Introducing Nigrograna wuhanensis sp. nov. (Nigrogranaceae, Pleosporales) from Camellia japonica in China

In this study, we introduce a new species Nigrograna wuhanensis, which was collected from Camellia japonica in Hubei Province, China. The new species was established based on morphological characteristics and multi-locus phylogenetic analysis of combined SSU, LSU, ITS and tef1-alpha sequence data. Nigrograna wuhanensis is characterized by scattered, immersed ascomata with a long neck superficial on the substrate, clavate and short pedicellate asci, and fusoid, pale brown to dark brown, mostly 3-septate ascospores which are deeply constricted and strongly pigmented at the septa. Nigrograna wuhanensis differs from its phylogenetically related species N. jinghongensis in having 3-septate ascospores and a long neck growing on the ascomata. The illustration and description of the new taxon are provided.