Astrosphaeriella is polyphyletic, with species in Fissuroma gen. nov., and Neoastrosphaeriella gen. nov

• Published in: Fungal diversity Vol. 51; no. 1; pp. 135 - 154
• Main Authors: Liu, Jian-Kui, Phookamsak, Rungtiwa, Jones, E. B. Gareth, Zhang, Ying, Ko-Ko, Thida W., Hu, Hong-Li, Boonmee, Saranyaphat, Doilom, Mingkhuan, Chukeatirote, Ekachai, Bahkali, Ali H., Wang, Yong, Hyde, Kevin D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.12.2011
• Subjects: Biodiversity; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Life Sciences; Medical Microbiology; Microbial Ecology; Microbiology; Mycology; Plant Physiology; Pleosporales; Taxonomy; Type study; Phylogeny
• ISSN: 1560-2745; 1878-9129
• DOI: 10.1007/s13225-011-0142-9

Collections of fungi from bamboo and palm plants in Thailand resulted in the identification of several species of Astrosphaeriella , including the type species A. fusispora , which is a synonym of A. stellata . Species of Astrosphaeriella have been previously circumscribed on the basis of morphology and, to a lesser extent, on host affiliation. In order to obtain a phylogenetic understanding of the genus, eleven strains of Astrosphaeriella sensu lato were sequenced in this study. Molecular analyses based on a combined dataset of 18S and 28S nrDNA sequences were carried out to infer the phylogenetic placement of these strains in the Pleosporales . The phylogenetic analyses showed that Astrosphaeriella is polyphyletic, with Astrosphaeriella species clustering in four clades, two clades, including species with slit-like ostioles, clustered in Aigialaceae ; the clade that includes the generic type clustered together with Delitschia ; and A. Africana , which has striate ascospores, deviated from these three clades and had a basal position in the Pleosporales . A new combination in Fissuroma gen. nov. and new genus Neoastrosphaeriella are introduced in Aigialaceae to include the species with slit-like ascomata.