Morphological examination and phylogenetic analyses reveal two new species in Pleurotheciaceae from China

During an ongoing investigation of saprobic fungi in southern China, two hyphomycetous fungi of Pleurotheciaceae were collected and isolated from decaying wood in freshwater and terrestrial habitats. Morphology and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses of a combined LSU, ITS, SSU and rpb2 sequence dataset, showed that Pleurotheciella guizhouensis and Pleurothecium guangxiense are introduced as new species, which are introduced here. Both species have macronematous mononematous conidiophores, and polyblastic conidiogenous cells with hyaline conidia, and a sympodial arrangement on cylindrical denticles. Morphological comparisons and phylogenetic analyses support the recognition of both taxa as distinct species within Pleurotheciaceae, further expanding the known diversity of Pleurotheciaceae in China.