Exploring ascomycete diversity in Yunnan II: Introducing three novel species in the suborder Massarineae (Dothideomycetes, Pleosporales) from fern and grasses

This article presents the results of an ongoing inventory of Ascomycota in Yunnan, China, carried out as part of the research project series "Exploring ascomycete diversity in Yunnan". From over 100 samples collected from diverse host substrates, microfungi have been isolated, identified and are currently being documented. The primary objective of this research is to promote the discovery of novel taxa and explore the ascomycete diversity in the region, utilising a morphology-phylogeny approach. This article represents the second series of species descriptions for the project and introduces three undocumented species found in the families Bambusicolaceae, Dictyosporiaceae and Periconiaceae, belonging to the suborder Massarineae (Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes). These novel taxa exhibit typical morphological characteristics of Bambusicola, Periconia and Trichobotrys, leading to their designation as Bambusicolahongheensis, Periconiakunmingensis and Trichobotryssinensis. Comprehensive multigene phylogenetic analyses were conducted to validate the novelty of these species. The results revealed well-defined clades that are clearly distinct from other related species, providing robust support for their placement within their respective families. Notably, this study unveils the phylogenetic affinity of Trichobotrys within Dictyosporiaceae for the first time. Additionally, the synanamorphism for the genus Trichobotrys is also reported for the first time. Detailed descriptions, illustrations and updated phylogenies of the novel species are provided, and thus presenting a valuable resource for researchers and mycologists interested in the diversity of ascomycetes in Yunnan. By enhancing our understanding of the Ascomycota diversity in this region, this research contributes to the broader field of fungal taxonomy and their phylogenetic understanding.

strain TS-2, an ascomycete fungus isolated from a freshwater outflow and capable of Mn(II) oxidation

Members of the genus Periconia are commonly found as plant-associated filamentous fungi. Here, the first draft genome sequence of a new Periconia strain, TS-2, that was isolated from freshwater outflow sediment and possesses the ability to oxidize dissolved Mn(II), was obtained and has an estimated size of 40.7 Mb.

F-31

One new eremophilane sesquiterpene periconianone L (1), together with four known guaiane-type sesquiterpenes 4,10,11-trihydroxyguaiane (2), (-)-guai-1(10)-ene-4α,11-diolhydroxymecuration (3), guaidiol A (4), and epi-guaidiol A (5) were isolated from the endophytic fungus Periconia sp. F-31. The structure of the new compound was established by spectroscopic methods, including UV, IR, HRESIMS, and extensive NMR techniques. Compound 3 was isolated as natural product for the first time.

New fossils of ascomycetous anamorphic fungi from Baltic amber

Three new fossils of saprotrophic fungi are presented and described from Baltic amber, dated to Eocene epoch (Paleogene, upper to mid-Eocene). All belong to Ascomycota and are represented by hyphae as well as asexual reproduction structures allowing to assign them to present genera, respectively Periconia, Penicillium and Scopulariopsis. These material provide both the first and the oldest known fossil record of the mentioned taxa, making these data valuable for the knowledge about the evolutionary history of the Ascomycota.

F-31

Five monoterpenoids were isolated from the endophytic fungus Periconia sp. F-31, including three new carene-type monoterpenoids, 2-carene-5,8-diol (1), 2-carene-8,10-diol (2), 2-carene-8-acetamide (3), one new menthene-type monoterpenoid 8-hydroxy-1,7-expoxy-2-menthene (4), and one known monoterpenoid anethofuran (5). The structures of all compounds were elucidated based on a comprehensive spectroscopic data analysis, electronic circular dichroism (ECD), and calculated ECD.

Revision of the Massarineae (Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes)

We here taxonomically revise the suborder Massarineae (Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes, Ascomycota). Sequences of SSU and LSU nrDNA and the translation elongation factor 1-alpha gene (tef1) are newly obtained from 106 Massarineae taxa that are phylogenetically analysed along with published sequences of 131 taxa in this suborder retrieved from GenBank. We recognise 12 families and five unknown lineages in the Massarineae. Among the nine families previously known, the monophyletic status of the Dictyosporiaceae, Didymosphaeriaceae, Latoruaceae, Macrodiplodiopsidaceae, Massarinaceae, Morosphaeriaceae, and Trematosphaeriaceae was strongly supported with bootstrap support values above 96 %, while the clades of the Bambusicolaceae and the Lentitheciaceae are moderately supported. Two new families, Parabambusicolaceae and Sulcatisporaceae, are proposed. The Parabambusicolaceae is erected to accommodate Aquastroma and Parabambusicola genera nova, as well as two unnamed Monodictys species. The Parabambusicolaceae is characterised by depressed globose to hemispherical ascomata with or without surrounding stromatic tissue, and multi-septate, clavate to fusiform, hyaline ascospores. The Sulcatisporaceae is established for Magnicamarosporium and Sulcatispora genera nova and Neobambusicola. The Sulcatisporaceae is characterised by subglobose ascomata with a short ostiolar neck, trabeculate pseudoparaphyses, clavate asci, broadly fusiform ascospores, and ellipsoid to subglobose conidia with or without striate ornamentation. The genus Periconia and its relatives are segregated from the Massarinaceae and placed in a resurrected family, the Periconiaceae. We have summarised the morphological and ecological features, and clarified the accepted members of each family. Ten new genera, 22 new species, and seven new combinations are described and illustrated. The complete ITS sequences of nrDNA are also provided for all new taxa for use as barcode markers.