Fresh Collections Research Articles

Revision and phylogeny of Leptosphaeriaceae

Leptosphaeriaceae is a family in the order Pleosporales comprising economically important plant pathogens. Species may also be endophytes or saprobes on various host plants. In recent classifications Alternariaster, Leptosphaeria, Neophaeosphaeria, Paraleptosphaeria, Heterospora, Subplenodomus and Plenodomus were included in the family. The taxonomy of genera and species in Leptosphaeriaceae has been problematic due to the lack of understanding of the importance of morphological characters used to distinguish taxa, as well as the lack of reference strains. In order to establish evolutionary relationships and to provide a backbone tree for Leptosphaeria and allied genera, we sequenced the 18S nrDNA, 28S nrDNA, ITS, RPB2, TEF and ACT gene regions of Leptosphaeriaceae species and analysed this data. Multi-locus phylogenies together with morphology robustly support the monophyletic nature of Leptosphaeriaceae among the other families in Pleosporales, and the inclusion of the genera Alternariaster, Heterospora, Leptosphaeria, Paraleptosphaeria, Sphaerellopsis, Subplenodomus, Plenodomus and three novel genera Alloleptosphaeria, Neoleptosphaeria and Pseudoleptosphaeria. Five new species, Alternariaster centaureae-diffusae, Leptosphaeria cichorium, Paraleptosphaeria rubi, Plenodomus guttulatus and P. salviae are introduced. An account of sexual morph of Alternariaster centaureae-diffusae is provided, and the sexual morph of Leptosphaeria doliolum is re-described and illustrated using modern concepts from fresh collections. A novel family Neophaeosphaeriaceae is established to accommodate the genus Neophaeosphaeria and its species.

Backbone tree for Chaetothyriales with four new species of Minimelanolocus from aquatic habitats

We are studying the freshwater lignicolous fungi along a north-south latitudinal gradient in Asia. In this paper, fresh collections of Minimelanolocus from submerged wood in streams in Yunnan Province, China are characterised based on morphology and molecular phylogeny based on three rDNA regions: 18S (SSU), ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS) and 28S nuclear rDNA (LSU). The phylogenetic analysis of combined LSU and SSU sequence data and a separate analysis of ITS placed the isolates within the family Herpotrichiellaceae, order Chaetothyriales. An updated phylogenetic backbone tree for Chaetothyriales is provided with available ex-type and additional isolates. One of the isolates collected was identified as Minimelanolocus obscurus based on morphology and molecular data. Minimelanolocus aquaticus, M. asiaticus, M. curvatus and M. melanicus are described as new species considering the interspecific ITS variability and morphology. The phylogenetic placement of Minimelanolocus in Chaetothyriales is novel and provides new sequence data for the genus as a distinct lineage in Chaetothyriales. The conidial characters of all the known species in the genus are summarized. Descriptions and illustrations are provided for the five species of Minimelanolocus with notes on their taxonomy and phylogeny.

Redescription of Clitocybe umbrinopurpurascens (Basidiomycota, Agaricales) and revision of Neohygrophorus and Pseudoomphalina

Clitocybe umbrinopurpurascens, a rare species thus far known only from Morocco, is redescribed based on fresh collections made in Calabria (South Italy). Photographs of fresh material and drawings of the main micromorphological features of the species are provided. The type collection, in poor condition and not suitable for molecular analysis, was restudied macro- and micromorphologically and was found fully identical with the collections from Calabria. Based on molecular data, this species belongs to the genus Pseudoomphalina (type Omphalia kalchbrenneri) and the genus Neohygrophorus is treated as a synonym of Pseudoomphalina. A collection from Calabria is chosen as an epitype for P. umbrinopurpurascens. Our morphological and molecular revision of other Pseudoomphalina species did not provide evidence supporting the placement of Agaricus pachyphyllus in Pseudomphalina, or any other of the allied genera, therefore, for this species the new genus Pseudolaccaria is introduced. As there are no extant original herbarium specimens, a lectotype and epitype for Omphalia kalchbrenneri and a neotype for Agaricus pachyphyllus are designated.

