Phylogenetic relationships and morphological reappraisal of Melanommataceae (Pleosporales)

The family Melanommataceae is widespread in temperate and subtropical regions and species invariably occur on twigs or bark of various woody plants in terrestrial, marine or freshwater habitats. In this paper, the type species of 26 genera of the family are re-described and illustrated. A multi-gene phylogeny based on maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses of LSU, SSU, RPB2 and EF-1 alpha sequence data of species of Melanommataceae is provided. The new genera, Muriformistrickeria, Pseudostrickeria and Thysanolaenae are introduced. Anomalemma is synonymized under Exosporiella. Acrocordiopsis, Astrosphaeriella, Beverwykella, Caryosporella, Sporidesmiella and Pseudotrichia are excluded from Melanommataceae based on molecular phylogenetic analyses. Presently, 20 genera are accepted in Melanommataceae. Based on the phylogenetic data, five new species, Byssosphaeria siamensis, Herpotrichia vaginatispora, Pseudostrickeria muriformis, Pseudostrickeria ononidis and Muriformistrickeria rubi, are introduced.