Neoarthrinium urticae (M.B. Ellis) Ning Jiang, 2022

Jiang, Ning, Voglmayr, Hermann, Ma, Chun-Yan, Xue, Han, Piao, Chun-Gen & Li, Yong, 2022, A new Arthrinium - like genus of Amphisphaeriales in China, MycoKeys 92, pp. 27-43 : 27

Neoarthrinium urticae (M.B. Ellis) Ning Jiang comb. nov.

Basionym.

Arthrinium urticae M.B. Ellis, Mycol. Pap. 103: 16 (1965)

Notes.

The possibility that Apiosporella urticae (Rehm) Höhn. is the sexual morph of Arthrinium urticae is raised by the fact that both share the same host ( Urtica ) and are classified as members of the Apiosporaceae (Index Fungorum, accessed 4 July 2022). This evidence would have far reaching nomenclatural consequences not only for species, but also for generic classification, as Apiosporella ( Höhnel 1909) may then qualify for an older genus name to be used for Neoarthrinium . However, according to L. Holm, the holotype specimen of its basionym, Apiospora urticae (S-F12119), represents a very different fungus, Didymella eupyrena ( Didymellaceae, Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes; https://herbarium.nrm.se/specimens/F12119, accessed 4 July 2022). The status of the genus Apiosporella is still unclear because Höhnel (1909) did not choose a type from the six different species included in the genus. However, none of the original species is a close relative of Apiosporaceae or Neoarthrinium ; therefore, Apiosporella should be excluded from Apiosporaceae .

No sequence data are available for isolates from the type host Urtica dioica L. ( Urticaceae). The single culture sequenced (IMI 326344) was isolated from unidentified leaf litter collected in India. Additional molecular studies on verified isolates from Urtica collected in Europe are necessary to reveal whether IMI 326344 represents true N. urticae . However, N. urticae appears to be very rare and we are unaware of any additional collections with the exception of the type.