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Studies on Species Diversity and Phylogeny of Ascomycota (Fungi)
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Studies on Species Diversity and Phylogeny of Ascomycota (Fungi)

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (7 July 2023) | Viewed by 21756

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Wen-Ying Zhuang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Interests: ascomycota; morphology; taxonomy; species diversity

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ascomycetes (non-lichenized and lichenized) are distributed worldwide in different geographic regions and represent the most diverse group of fungi. The number of newly discovered ascomycete species increases dramatically every year, and the phylogeny of the ascomycetes is updated quickly. The objective of the proposed Special Issue of Biology, in the Section Microbiology, is to bring together recent and high-quality work on the species diversity and phylogeny of Ascomycetes, to promote key advances. This Special Issue will cover a broad range of research areas regarding ascomycetes, including taxonomy, the discovery of new taxa from regional surveys, DNA barcoding, phylogenetic relationships and evolution among groups at different ranks, opinions on the species concept, the methodology of species identification and phylogenetic studies, geographic distribution, endophytic and phytopathogenic groups, and other related studies using ascomycetes as material.

Prof. Dr. Wen-Ying Zhuang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • fungal DNA barcoding
  • morphology
  • phylogenetic relationship
  • species concept
  • species identification methodology
  • taxonomy

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 2307 KiB  
Article
Two New Species and Two New Records of the Lichen-Forming Fungal Genus Peltula (Ascomycota: Peltulaceae) from China
by Qiuxia Yang, Jason Hollinger, Steven D. Leavitt and Xinli Wei
Biology 2022, 11(10), 1518; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11101518 - 17 Oct 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2318
Abstract
In this study, two new species, Peltula confusa Q.X. Yang & X.L. Wei, sp. nov., growing in a dry microenvironment within a semi-humid area, and Peltula subpatellata Q.X. Yang & X.L. Wei, sp. nov., occurring in arid and semi-arid regions, are described. In [...] Read more.
In this study, two new species, Peltula confusa Q.X. Yang & X.L. Wei, sp. nov., growing in a dry microenvironment within a semi-humid area, and Peltula subpatellata Q.X. Yang & X.L. Wei, sp. nov., occurring in arid and semi-arid regions, are described. In addition, two species, P. polyspora (Tuck.) Wetmore and P. obscuratula (Nyl.) Poelt ex Egea, are recorded for the first time in China. All four species are described based on morphological, anatomical and molecular data. Peltula confusa is characterized by a lighter, brighter, and more yellowish upper surface than other species of this genus, with discs concentrated in the central part of squamules, and a thick lower cortex. Peltula subpatellata can be distinguished from P. patellata (Bagl.) Swinscow & Krog by its non-thickened and sometimes darkened margins and sometimes the presence of peltate squamules. Phylogenetic analysis based on DNA sequences of four loci (ITS, nrSSU, nrLSU, and RPB2) demonstrates the placement of these species within Peltula, and supports current species delimitations. We suggest that the growth substrate should be considered as an additional characteristic for species delimitation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Studies on Species Diversity and Phylogeny of Ascomycota (Fungi))
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15 pages, 3883 KiB  
Article
Two Novel Lasiodiplodia Species from Blighted Stems of Acer truncatum and Cotinus coggygria in China
by Guanghang Qiao, Juan Zhao, Juanjuan Liu, Xiaoqian Tan and Wentao Qin
Biology 2022, 11(10), 1459; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11101459 - 5 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2079
Abstract
The Lasiodiplodia are major pathogens or endophytes living on a wide range of plant hosts in tropical and subtropical regions, which can cause stem canker, shoot blight, and rotting of fruits and roots. During an exploration of the stem diseases on Acer truncatum [...] Read more.
The Lasiodiplodia are major pathogens or endophytes living on a wide range of plant hosts in tropical and subtropical regions, which can cause stem canker, shoot blight, and rotting of fruits and roots. During an exploration of the stem diseases on Acer truncatum and Cotinus coggygria in northern China, two novel species of Lasiodiplodia, L. acerina G.H. Qiao & W.T. Qin and L. cotini G.H. Qiao & W.T. Qin, were discovered based on integrated studies of the morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), translation elongation factor 1-α (TEF1-α), beta-tubulin (TUB2) and RNA polymerase II subunit b genes (RPB2). Lasiodiplodia acerina is a sister taxon of L. henannica and distinguishable by smaller paraphysis and larger conidiomata. Lasiodiplodia cotini is closely related to L. citricola but differs in the sequence data and the size of paraphyses. Distinctions between the two novel species and their close relatives were compared and discussed in details. This study updates the knowledge of species diversity of the genus Lasiodiplodia. Furthermore, this is the first report of Lasiodiplodia associated with blighted stems of A. truncatum and C. coggygria in China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Studies on Species Diversity and Phylogeny of Ascomycota (Fungi))