A taxonomic and phylogenetic re-appraisal of the genus Curvularia (Pleosporaceae): human and plant pathogens

Curvularia is an important genus whose species are widely distributed phytopathogens as well as opportunistic pathogens on human and animals. The purpose of this study is to re-evaluate the phylogenetic relationships of the species in the genus Curvularia using ITS (nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer), GPDH (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) and TEF (translation elongation factor) gene regions and to provide modern descriptions and illustrations of Curvularia australis, Curvularia buchloës, C. cymbopogonis, C. hawaiiensis, C. neoindica, C. neergaardii, C. nicotiae, C. nodulosa, C. ryleyi, and C. subpapendorfii which lack recent descriptions with details of host and distribution. A multi-gene phylogenetic tree based on ITS, GPDH and TEF gene regions is used to define species of a fresh collections obtained from various hosts and geographic locations in the world. Both human and plant associated species of Curvularia are included in the phylogenetic analysis. Some species that have previously been described from humans are herein reported from plant material as pathogens or saprobes and vice versa. Novel host associations are reported for C. asianensis, C. borreriae, C. hominis, C. muehlenbeckiae, C. trifolii and C. verruculosa.

A new species, new synonymy, and notes on Neomacrocoris(Heteroptera: Nepomorpha: Naucoridae).

Based on borrowed museum specimens and fresh collections from South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda, many specimens of Neomacrocoris Montandon have been made available for study. Neomacrocoris liberianus n. sp. is described from Liberia and Sierra Leone based on two museum specimens. Neomacrocoris bondelaufa Sites is synonymized with N. transvaalensis (Distant) and distribution records for N. parviceps Montandon and N. vuga Sites are provided.

Auricularia thailandica sp. nov. (Auriculariaceae, Auriculariales) a widely distributed species from Southeastern Asia

Auricularia is an important genus among the jelly fungi due to its popular consumption and medicinal properties. A new species of Auricularia, A. thailandica is described from fresh collections made from the Philippines, Thailand and Southern China based on morphological and molecular characters. Auricularia thailandica differs from other species by having short and loosely arranged abhymenial hairs on the basidiomata and in the different size of the zones in a cross section of the basidiomata. The species is found to be widely distributed in Southeastern Asia. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred based on the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. The new species is introduced with full description and illustrations.

Translational intracerebral hemorrhage: a need for transparent descriptions of fresh tissue sampling and preclinical model quality.

For years, strategies have been proposed to improve translational success in stroke research by improving the quality of animal studies. However, articles that report preclinical intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) studies continue to lack adequate qualitative and quantitative descriptions of fresh brain tissue collection. They also tend to lack transparency about animal model quality. We conducted a systematic review of 82 ICH research articles to determine the level of detail reported for brain tissue collection. We found that only 24 (29%) reported the volume, weight, or thickness of tissue collected and a specific description of the anatomical location. Thus, up to 71% of preclinical ICH research articles did not properly define how fresh specimens were collected for biochemical measurements. Such omissions may impede reproducibility of results between laboratories. Although existing criteria have improved the quality of preclinical stroke studies, ICH researchers need to identify specific guidelines and strategies to avoid pitfalls, minimize bias, and increase reproducibility in this field.

Molecular phylogenetic analysis reveals two new species of Discosia from Italy

Two fresh collections of Discosia were made from dead leaves of Fagus sylvatica in Italy. As these collections could not be cultured, the fruiting bodies were directly used for sequencing using a Forensic DNA Extraction Kit. Based on analyses of the concatenated internal transcribed spacer regions of the nrDNA operon (ITS) and large subunit rDNA (LSU) gene sequences, as well as morphological characters, the fresh collections are introduced as two new species, namely D. italica and D. fagi. Phylogenetically, these two species are distinct from all other Discosia species. Morphologically, D. italica is somewhat similar with D. fagi, but can be distinguished using dimension of conidiomata and conidiogenous cells. Descriptions and illustrations of the new taxa are provided herein.

Barilius ardens (Teleostei: Cyprinidae), a new species from the Western Ghats, India, with redescription of B. malabaricus and B. canarensis.

The identities of Barilius canarensis and B. malabaricus have hitherto been confused. An attempt to resolve their identities by examining fresh collections from their respective type localities, i.e., southern Karnataka and northern Kerala, yielded a new species, which is herein described as B. ardens. The new species differs from B. canarensis and B. malabaricus by the presence of a row of 7-9 large vertically elongate blotches on the flank, in large adults the first three blotches broken into a smaller row of intercalate spots (vs. two rows of spots: the first consisting of 9-11oval spots, the second with 3-4 smaller spots); and 5+4+3 (vs. 5+4+2) pharyngeal teeth. The new species is distinguished from B. bakeri by having 5+4+3 (vs. 5+4+2) pharyngeal teeth; and the dorsal and anal fins margined with bright orange (vs. white). Barilius malabaricus (hitherto in the synonymy of B. canarensis) is shown to be a valid species distinguished from the latter by having 11½ (vs. 10½) branched dorsal-fin rays and 14½-15½ (vs. 13½) branched anal-fin rays; both species are redescribed.

