Multi-locus phylogenetic analyses reveal eight novel species of <i>Distoseptispora</i> from southern China

Abstract

<i>Distoseptispora</i> as a single genus in <i>Distoseptisporaceae</i> was introduced by morphological and phylogenetic analyses. Members of this genus occur mainly as asexual morphs, forming effuse, hairy colonies on decaying wood, plant stems, bamboo culms, and fallen leaves and shafts in terrestrial and freshwater habitats. In the present study, saprobic hyphomycetes from plant debris were investigated, and eight new <i>Distoseptispora</i> species were introduced based on morphology and phylogenetic analyses of LSU, ITS, <i>TEF1</i>, and <i>RPB2</i> sequence data. This study provides important data on the species diversity, ecological environment, and geographical area of <i>Distoseptispora</i>, greatly updates the classification of <i>Distoseptispora</i>, and improves our understanding of the taxonomy of <i>Distoseptispora</i>.