Ribosomal and Protein Gene Phylogeny Reveals Novel Saprobic Fungal Species FromJuglans regiaandUrtica dioica

Abstract

During an ongoing investigation of Ascomycetes from plant substrates, three saprobic species were found from plant substrates. Two new species,Leptosphaeria regiaeandNeomicrosphaeropsis juglandiswere isolated from dead branches ofJuglans regiafrom Turkey. Another species is introduced herein asSubplenodomus urticaesp. nov within the family Leptosphaeriaceae found onUrtica dioicain Italy. Multigene phylogenies based on combined LSU, ITS, SSU, and beta-tubulin DNA sequence data generated from maximum likelihood and MrBayes analyses indicate thatLeptosphaeria regiaeis related toL. slovacicaand forms an independent lineage within the genusLeptosphaeria.Subplenodomus urticaeis basal toS. iridicolaand its establishment as a new species is strongly supported.Neomicrosphaeropsis juglandisforms a moderately supported lineage in betweenN. italicaandN. elaeagniin the Didymellaceae. Full morphological details are provided herein and phylogenetic relationships of the three new species are also discussed.