Towards a natural classification and backbone tree for Pleosporaceae

The family Pleosporaceae includes numerous saprobic, opportunistic human, and plant pathogenic taxa. The classification of genera and species Pleosporaceae has been a major challenge due to the lack of a clear understanding of the importance of the morphological characters used to distinguish taxa as well as the lack of reference strains. Recent treatments concluded that Pleospora and some other genera in Pleosporaceae are likely polyphyletic. In order to establish the evolutionary relationships and to resolve the polyphyletic nature of Pleospora and allied genera, we sequenced the 18S nrDNA, 28S nrDNA, ITS, GAPDH, RPB2 and TEF1-alpha gene regions of Pleosporaceae species and phylogenetically analysed this data. Multigene phylogenies strongly support the monophyletic nature of Pleosporaceae among the other families in Pleosporales, and the acceptance of the genera Alternaria, Bipolaris, Clathrospora, Comoclathris, Curvularia, Dactuliophora, Decorospora, Diademosa, Exserohilum, Extrawettsteinina, Gibbago, Neocamarosporium, Paradendryphiella, Platysporoides, Pleospora, Porocercospora, Pseudoyuconia and Pyrenophora. Austropleospora, Dendryphion, Edenia and Macrospora are excluded from the family based on morphology coupled with molecular data. Two novel species, Alternaria murispora in this paper and Comoclathris sedi are introduced. The sexual morph of Alternaria alternata is re-described and illustrated using modern concepts from fresh collections. The paraphyletic nature of Pleospora is resolved based on the available morpho-molecular data, but further sampling with fresh collections, reference or ex-type strains and molecular data are needed to obtain a natural classification of genera and the family.

WITHDRAWN: Towards a natural classification of Dothideomycetes: Clarification of Aldona, Aldonata and Viegasella (Parmulariaceae)

Foliar epiphytes in Parmulariaceae (Dothideomycetes) are groups of relatively poorly known taxa. Species of Parmulariaceae are biotrophic, plant-parasitic microfungi that develop on the surface of living plants. We collected Aldona stella-nigra during a survey of foliar epiphytes in the Philippines and thus we restudied this poorly known species and re-examined some similar taxa. In this paper we re-describe and illustrate the type species of some similar genera; Aldona, Aldonata and Viegasella in Parmulariaceae which are parasitic on the surface leaf spots and also provide details of the asexual state of these unusual fungi. By illustrating the genera we anticipate fresh collections of these genera to be obtained for further studies so that they can be epitypified and molecular data can be analyzed to obtain a natural classification.

Lenormandins A—G, new azaphilones from Hypoxylon lenormandii and Hypoxylon jaklitschii sp. nov., recognised by chemotaxonomic data

Seven new azaphilone pigments named lenormandins A–G were isolated from stromata (fruiting bodies) of the xylariaceous fungus, Hypoxylon lenormandii using preparative High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and their structures were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy, high resolution mass spectrometry and other spectral methods. Their occurrence in herbarium specimens (including various type materials collected in the 19th and early 20th century) and several fresh collections was studied by analytical HPLC with diode array and mass spectrometric detection (HPLC-DAD/MS), revealing that this group of pigments is specific for Hypoxylon lenormandii from various geographic regions and otherwise only occurs in closely related taxa, i.e. H. sublenormandii and an undescribed fungus from Sri Lanka, for which we propose the name H. jaklitschii. The status of the new species was established by using molecular phylogenetic data based on ITS and partial beta-tubulin sequences, and by detailed morphological studies.

