Notes, outline, taxonomy and phylogeny of brown-spored hyphomycetes

Hyphomycetes are asexually reproducing parts in a fungal life cycle, and is an artificial classification. Hyphomycetes are fungi with diverse lifestyles, including saprobes, endophytes, plant and animal pathogens, hyperparasites, lichenized forms and extremophiles. Traditionally, morphological characters have been used to identify and classify hyphomycetes, which has led to many taxonomic controversies. Modern molecular methods based on DNA sequence data have developed a more reliable and natural classification of hyphomycetes. The present study revises the taxonomy of the brown-spored hyphomycetes based on both morphology and phylogeny. In total, 1,041 genera with brief notes are provided. Of these, 1,032 genera belong to Ascomycota (Dothideomycetes: 362; Eurotiomycetes: 34; Leotiomycetes: 22; Pezizomycetes: 7; Sordariomycetes: 210; Ascomycota genera incertae sedis: 397), and nine genera belong to Basidiomycota. In addition, 363 brown-spored hyphomycetous genera published since 2010 are listed. Multi-locus phylogeny, including 658 brown-spored hyphomycete genera within Ascomycota, are carried out using 28S nrDNA, 18S nrDNA and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (rpb2), and the results show that 374 genera are phylogenetically placed in Dothideomycetes, 39 genera in Eurotiomycetes, 26 genera in Leotiomycetes, 6 genera in Pezizomycetes and 213 genera in Sordariomycetes. Based on the morphology and multi-gene phylogeny, 45 fresh collections are described in this study, including seven new genera, viz. Murihylinia, Pseudobrachysporiella, Saprosporodochifer, Solitariconidiophora, Tenebrosynnematica, Xenoberkleasmium, Xenostanjehughesia; 17 new species, viz. Acrodictys thailandica, Alfaria fusiformis, Conioscypha punctiformis, Gamsomyces breve, Murihylinia guizhouensis, Parafuscosporella atricolor, Pleocatenata thailandica, Polyplosphaeria appendiculata, Pseudobrachysporiella pyriforme, Saprosporodochifer fuscus, Solitariconidiophora guizhouensis, Sporidesmiella obovoidispora, Stachybotrys ellipsoidea, Tenebrosynnematica obclavata, Vanakripa obovoidea, Xenoberkleasmium chiangraiense, Yunnanomyces muriformis; one new combination, viz. Xenostanjehughesia polypora; nine new records, viz. Aquatisphaeria thailandica, Bahusandhika indica, Corynespora submersa, Fusariella sinensis, Helicodochium aquaticum, Pleopunctum ellipsoideum, Rhexoacrodictys erecta, Vikalpa dujuanhuensis, Virgaria nigra. Detailed descriptions and morphological illustrations are provided for these new taxa. Current taxonomic difficulties are discussed.