The chalara-like anamorphs of Leotiomycetes

The chalara-like anamorphs of Leotiomycetes are phialidic hyphomycetes with cylindrical collarettes and deeply seated sporulating loci,and hyaline,aseptate or septate,cylindrical conidia.They are commonly found on plant litters in both terrestrial and submerged environments,and with broad geographical distribution.This paper reports our research result of diversity,taxonomy and phylogeny of these fungi in China,which is based on a systematic study by using an integrated approach of literature study,morphological observation and phylogenetic analyses of 153 chalara-like fungal species with diversified morphology in conidiomata,setae,conidiophores,phialides and conidia.The phylogenetic analyses employing different datasets of SSU,LSU and ITS sequences of 116 species showed that these chalara-like fungi were paraphyletic and scattered in 20 accepted genera belonging to five families of Leotiomycetes:Arachnopezizaceae,Hamatocanthoscy-phaceae,Helotiaceae,Neolauriomycetaceae and Pezizellaceae.Additional six genera,Ascoconidium,Bioscypha,Chalaro-dendron,Didonia,Phaeoscypha and Tapesina,all reported with chalara-like anamorphs in literatures,are also accepted as members of Pezizellaceae or Leotiomycetes genera incertae sedis.Among of these 26 accepted genera of chalara-like fungi in Leotiomycetes,17 genera are asexually typified genera(Ascoconidium,Bloxamia,Chalara,Chalarodendron,Constric-tochalara,Cylindrochalara,Cylindrocephalum,Leochalara,Lareunionomyces,Minichalara,Neochalara,Neolauriomyces,Nagrajchalara,Parachalara,Stipitochalara,Xenochalara and Zymochalara),and 9 are sexually typified genera(Bioscypha,Bloxamiella,Calycellina,Calycina,Didonia,Hymenoscyphus,Mollisina,Phaeoscypha and Tapesina).The phylogenetic significance of conidial septation in generic delimitation was further confirmed;while other morphologies such as conidi-omata,setae,conidiophores,phialides,conidial length,and conidial ornamentation have little phylogenetic significance,but could be used for species delimitation.The polyphyletic genus Chalara s.lat.is revised with monophyletic generic concepts by redelimitation of Chalara s.str.in a narrow concept,adaption of the emended Calycina to also include asexually typified chalara-like fungi,reinstatement of Cylindrocephalum,and introduction of six new genera:Constrictochalara W.P.Wu&Y.Z.Diao,Leochalara W.P.Wu&Y.Z.Diao,Minichalara W.P.Wu&Y.Z.Diao,Nagrajchalara W.P.Wu&Y.Z.Diao,Parachalara W.P.Wu&Y.Z.Diao and Stipitochalara W.P.Wu&Y.Z.Diao.Chaetochalara becomes a synonym of Chalara s.str.,and the known species are disassembled into Chalara s.str.and Nagrajchalara.The polyphyletic genus Bloxamia is also redefined by introducing the new genus Bloxamiella W.P.Wu&Y.Z.Diao for B.cyatheicola.Five existing species of Chalara s.lat.were excluded from Leotiomycetes and reclassified:Chalara breviclavata as Chalarosphaeria breviclavata W.P.Wu&Y.Z.Diao gen.et sp.nov.in Chaetosphaeriaceae,C.vaccinii as Sordariochalara vaccinii W.P.Wu&Y.Z.Diao gen.et sp.nov.in Lasiosphaeriaceae,and three other Chalara species with hyaline phialides,C.hyalina,C.schoenoplecti and C.siamense as combinations of Pyxidiophora in Pyxidiophoraceae.For biodiversity of these fungi in China,a total of 80 species in 12 genera,including 60 new species,17 new records and 1 new name,were discovered and documented in this paper.In addition,five species including three new species are reported from Japan.In connection to this revision,a total of 44 new combinations are made.The identification keys are provided for most of these genera.Future research area of these fungi should be the phylogenetic relationship of several sexually typified genera such as Bioscypha,Calycellina,Calycina,Didonia,Phaeoscypha,Rodwayella and Tapesina,and systematic revision of existing names under the genera Bloxamia,Chaetochalara and Chalara.

Anamorphic chaetosphaeriaceous fungi from China

Chaetosphaeriaceae is one of the largest families in Sordariomycetes with its members commonly found on decaying leaf,fruit,branch,bark and wood in both terrestrial and submerged environment in nature.This paper reports our research result of diversity,taxonomy and phylogeny of anamorphic Chaetosphaeriaceae in China,which is based on a systematic study with an integrated approach of morphological observation and phylogenetic analysis for a large collection(>1300 herbarium specimens and 1100 living strains).The family Chaetosphaeriaceae is expanded to accommodate 89 accepted genera,including 22 new genera and 10 newly assigned genera.Most of these genera(except for Chaetosphaeria and several other relatively large genera)are delimitated as monophyletic genera with well-defined diagnostic characters in morphology.The phylogenetic connection of non-phialidic Sporidesmium-like fungi is further confirmed and expanded to 10 different genera.The polyphyletic Codinaea/Dictyochaeta/Tainosphaeria complex is further resolved with a taxonomic framework of 28 monophyletic genera by redelimitation of Codinaea and Dictyochaeta with narrower concept,acceptance of the 16 established genera,and finally introduction of 10 new genera.Chloridium is phylogenetically redefined as monophyletic genus with narrower concept as typified by the type species,but a systematic review in both generic and species level is still needed.For biodiversity of chaetosphaeriaceous fungi,a total of 369 species in 76 genera,including 119 new species,47 new combinations,and one new name,are documented.The identification keys are provided for most genera,especially the large genera such as Codinaea s.str.,Codinaeella,Stilbochaeta,Cryptophiale,Thozetella,Dinemasporium and Pseudolachnella.In addition,ten known species were excluded from the family and reclassified.Systematic revision of several relatively large polyphyletic genera should be conducted in future studies,including Bahusutrabeeja,Ellisembia,Stanjehughesia,Cacumisporium,Chaetosphaeria,Chloridium,Craspedodidymum,Cryptophiale,Cryptophialoidea,Dictyochaetopsis,Minimidochium,and many published species of Codinaea and Dictyochaeta.