Octospora pulchrispora (Pezizales) – a new bryophilous species on Cynodontium polycarpon.

Abstract

Octospora pulchrispora Sochorová et Eckstein is described as a new species based on finds from the Czech Republic. It features a remarkable ascospore ornamentation formed by low, branching, cyanophilous ridges. It parasitises theacrocarpous moss Cynodontium polycarpon ( Rhabdoweisiaceae ) and induces galls on the rhizoids. In the phylogenetic analysis based on the LSU, SSU and EF1 (cid:2) loci, O . pulchrispora formed a highly supported clade with Octospora gyalectoides agg., O . leucoloma , O . gemmicola , O . axillaris , O . excipulata , O . bridei and two undescribed Octospora species.