Multigene Phylogeny Coupled with Morphological Characterization Reveal Two New Species of Holmiella and Taxonomic Insights within Patellariaceae

Abstract During our investigation of saprobic fungi on Juniper (Cupressaceae) of Uzbekistan, two novel species of Holmiella were collected from the host Juniperus. These new species are introduced based on morphological and molecular evidence, the latter generated to investigate their phylogenetic relationships. Taxonomic notes are also provided for the two previously described species of Holmiella. Phylogenetic reconstruction based on analyses of ribosomal DNA (ITS, LSU and SSU regions) of Holmiella species, strongly supports the three currently recognized taxa (H. junipericola, H. juniperi-semiglobosae and H. sabina) as a monophyletic group. The two novel species are morphologically distinct from H. sabina, the type species, with respect to size of ascomata, asci and ascospores, ascospore globules and peridium structure. Descriptions and illustrations, as well as notes on the taxonomy, and phylogenetic characterization of two new species are provided. An identification key to the four accepted species of Holmiella is also provided.