Multi-gene analyses reveal taxonomic placement of Scolicosporium minkeviciusii in Phaeosphaeriaceae (Pleosporales)

Scolicosporium minkeviciusii, was newly collected in Italy, and subjected to morpho-molecular analyses. Morphological characters clearly indicate that this species is a coelomycete. Combined maximum-likelihood and maximum-parsimony analyses of LSU and SSU gene sequence data of S. minkeviciusii grouped it in Phaeosphaeriaceae with Phaeosphaeria nodorum, P. oryzae and Stagonospora foliicola, although the type species of Scolicosporium, S. macrosporium, which has not been sequenced, is considered to belong in the family Pleomassariaceae. In this study, we designate an epitype for Scolicosporium minkeviciusii. The placement of S. macrosporium and Scolicosporium sensu stricto remains uncertain and further morpho-molecular studies are necessary to confirm the taxonomic placement of this type species and to delimit this genus.