Novel insights into the phylogenetic and metabolic diversity of preussia-like fungi.

Abstract

The genus Preussia (Sporormiaceae, Pleosporales) represents one of the most diverse and metabolically active groups of ascomycetes. The genus is characterized by a complex taxonomic history involving the genera Sporormiella and Spororminula, which some authors consider synonyms of Preussia. However, the circumscription of these genera remains controversial, and the status of numerous species is unresolved. The present study aims to characterize strains of Preussia s.l. recovered during diversity surveys on marine and xerophytic substrates, explore their secondary metabolite profiles, and improve our understanding of the diversity within this group. The obtained strains, as well as strains from the CBS culture collection and exsiccata from different fungaria, were characterized morphologically, and molecular phylogenetic analyses were conducted on strains available in culture. Metabolite profiles were developed for representative strains using mass spectrometry data (MS/MS). Molecular alignments comprised the nuclear ribosomal subunits, consisting of partial sequences for the 18S small subunit (SSU) nrDNA, the internal transcribed spacer regions and intervening 5.8S nrDNA (ITS), as well as partial sequences for the 28S large subunit (LSU) nrDNA. Additional regions within protein-encoding genes were used, including the DNA-directed RNA polymerase II second-largest subunit (rpb2) and translation elongation factor 1-α (tef1-α) regions. These data were used to reconstruct a robust phylogenetic framework for Preussia s.l. and to delineate lineage structure and generic boundaries. Ten well-supported lineages were resolved and integrated with metabolite profiles to inform taxonomic decisions. Our results support the recognition of Preussia and Sporormiella as distinct genera, the re-establishment of Spororminula, and the introduction of four new genera, 11 new species, 18 new combinations, and one new name. Moreover, epi- and lectotypes have been designated to stabilize the taxonomy of some recognized species. This study provides a comprehensive framework for future taxonomic, phylogenetic, and chemical investigations within Sporormiaceae. Taxonomic novelties: New genera: Chaetosporormiella Guerra-Mateo, Gené & Cano, Pleosporormiella Guerra-Mateo, Gené & Cano, Sporormyces Guerra-Mateo, Gené & Cano, Spororvela Guerra-Mateo, Cano & Gené. New species: Chaetosporormiella monodictyoides Guerra-Mateo, Gené & Cano, Pleosporormiella aculeata Guerra-Mateo, Gené & Cano, Pleosporormiella compacta Guerra-Mateo, González-Menéndez, Gené & Cano, Pleosporormiella polyspora Guerra-Mateo, González-Menéndez, Gené & Cano, Pleosporormiella suttonii Guerra-Mateo, Gené & Cano, Preussia gypsicola Guerra-Mateo, González-Menéndez, Cano & Gené, Sporormiella jejuensis H. Noh, H.U. Cho & S.H. Kim ex Guerra-Mateo, Gené & Cano, Sporormiella koreensis H. Noh, H.U. Cho & S.H. Kim ex Guerra-Mateo, Gené & Cano, Sporormiella solicola Guerra-Mateo, Cano & Gené, Spororminula irregularis Guerra-Mateo, Cano & Gené, Sporormyces anthraquinoniformans Guerra-Mateo, González-Menéndez & Cano. New combinations: Chaetosporormiella pilosella (Cain) Guerra-Mateo, Gené & Cano, Pleosporormiella citrullina (R.M.F. Silva et al.) Guerra-Mateo, Gené & Cano, Pleosporormiella polymorpha (Asgari & Zare) Guerra-Mateo, Gené & Cano, Pleosporormiella terricola (Cain) Guerra-Mateo, Gené & Cano, Sporormiella aegilopis (M. Mehrabi et al.) Guerra-Mateo, Gené & Cano, Sporormiella africana (Arenal et al.) Guerra-Mateo, Gené & Cano, Sporormiella bezerrensis (Ferreira-Sá et al.) Guerra-Mateo, Gené & Cano, Sporormiella elegans (D.C. Sandberg & A.E. Arnold) Guerra-Mateo, Gené & Cano, Sporormiella isabellae (Arenal et al.) Guerra-Mateo, Gené & Cano, Sporormiella japonica (Udagawa, K. Tominaga & Hamaoka) Guerra-Mateo, Gené & Cano, Sporormiella lignicola (W. Phillips & Plowr.) Guerra-Mateo, Gené & Cano, Sporormiella mediterranea (Arenal et al.) Guerra-Mateo, Gené & Cano, Sporormiella persica (Asgari & Zare) Guerra-Mateo, Gené & Cano, Sporormiella procaviae (Crous) Guerra-Mateo, Gené & Cano, Sporormiella procaviicola (Crous) Guerra-Mateo, Gené & Cano, Spororminula subticinensis (Mouton) Guerra-Mateo, Cano & Gené, Sporormyces septenarius (S.I. Ahmed & Cain) Guerra-Mateo, Gené & Cano, Spororvela tela (S. Jakob & M.J. Richardson) Guerra-Mateo, Cano & Gené. New names: Sporormiella isopartis Guerra-Mateo, Gené & Cano. New synonyms: Preussia apgariae Y.P. Tan et al., Preussia arizonica D.C. Sandberg & A.E. Arnold, Preussia crataegi Eisvand & M. Mehrabi, Preussia cylindricalis F. Liu et al., Preussia flanaganii Boylan, Preussia isomera Cain, Preussia mariae D.C. Sandberg & A.E. Arnold, Preussia mayoae Y.P. Tan et al., Preussia pianica Eisvand & M. Mehrabi, Preussia pistaciae Eisvand & M. Mehrabi, Preussia tenerifae (Arx & Aa) Kruys. Typification (basionyms): Epitypification: Perisporium funiculatum Preuss; Lectotypification: Sporormia intermedia Auersw. Citation: Guerra-Mateo D, González-Menéndez V, Gené J, Crous PW, Bensch K, Genilloud O, Cano-Lira JF (2026). Novel insights into the phylogenetic and metabolic diversity of preussia-like fungi. Studies in Mycology 114: 437-486. doi: 10.3114/sim.2026.114.03.