Taxonomic Position of Melomastia italica sp. nov. and Phylogenetic Reappraisal of Dyfrolomycetales

Abstract — Melomastia is a genus of saprobic fungal species found on wood, with 29 species epithets listed in Index Fungorum. The classification of species in the genus has been a challenge due to a high degree of morphological overlap and a lack of DNA based phylogenies. The present study clarifies the phylogenetic placement of the genus and with an additional new species based on a fresh collection from Italy. The new species, Melomastia italica, is described based on morphological and relationships inferred from phylogenetic analyses of SSU and LSU sequence data. Melomastia is accommodated within the family Pleurotremaceae in the class Dothideomycetes. The phylogenetic relationships and intergeneric taxonomy within the family Pleurotremaceae are revisited, while Dyfrolomyces maolanensis is transferred to the genus Melomastia.