Morphological and phylogenetic analyses reveal four novel species of Distoseptispora (Distoseptisporaceae, Distoseptisporales) from southern China

Saprobic hyphomycetes with high density and species diversity were observed on plant debris. During our mycological surveys in southern China, numerous strains were isolated from dead branches of unidentified plants in the forest of Jiangxi and Fujian provinces, China. Phylogenetic analyses of ITS, LSU, <i>RPB2</i>, and <i>TEF1</i> sequence data using maximum-likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods revealed the systematic placement of several <i>Sporidesmium</i>-like species within <i>Distoseptispora</i>. Based on morphological characteristics and molecular evidence, four new species of <i>Distoseptispora</i>, namely <i>D.fujianensis</i>, <i>D.ganzhouensis</i>, <i>D.nanpingensis</i> and <i>D.subtropica</i>, are introduced, and two known species, <i>D.clematidis</i> and <i>D.yunjushanensis</i>, are reported. This study enhances our knowledge of the species diversity of <i>Distoseptispora</i> in southern China.