habitats [85,100,163,[182][183][184][185][186][187]. Recently, novel species were isolated in halophytes [85,100,145] and further taxa remain to be discovered, isolated, and sequenced, while vast areas worldwide have yet to be surveyed. For example, salt marsh plants are immensely numerous, diverse, and common along the south-east coast of Australia, yet little is known of their fungal associates [188].…”