Phylogenetic analysis shows that Pyrenula (Pyrenulaceae) diversity is larger than expected: three new species and one new record discovered in China

The lichenised fungal genus <i>Pyrenula</i> is a very common crustose lichen element in tropical to subtropical forests, but little research has been done on this genus in China. We carried out an integrative taxonomic study on <i>Pyrenula</i> in China using morphological, anatomical, chemical characters, and molecular data (ITS, nuLSU, mtSSU). Three new species with muriform ascospores containing red oil when over-mature were found: <i>Pyrenulasubmacularis</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>, <i>P.yunguiensis</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> and <i>P.rufotetraspora</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> Molecular data and TLC results of <i>P.macularis</i> and <i>P.breutelii</i> are for the first time reported and show that they are not synonyms. This is the first report of <i>P.breutelii</i> in China. Contrary to the previous reports of this genus, we found lichen substances in all the five species in this study, seemingly terpenoids. A key for the <i>Pyrenula</i> species reported in China is provided.