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16 pages, 3432 KiB  
Article
Additions to the Knowledge of the Genus Pezicula (Dermateaceae, Helotiales, Ascomycota) in China
by Huan-Di Zheng and Wen-Ying Zhuang
Biology 2022, 11(10), 1386; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11101386 - 23 Sep 2022
Viewed by 2447
Abstract
We describe two new species of Pezicula (Dermateaceae, Ascomycota), P. ellipsoides and P. fusispora, which are discovered in China. Pezicula ellipsoides sp. nov. is distinct in producing 2–3 stipitate apothecia on a basal stroma with a light yellow hymenium, broadly ellipsoid 0–1(–2)-septate [...] Read more.
We describe two new species of Pezicula (Dermateaceae, Ascomycota), P. ellipsoides and P. fusispora, which are discovered in China. Pezicula ellipsoides sp. nov. is distinct in producing 2–3 stipitate apothecia on a basal stroma with a light yellow hymenium, broadly ellipsoid 0–1(–2)-septate ascospores, and divergent DNA sequence data. Pezicula fusispora sp. nov. is characterized by sessile apothecia, 0.3–0.8 mm in diam, a yellowish hymenium, J+ asci 135–170 × 15–21 μm, multiseptate ascospores, 33–48 × 7–10.3 μm, and growing on rotten bamboo. In addition, Pezicula acericola and P. carpinea are reported for the first time from China, and 11 Pezicula species previously reported from China are reviewed and briefly noted, of which one was a misidentified species. Phylogenetic analyses inferred from ITS nrDNA sequences confirm the placement of P. ellipsoides and P. cinnamomea in the genus Pezicula. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Studies on Species Diversity and Phylogeny of Ascomycota (Fungi))
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18 pages, 14232 KiB  
Article
Taxonomic and Phylogenetic Insights into Novel Ascomycota from Forest Woody Litter
by Dhanushka N. Wanasinghe and Peter E. Mortimer
Biology 2022, 11(6), 889; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11060889 - 9 Jun 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2867
Abstract
While surveying the mycobiomes of dead woody litter in Yunnan Province, China, numerous isolates with affinity to Pleosporales (Dothideomycetes, Ascomycota) were recovered. The present work characterizes two species associated with dead woody twigs found in terrestrial habitats in the Kunming [...] Read more.
While surveying the mycobiomes of dead woody litter in Yunnan Province, China, numerous isolates with affinity to Pleosporales (Dothideomycetes, Ascomycota) were recovered. The present work characterizes two species associated with dead woody twigs found in terrestrial habitats in the Kunming area of Yunnan. The novel taxa were recognized based on a polyphasic approach, including morphological examination and multiple gene phylogenetic analyses (non-translated loci and protein-coding regions). Neokalmusia jonahhulmei sp. nov. is introduced in Didymosphaeriaceae (Pleosporales) as a woody-based saprobic ascomycete that possesses multiloculate ascostromata immersed under a black clypeus-like structure, and three-septate, brown, fusiform, guttulate ascospores. Thyridaria jonahhulmei (Thyridariaceae) is introduced with teleomorphic and anamorphic (coelomycetous) characteristics. The teleomorph has the following characteristics: globose to subglobose ascomata with an ostiolum, a pruinose layer of yellow to reddish- or orange-brown material appearing around the top of the ostiolar necks, and brown, ellipsoid to fusoid, two-to-three-septate, euseptate, rough-walled ascospores; the anamorph features pycnidial conidiomata, phialidic, ampulliform to doliiform, conidiogenous cells, and brown, guttulate, ellipsoidal, aseptate conidia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Studies on Species Diversity and Phylogeny of Ascomycota (Fungi))
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17 pages, 3232 KiB  
Article
Four New Pale-Spored Species of Xylaria (Xylariaceae, Xylariales) with a Key to Worldwide Species on Fallen Fruits and Seeds
by Haixia Ma, Zikun Song, Xiaoyan Pan, Zhi Qu, Zhanen Yang, Yu Li and Anhong Zhu
Biology 2022, 11(6), 885; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11060885 - 8 Jun 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3356
Abstract
Xylaria, a large and cosmopolitan genus of Ascomycota, plays an important ecological role in forest ecology as wood-decomposers, and serve as a source of bioactive secondary metabolites. The present work concerns a survey of Xylaria from Southwest China. Four new species of [...] Read more.
Xylaria, a large and cosmopolitan genus of Ascomycota, plays an important ecological role in forest ecology as wood-decomposers, and serve as a source of bioactive secondary metabolites. The present work concerns a survey of Xylaria from Southwest China. Four new species of Xylaria with pale-colored ascospores associated with fallen fruits and seeds are described and illustrated based on morphological and phylogenetic evidences. The phylogeny inferred from a combined dataset of ITS-RPB2-β-tubulin sequences supports these four species as distinct species. The four new taxa, namely Xylariarogersii, X. schimicola, X. theaceicola, and X. wallichii, are compared and contrasted against morphologically similar species. A dichotomous identification key to all the accepted species of Xylaria associated with fallen fruits and seeds is given. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Studies on Species Diversity and Phylogeny of Ascomycota (Fungi))
