Fungalpedia – Note 2955, Pseudopolyplosphaeria
Pseudopolyplosphaeria J.F. Zhang, Y.Y. Chen & Jian K. Liu.
Citation when using this data: Zhang JF et al. 2023 – Fungalpedia.
Index Fungorum, Faceoffungi, MycoBank, GenBank, Fig 1.
Classification: Tetraplosphaeriaceae, Pleosporales, Pleosporomycetidae, Dothideomycetes, Pezizomycotina, Ascomycota, Fungi.
Saprobic on dead bamboo culms. Sexual morph: Ascostromata immersed under epidermis to erumpent throughout the substrate, solitary, scattered, containing 4–6 locules, appearance as a long slit on face view. Ascomata immersed in stromata, gregarious, subglobose, short papillate, ostiolate. Peridium comprised of several layers of cells of textura angularis. Hamathecium comprising numerous, cellular pseudoparaphyses, branched at the apex, and embedded in a gelatinous matrix. Asci 8-spored, bitunicate, fissitunicate, clavate, pedicellate, apically rounded with an ocular chamber. Ascospores fusiform, two-celled, slightly constricted at the septum, bi- to tri-seriate, hyaline when young, becoming pale grayish at maturation, normally surround by a mucilaginous sheath, but later diffused. Asexual morph: Undetermined.
Notes: Pseudopolyplosphaeria is phylogenetically placed in a distinct clade within the family Tetraplosphaeriaceae, where it is closely related to Aquatisphaeria and Ernakulamia but without high bootstrap support (Zhang JF et al. 2023). Pseudopolyplosphaeria is typical of Tetraplosphaeriaceae in having cylindric-clavate asci and hyaline, fusiform, one-septate ascospores that are surrounded by a mucilaginous sheath (Hongsanan et al. 2020a). It is distinguished from other genera in Tetraplosphaeriaceae by possessing ascostromata containing several ascomata (Hongsanan et al. 2020a). Hence, we establish it as a new genus to accommodate the type species Pseudopolyplosphaeria guizhouensis, based on the morpho-phylogenetic evidence.
Type species: Pseudopolyplosphaeria guizhouensis J.F. Zhang, Y.Y. Chen & Jian K. Liu.
Other accepted species: Species Fungorum – search Pseudopolyplosphaeria.
Figure 1 – Pseudopolyplosphaeria guizhouensis (GZAAS 19-1966, holotype): a, b Appearance of ascostromata on the substrate. c Section of peridium. d, e Crosss section of ascoma. f Pesudoparaphyses. g–k Asci. l Germinated ascospore. m Apex of ascus. n–s Ascospores. Scale bars: c, l = 20 μm, e = 100 μm, f–k, m–s = 10 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 14 August 2026