Additions to Fissuroma and Neoastrosphaeriella (Aigialaceae, Pleosporales) from palms

Abstract

Recent examination of palm fungi led to the discovery of a group of fissuroma-like taxa, which share the following morphological features: slit-like ascomata, carbonaceous peridium, trabeculate pseudoparaphyses, cylindric-clavate or obclavate asci and fusiform, septate ascospores. Multi-gene phylogenetic analyses based on a combined ITS, LSU, SSU and TEF1-a sequence data support the establishment of Fissuroma palmae sp. nov. and Neoastrosphaeriella phoenicis sp. nov. Fissuroma caryotae and N. aquatica are also recovered as new host records from terrestrial palms. Fissuroma palmae is phylogenetically close to F. caryotae with strong support, but differs from F. caryotae in the appearance of pale brown mature ascospores, and the dimensions of asci and ascospores. Neoastrosphaeriella phoenicis is associated with submerged petioles of Phoenix paludosa in mangroves, providing an insight of a new habitat for Neoastrosphaeriella species. The hyaline to pale brown, fusiform, 1-3-septate, guttulate, verrucose ascospores of N. phoenicis distinguish it from other existing Neoastrosphaeriella species. Additional new taxa and their morphological features, ecological occurrence, as well as phylogenetic circumscription of genera in Aigialaceae are provided and discussed.