Historical cultures provide insights into the taxonomy of Stictis sensu lato.

Abstract

Species morphologically typical of the genus Stictis are phylogenetically diverse, spread throughout Stictidaceae. Phylogenetic studies based on DNA sequences have revealed the polyphyletic nature of the morphologically defined genus, the type species Stictis radiata forming a clade phylogenetically distinct from all other sequenced species that had been placed in the genus. Some of the phylogenetic clades containing Stictis sensu lato species can be distinguished on the basis of their asexual morphs. Here we accept as the genus Ebollia a monophyletic clade that forms two monophyletic subclades, both of which contain species that form both a stictis-like sexual morph and an Ebollia asexual morph. One of these clades contains the type species of Fitzroyomyces, F. cyperacearum, here treated as a synonym of Ebollia carnea (= Stictis carnea). Three unnamed species with a stictis-like sexual morph, fall into a clade with the type species of Eriospora (E. leucostoma) and Neofitzroyomyces (N. nerii), two species known only from their asexual morphs. Morphologically these stictis-like sexual morphs differ from that previously reported for another Eriospora species, E. juncicola. The mode of conidiogenesis distinguishes Eriospora and Neofitzroyomyces from Ebollia. A group of species traditionally included in Stictis but that differ from S. radiata in having dark ascomatal walls, are accepted here as Cyclostoma, using this name at the generic rather than subgeneric level. Two of these species are described as new, Cyclostoma macroarundinacea and C. oleariae. In addition, DNA sequences are provided for the genus Delpontia for the first time. Citation: Johnston PR, Park D (2024). Historical cultures provide insights into the taxonomy of Stictis sensu lato. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 14: 153-170. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2024.14.10.