New collection, iconography and molecular evidence for Tylopilus neofelleus (Boletaceae, Boletoideae) from southwestern China and the taxonomic status of T. plumbeoviolaceoides and T. microsporus

Tylopilus neofelleus, a bolete belonging to Tylopilus s. str. and originally reported from Japan, is extensively revisited and illustrated. Based on a recent fresh collection from southwestern China, an exhaustive macro- and micromorphological description is provided and supported by molecular analyses of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and nuclear ribosomal large subunit (LSU) sequences. Color pictures of both fresh basidiomes in habitat and dried material along with photomicrographs and line drawings of the main anatomical features and a comprehensive phylogram are provided, supported by comparative notes on lookalike and closely related species. Original materials of the Chinese T. microsporus and T. plumbeoviolaceoides were successfully sequenced and a type revision of T. microsporus and T. neofelleus is presented. Based on molecular inference the holotype of T. microsporus is conspecific with Japanese samples of T. neofelleus and must be considered a posterior synonym. Phylogenetic data also demonstrate evidence for the presence of T. neofelleus in China and for a separation from the allied Chinese taxon T. plumbeoviolaceoides. Furthermore, morphological differences separate T. neofelleus from all other unsequenced species of the same consortium.

Mycosphere Essays 1: Taxonomic Confusion in the Ganoderma lucidum Species Complex

The genus Ganoderma (Ganodermataceae) has been widely used as traditional medicines for centuries in Asia, especially in China, Korea and Japan. Its species are widely researched, because of their highly prized medicinal value, since they contain many chemical constituents with potential nutritional and therapeutic values. Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi) is one of the most sought after species within the genus, since it is believed to have considerable therapeutic properties. In the G. lucidum species complex, there is much taxonomic confusion concerning the status of species, whose identification and circumscriptions are unclear because of their wide spectrum of morphological variability. In this paper we provide a history of the development of the taxonomic status of the G. lucidum species complex. We present a phylogeny for the G. lucidum complex based on multigene analysis with combined 5.8S-ITS rDNA, RPB1, and EF-1 alpha sequence data for 17 taxa of the complex. The taxonomic standing of these species is briefly discussed. Further clarification is, however, required. Type specimens, epitypes, reference collections, fresh collections and vouchered multigene nucleotide sequence data of more informative DNA markers should be used to determine the taxonomy of species in the G. lucidum complex.

Reappraisal of the genus Dicroidium Gothan from the Triassic sediments of India

The genus Dicroidium Gothan, belonging to Corystospermaceae, is characterised by pinnately compound leaves with proximally forked primary rachis. The genus was earlier included under the genus Thinnfeldia Ettingshausen. Dicroidium is the most consistent macrofloral element in the Triassic strata of Southern Hemisphere. The present reassessment deals with the morphotaxonomy and stratigraphic significance of the species of Dicroidium in India. A critical review of the literature reveals that the specimens of Dicroidium described so far from India require reassessment, because same morphotypes have often been placed under different species names and sometimes dissimilar elements have been assigned to the same species. In view of this, a thorough analysis of Indian Dicroidium was undertaken based on fresh collections along with the species described earlier by previous workers.
 The present reappraisal reveals that the genus in the Triassic of Peninsular India is represented by eight species. These are D. hughesii (Feistmantel) Lele, D. zuberi (Szajnocha) Archangelsky, Dicroidium sp. cf. D. crassinervis (Geintz) Anderson & Anderson, D. townrovii Retallack, D. nidpurensis Bose & Srivastava, D. gopadensis Bose & Srivastava, D. giarensis Pal and Dicroidium sp. In Indian peninsula, appearance of Dicroidium heralds the onset of Triassic sediments belonging to the early Triassic Panchet Formation (Induan). In the younger sequence of Triassic, i.e. during late Triassic Tiki and Parsora formations (Carnian to Norian–Rhaetian), the diversity and species richness of the genus gradually enhanced and Dicroidium foliages became the most predominant component of Triassic macroflora of India. The genus does not occur in strata younger than the Triassic and thereby the total extinction of Dicroidium signifies the end of the Triassic Period.

An assessment of the taxonomy and chemotaxonomy of Ganoderma

The taxonomic and nomenclatural history of the genus Ganoderma and related basidiomycetes is reviewed and compared to recent studies on its molecular phylogeny. A basidiomycete belonging to the genus Ganoderma can often rather easily be recognised in the field from the macro-morphological characters of the sporocarp. The most important species and lineages can also be discriminated well by molecular phylogeny. However, the application of incongruent species concepts and the frequent misapplication of European names by chemists and other non-taxonomists have created confusion in the scientific literature. The identity of the species reported in the course of mycochemical studies can often not be verified, since no voucher material was retained. In this review, an overview on the most important types of specific chemotaxonomic traits (i.e., secondary metabolites of the basidiomes and mycelia) reported from the genus is provided. Albeit certain triterpenoids such as ganoderic and lucidenic acids, steroids (e.g. ergosterol) and triterpenes (e.g. friedelin) appear to have some chemotaxonomic value at the generic rank, their relevance for species discrimination remains to be assessed. We propose that all important names in Ganoderma should be, as required, epitypified by fresh collections for which living cultures should be made available and that these should be examined by a combination of morphological, chemotaxonomic and molecular phylogenetic methods to attain a more stable taxonomy.

