Ascomycota: Diversity, Taxonomy and Phylogeny, 2nd Edition

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: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 11249

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
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

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 3679 KiB  
Article
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 868
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 [...] Read more.
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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22 pages, 11983 KiB  
Article
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
Viewed by 1053
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 [...] Read more.
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  
Article
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 1397
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 [...] Read more.
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  
Article
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
Viewed by 1553
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 [...] Read more.
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  
Article
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
Viewed by 1529
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 [...] Read more.
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  
Article
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 3 | Viewed by 1940
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 [...] Read more.
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  
Communication
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 1855
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 [...] Read more.
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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