Phylogeny and morphology of Premilcurensis gen. nov. (Pleosporales) from stems of Senecio in Italy

Abstract

Premilcurensis senecionis gen. et and sp. nov. was collected on stems of Senecio sp. from Forlì-Cesena Province, Italy and is introduced in Phaeosphaeriaceae with the support of a unique combination of morphological characters and combined gene phylogenetic analyses. Premilcurensis is distinguished from other genera in Phaeosphaeriaceae in having fusiform to cylindrical, hyaline to yellow-green ascospores with 3–5 septa, and mucilaginous, wing-like appendages at the central septum. Phylogenies analyses show Premilcurensis as a distinct lineage from other genera in the family Phaeosphaeriaceae with high bootstrap support. A comprehensive description and micrographs of P. senecionis is provided and the new genus is compared with morphologically similar taxa.