How many fungi make sclerotia?

Most fungi produce some type of durable microscopic structure such as a spore that is important for dispersal and/or survival under adverse conditions, but many species also produce dense aggregations of tissue called sclerotia. These structures help fungi to survive challenging conditions such as freezing, desiccation, microbial attack, or the absence of a host. During studies of hypogeous fungi we encountered morphologically distinct sclerotia in nature that were not linked with a known fungus. These observations suggested that many unrelated fungi with diverse trophic modes may form sclerotia, but that these structures have been overlooked. To identify the phylogenetic affiliations and trophic modes of sclerotium-forming fungi, we conducted a literature review and sequenced DNA from fresh sclerotium collections. We found that sclerotium-forming fungi are ecologically diverse and phylogenetically dispersed among 85 genera in 20 orders of Dikarya, suggesting that the ability to form sclerotia probably evolved � 14 different times in fungi.

Roussoellaceae, a new pleosporalean family to accommodate the genera Neoroussoella gen. nov., Roussoella and Roussoellopsis

Roussoella and Roussoellopsis species are mostly known from monocotyledons (large grasses, bamboo and palms). Detailed phylogenies for this group are lacking and thus their family placement and relationships with other genera are unclear. Fresh collections of several Roussoella-like species, including the type species Roussoella nitidula were made from bamboo and palms in Thailand. In order to obtain a phylogenetic understanding of Roussoella-like species within the order Pleosporales, we carried out the phylogenetic analyses of ITS, LSU, TEF1α and RPB2 loci. The 15 target strains formed a well-supported clade (100% BS/1.00 PP) in phylogenetic reconstructions of individual and combined datasets, supporting the introduction of a new family Roussoellaceae. The Roussoellaceae clade can be distinguished into three well-supported sections, namely Roussoella/Roussoellopsis (93% BS/1.00 PP), Roussoella (88% BS/1.00 PP) and Neoroussoella. Based on both morphology and phylogenetic analyses, we introduce Neoroussoella gen. nov., epitypify Roussoella nitidula which is the type species of the genus, and introduce the new species Neoroussoella bambusae, Roussoella chiangraina, R. japanensis, R. neopustulans, R. siamensis, R. thailandica and R. verrucispora.

