Additions to Italian Pleosporinae, including Italica heraclei sp. nov.

BACKGROUND: In the last few years, many microfungi-including plant-associated species-have been reported from various habitats and substrates in Italy. In this study of pleosporalean fungi, we researched terrestrial habitats in the Provinces of Arezzo (Tuscany region), Forlì-Cesena and Ravenna (Emilia-Romagna region) in Italy. NEW INFORMATION: Our research on Italian pleosporalean fungi resulted in the discovery of a new species, Italica heraclei (Phaeosphaeriaceae). In addition, we present a new host record for Pseudoophiobolus mathieui (Phaeosphaeriaceae) and the second Italian record of Phomatodes nebulosa (Didymellaceae). Species boundaries were defined, based on morphological study and multi-locus phylogenetic reconstructions using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference analyses. Our findings expand the knowledge on host and distribution ranges of pleosporalean fungi in Italy. Subodini N. Wijesinghe, Yong Wang, Laura Zucconi, Monika C. Dayarathne, Saranyaphat Boonmee, Erio Camporesi, Dhanushka N. Wanasinghe, Kevin D. Hyde.