Morpho-molecular characterisation of Arecophila, with A. australis and A. clypeata sp. nov. and A. miscanthi comb. nov.

Abstract

Three arecophila-like fungal samples were collected on dead culms of gramineous plants in China. Morphological studies of our new collections and the herbarium specimen of Arecophila gulubiicola (generic type) were conducted and the morphological affinity of our new collections with Arecophila was confirmed. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses using combined ITS, LSU, rpb2 and β-tubulin data from our collections revealed the phylogeny of Cainiaceae. The monospecific genus Alishanica (type species Al. miscanthi), which had been accepted in Cainiaceae, is revisited and synonymised under Arecophila. Based on morphology and phylogeny, Arecophila australis sp. nov. and A. clypeata sp. nov. are introduced as new species, while A. miscanthi is a new record for China. All the new collections are illustrated and described.