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18 pages, 4619 KiB  
Article
Phylogenetic Analysis Reveals Four New Species of Otidea from China
by Yu-Yan Xu, Ming-Qi Zhu, Ning Mao, Li Fan and Xiao-Ye Shen
Biology 2022, 11(6), 866; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11060866 - 6 Jun 2022
Viewed by 2280
Abstract
The emergence of molecular systematics has greatly helped researchers to identify fungal species. China has abundant Otidea species resources, and a number of new species of Otidea have been recently proposed. However, many old specimens in herbaria are mainly identified by morphology rather [...] Read more.
The emergence of molecular systematics has greatly helped researchers to identify fungal species. China has abundant Otidea species resources, and a number of new species of Otidea have been recently proposed. However, many old specimens in herbaria are mainly identified by morphology rather than molecular methods. In this study, 11 specimens deposited in Chinese herbaria and one newly collected Otidea species from northern China were identified based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses. Four gene fragments (ITS, LSU, rpb2, and tef1-α) were used to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships of species within Otidea. A total of nine phylogenetic species are recognized, of which four are described as new species, namely O. bomiensis, O. gongnaisiensis, O. hanzhongensis, and O. shennongjiana. Among the known species were O. aspera and O. sinensis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Studies on Species Diversity and Phylogeny of Ascomycota (Fungi))
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28 pages, 7538 KiB  
Article
Apothecial Ancestry, Evolution, and Re-Evolution in Thelebolales (Leotiomycetes, Fungi)
by Luis Quijada, Neven Matočec, Ivana Kušan, Joey B. Tanney, Peter R. Johnston, Armin Mešić and Donald H. Pfister
Biology 2022, 11(4), 583; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11040583 - 11 Apr 2022
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4922
Abstract
Closed cleistothecia-like ascomata have repeatedly evolved in non-related perithecioid and apothecioid lineages of lichenized and non-lichenized Ascomycota. The evolution of a closed, darkly pigmented ascoma that protects asci and ascospores is conceived as either an adaptation to harsh environmental conditions or a [...] Read more.
Closed cleistothecia-like ascomata have repeatedly evolved in non-related perithecioid and apothecioid lineages of lichenized and non-lichenized Ascomycota. The evolution of a closed, darkly pigmented ascoma that protects asci and ascospores is conceived as either an adaptation to harsh environmental conditions or a specialized dispersal strategy. Species with closed ascomata have mostly lost sterile hymenial elements (paraphyses) and the capacity to actively discharge ascospores. The class Leotiomycetes, one of the most speciose classes of Ascomycota, is mainly apothecioid, paraphysate, and possesses active ascospore discharge. Lineages with closed ascomata, and their morphological variants, have evolved independently in several families, such as Erysiphaceae, Myxotrichaceae, Rutstroemiaceae, etc. Thelebolales is a distinctive order in the Leotiomycetes class. It has two widespread families (Thelebolaceae, Pseudeurotiaceae) with mostly closed ascomata, evanescent asci, and thus passively dispersed ascospores. Within the order, closed ascomata dominate and a great diversity of peridia have evolved as adaptations to different dispersal strategies. The type genus, Thelebolus, is an exceptional case of ascomatal evolution within the order. Its species are the most diverse in functional traits, encompassing species with closed ascomata and evanescent asci, and species with open ascomata, active ascospore discharge, and paraphyses. Open ascomata were previously suggested as the ancestral state in the genus, these ascomata depend on mammals and birds as dispersal agents. In this scheme, species with closed ascomata, a lack of paraphyses, and passive ascospore discharge exhibit derived traits that evolved in adaptation to cold ecosystems. Here, we used morphological and phylogenetic methods, as well as the reconstruction of ancestral traits for ascomatal type, asci dehiscence, the presence or absence of paraphyses, and ascospore features to explore evolution within Thelebolales. We demonstrate the apothecial ancestry in Thelebolales and propose a new hypothesis about the evolution of the open ascomata in Thelebolus, involving a process of re-evolution where the active dispersal of ascospores appears independently twice within the order. We propose a new family, Holwayaceae, within Thelebolales, that retains the phenotypic features exhibited by species of Thelebolus, i.e., pigmented capitate paraphyses and active asci discharge with an opening limitation ring. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Studies on Species Diversity and Phylogeny of Ascomycota (Fungi))
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