Genera of soil Ascomycota and an account on soil-inhabiting species isolated from Thailand

Ascomycota is the most abundant fungal group in soils worldwide. They play a vital role in ecosystem functioning in edaphic habitats. Numerous studies over the past two decades have provided information about belowground taxa, though much of it is scattered across various publications. We have compiled a taxonomic outline and comprehensive notes, most with line drawings, for 270 Ascomycota genera found in soils worldwide. The majority belong to Sordariomycetes (45%), Dothideomycetes (28%), and Eurotiomycetes (15%), commonly found in forests, cultivated lands, and urban soils. Thailand, being a tropical country with high biodiversity, has limited studies on soil fungi. Fungal studies have mainly focused on agricultural and forest soils, with around 132 genera reported over the past two decades. Therefore, we investigated Ascomycota species from three different soil ecosystems in Thailand. Samples were collected from caves, forests and urban areas to capture a variety of genera present. Species isolation was conducted using the soil dilution and soil baiting methods, followed by a polyphasic approach for species identification, which included morphological characterization and phylogenetic analyses using maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods. Our study reveals 30 species, including nine new species and 21 host and geographical records from soil in Thailand. Commonly recovered genera include Curvularia, Paraconiothyrium, Pyrenochaetopsis, Stachybotrys and Microascus, while Anteaglonium, Diaporthosporella, Neoceratosperma, Paraleptospora and Pararoussoella are newly reported from soil. Thai caves hold unexploited fungal diversity and urban soil fungi require further exploration due to their ecological roles and potential health risks. Compared to neighboring countries, fungal research in Thailand remains limited, particularly in caves, urban areas and hot springs. Expanding investigations across diverse habitats will enhance our understanding of soil Ascomycota and their ecological significance. This compilation serves as a key resource for taxonomists and researchers studying soil fungi.