Additions to the genus Kirschsteiniothelia (Dothideomycetes); Three novel species and a new host record, based on morphology and phylogeny

During a survey of microfungi associated with forest plants, four specimens related to <i>Kirschsteiniothelia</i> were collected from decaying wood in Guizhou, Hainan and Yunnan Provinces, China. <i>Kirschsteiniothelia</i> species have sexual and asexual forms. They are commonly found as saprophytes on decaying wood and have been reported as disease-causing pathogens in humans as well. In this study, we introduce three novel <i>Kirschsteiniothelia</i> species (<i>K.bulbosapicalis</i>, <i>K.dendryphioides</i> and <i>K.longirostrata</i>) and describe a new host record for <i>K.atra</i>, based on morphology and multi-gene phylogenetic analyses of a concatenated ITS, LSU and SSU rDNA sequence data. These taxa produced a dendryphiopsis- or sporidesmium-like asexual morph and detailed descriptions and micromorphological illustrations are provided. Furthermore, we provide a checklist for the accepted <i>Kirschsteiniothelia</i> species, including detailed host information, habitat preferences, molecular data, existing morphological type, country of origin and corresponding references.