Two new species of genus Acarospora (Lichenized Ascomycota: Acarosporaceae) from Pakistan

Two new species of genus Acarospora are reported from Pakistan: A. atrofusca sp. nov. and A. iqbalii sp. nov. The positions of novel species within the genus Acarospora were validated by comparative morpho-anatomical and internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-based molecular studies. Acarospora atrofusca is phylogenetically and morphologically closely related to A. cf. nitrophila and characterized by areoles 0.8–1.5 mm, apothecia greyish brown, hymenium 110–125 μm, hypothecium 20–28 μm, asci 57–70 × 23–30 μm, and ascospores 3.5–5×2–3 μm. Acarospora iqbalii is phylogenetically and morphologically closely related to A. cinerascens , and characterized by areoles up to 1.4 mm, apothecia white to blackish white, epihymenium 15–20 μm, hymenium 95–130 μm, hypothecium 15–25 μm, asci 110–150 × 28–35 μm, and ascospores 4–6 × 1.9–2.9 μm.