Fungalpedia – Note 2965, Neoceratosphaeria
Neoceratosphaeria J.F. Zhang & Z.Y. Liu.
Citation when using this data: Zhang JF et al. 2023 – Fungalpedia.
Index Fungorum, Faceoffungi, MycoBank, GenBank, Fig 1.
Classification: Magnaporthaceae, Magnaporthales, Sordariomycetidae, Sordariomycetes, Pezizomycotina, Ascomycota, Fungi.
Saprobic on dead culm of unidentified herbaceous plant. Sexual morph: Ascomata immersed to erumpent, globose to subglobose, long-beaked, black to dark brown, ostiolate. Ostiole central, with periphyses lined in the ostiolar canal. Peridium composed of several layers of cells of textura angularis. Hamathecium comprising of septate, cellular paraphyses, taping towards the apex. Asci 8-spored, unitunicate, broadly cylindrical to clavate, non-pedicellate, apically rounded to truncate, with an inconspicuous apical ring. Ascospores fasciculate, hyaline, filiform, curved to sigmoid, 2–5-euseptate at maturation. Asexual morph: Undetermined.
Notes: In the phylogenetic analysis Neoceratosphaeria forms an independent clade close to Muraeriata with strong statistical support (Zhang JF et al. 2023). These two genera can be distinguished by the shape and seriation of ascospores. Ascospores of Muraeriata are narrowly fusiform with curved ends, and arranged 3–4 seriate in the ascus (Huhndorf et al. 2008), while Neoceratosphaeria has broadly cylindrical asci and fasciculate, filiform, sigmoid ascospores. Neoceratosphaeria is also somewhat similar to Aquafiliformis in having long-necked ascomata, septate, cellular paraphyses and cylindric-clavate asci. However, Aquafiliformis species occur in aquatic habitats, and have comparatively larger asci and non-septate ascospores (Luo et al. 2019), while Neoceratosphaeria is terrestrial, and its ascospores are 2–5-euseptate at maturation. With a combination of morphological features and phylogenetic analysis, Neoceratosphaeria is therefore introduced as a new genus to accommodate the type species Neoceratosphaeria karsti.
Type species: Neoceratosphaeria karsti J.F. Zhang & Z.Y. Liu.
Other accepted species: Species Fungorum – search Neoceratosphaeria.
Figure 1 – Neoceratosphaeria karsti (GZAAS 19-1767, holotype): a Appearance of ascomata erumpent throughout host surface with long neck. b Vertical section through ascomata. c Section of peridium. d Paraphyses anostomosing with the asci. e, f Asci. g, h Ascospores. Scale bars: b = 50 μm, c = 10 μm, d–h = 20 μm.
References
Entry by
Jinfeng Zhang, Guizhou Provincial Institute of Tea, Guiyang 550006, People’s Republic of China, Guizhou Key Laboratory of Agricultural Biotechnology, Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Guiyang 550006, People’s Republic of China, Center of Excellence in Fungal Research, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand.
Published online 18 August 2026