Multi-locus phylogeny reveals the sexual state of Tiarosporella in Botryosphaeriaceae

A new taxon of Botryosphaeriaceae associated with Arrhenatherum and Dactylis was collected in Italy. Single ascospore isolates were obtained and formed asexual morphs in culture. Multi-gene phylogenetic analysis was carried out using ITS, LSU nrDNA and EF1-α sequence data and the resulting phylogenetic tree showed that new species clustered in Botryosphaeriaceae together with Tiarosporella species with high bootstrap support. The new species is introduced as a sexual morph of Tiarosporella and detailed descriptions and illustrations are provided. A discussion of the asexual morphs of Tiarosporella is provided.