Phylogeny and morphology of Premilcurensis gen. nov. (Pleosporales) from stems of Senecio in Italy

Premilcurensis senecionis gen. et and sp. nov. was collected on stems of Senecio sp. from Forli-Cesena Province, Italy and is introduced in Phaeosphaeriaceae with the support of a unique combination of morphological characters and combined gene phylogenetic analyses. Premilcurensis is distinguished from other genera in Phaeosphaeriaceae in having fusiform to cylindrical, hyaline to yellow-green ascospores with 3-5 septa, and mucilaginous, wing-like appendages at the central septum. Phylogenies analyses show Premilcurensis as a distinct lineage from other genera in the family Phaeosphaeriaceae with high bootstrap support. A comprehensive description and micrographs of P. senecionis is provided and the new genus is compared with morphologically similar taxa.