Revision of Phaeosphaeriaceae

Phaeosphaeriaceae is a large and important family in the order Pleosporales which includes economically important plant pathogens. Species may also be endophytes or saprobes on plant hosts, especially on monocotyledons (e.g., Cannaceae, Cyperaceae, Juncaceae, Poaceae); some species have also been reported on dicotyledons. The family previously accommodated 35 sexual and asexual genera and comprised more than 300 species with a range of morphological characters. The morphological characters of taxa in this family are often ambiguous and can be confused with other taxa in Leptosphaeriaceae and Montagnulaceae. Fourteen specimens of the type genera of Phaeosphaeriaceae were loaned from herbaria worldwide and were re-examined and illustrated. Fresh collections were obtained from Italy and Thailand, characterized, examined, isolated into pure culture and used to obtain molecular data. The asexual state was induced where possible on sterile bamboo pieces placed on water agar. Multigene phylogenetic analyses of ITS, LSU, SSU, RPB2 and TEF1 sequence datasets were carried out using maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and Bayesian analysis. Molecular analyses shows that 21 genera (Amarenomyces, Ampelomyces, Chaetosphaeronema, Dematiopleospora, Entodesmium, Loratospora, Neosetophoma, Neostagonospora, Nodulosphaeria, Ophiobolus, Ophiosphaerella, Paraphoma, Parastagonospora, Phaeosphaeria, Phaeosphaeriopsis, Sclerostagonospora, Setomelanomma, Setophoma, Vrystaatia, Wojnowicia and Xenoseptoria) belong in Phaeosphaeriaceae, while seven genera (Amarenographium, Bricookea, Dothideopsella, Eudarluca, Phaeostagonospora, Scolecosporiella and Tiarospora) are included based on morphological data. Amarenomyces is reinstated and Nodulosphaeria is confirmed in Phaeosphaeriaceae. Eudarluca is distinguished from Sphaerellopsis based on its morphological characters and is typical of Phaeosphaeriaceae. ITS gene phylogenetic analysis indicates that Sphaerellopsis belongs to Leptosphaeriaceae. Ophiobolus species form a clade within Phaeosphaeriaceae while Ophiosphaerella is shown to be polyphyletic. Phaeosphaeria sensu stricto is redefined. Two new species of Phaeosphaeria and one of Phaeosphaeriopsis are introduced while the asexual states of Phaeosphaeria chiangraina and Phaeosphaeriopsis dracaenicola are reported. Scolicosporium minkeviciusii forms a sister clade with Neostagonospora and Parastagonospora in Phaeosphaeriaceae. However, Scolicosporium minkeviciusii is not the type species. Thus, the placement of Scolicosporium sensu stricto in Phaeosphaeriaceae is questionable. Phylogenetic analysis of combined ITS and LSU genes, confirm the placement of Septoriella oudemansii in Phaeosphaeriaceae. However, it is not represented by the generic type, thus the placement of Septoriella is questionable. Setophaeosphaeria is excluded from Phaeosphariaceae as the type species, Sp. hemerocallidis forms a clade at the base of Cucurbitariaceae. Wilmia clusters in Didymosphaeriaceae and is synonymized under Letendraea. Barria, Chaetoplea, Hadrospora, Lautitia, Metameris, Mixtura and Pleoseptum are excluded from Phaeosphaeriaceae based on their morphological characters. The asexual genera Mycopappus and Xenostigmina are excluded from this family based on the phylogenetic evidence; these genera form a clade close to Melanommataceae.

A molecular phylogenetic reappraisal of the Didymosphaeriaceae (= Montagnulaceae)

The ascomycetous families, Didymosphaeriaceae and Montagnulaceae, have been treated in Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes, and both include saprobes, endophytes and pathogens associated with a wide variety of substrates worldwide. Didymosphaeriaceae was characterized by 1-septate ascospores and trabeculate pseudoparaphyses, mainly anastomosing above the asci, while species in Montagnulaceae had 1 to multi-septate ascospores and generally cellular pseudoparaphyses. In recent treatments, Bimuria, Didymocrea, Kalmusia, Karstenula, Montagnula, Paraphaeosphaeria, Paraconiothyrium and Letendraea were placed in Montagnulaceae, while only Didymosphaeria has been placed in Didymosphaeriaceae. New morphological and molecular data from recent collections have become available and thus the understanding of the families can be improved. Based on analyses of concatenated internal transcribed spacer (ITS) with LSU, SSU and beta-tubulin gene sequences, the taxonomy of the genera classified in these families are re-assessed. Our phylogenetic analyses conclude that, the recently introduced Didymosphaeria rubi-ulmifolii with Paraconiothyrium brasiliense species complex, Alloconiothyrium, Bimuria, Deniquelata, Didymocrea, Kalmusia, Karstenula, Letendraea, Montagnula, Neokalmusia, Paraconiothyrium, Paraphaeosphaeria, Phaeodothis and Tremateia, forms a robust clade named here Didymosphaeriaceae. We therefore synonymize Montagnulaceae under Didymosphaeriaceae which is the oldest name and has priority and provide a update account of the family. Didymosphaeria is represented by Didymosphaeria rubi-ulmifolii. A new genus, Neokalmusia, is introduced in the family to accommodate the bambusicolous taxa Kalmusia brevispora and K. scabrispora. This introduction is based on molecular data coupled with morphology. One new species, Paraconiothyrium magnoliae and the sexual morph of Paraconiothyrium fuckelii, is also introduced. Julella and Barria are assigned to the family based on morphological similarity with Didymosphaeriaceae. Wilmia (previously referred to the Phaeosphaeriaceae) is synonymized under Letendraea (Didymosphaeriaceae). Furthermore, a new species, Letendraea cordylinicola, is introduced and placed in Didymosphaeriaceae based on phylogeny and morphology. The paraphyletic nature of Paraconiothyrium is partially resolved, but further sampling with fresh collections and molecular data of species in this genus are needed to obtain a natural classification.