# Morpho-Phylogenetic Evidence Reveals Neokeissleriella gen. nov. and Three Novel Species of Lentitheciaceae from Grasses (Poaceae)

## TL;DR

This study discovers a new fungal genus and three new species associated with grasses in China, expanding our knowledge of fungal diversity.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a new genus and three new species of fungi in the Lentitheciaceae family, supported by morphological and molecular data.

## Key findings

- A new genus, Neokeissleriella, and three new species were identified using morphological and phylogenetic analyses.
- Two new host records and a new geographical record of existing species were reported in Sichuan Province.
- The study highlights the high potential for discovering new fungal taxa on grasses in the region.

## Abstract

The Poaceae family, commonly known as grasses, is one of the most strategically important plant groups on earth. They are globally distributed, found in virtually every terrestrial habitat on earth, from deserts and grasslands to forests and wetlands. An investigation was conducted on the fungi associated with grasses in Sichuan and Guizhou Provinces, China. Based on morphological characteristics and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses (from Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian Inference (BI)) of combined LSU, SSU, ITS, and tef1-α sequence data, a new genus, Neokeissleriella, and three novel species—Keissleriella guttata, K. sichuanensis, and Neokeissleriella fusispora—were introduced. Two new host records of Keissleriella caraganae, K. yunnanensis and a new geographical record of K. gloeospora in Sichuan Province, China, are reported. To substantiate the newly established taxa, detailed morphological descriptions and illustrations are provided and supported with molecular phylogenetic analysis. This study broadens the understanding of fungal diversity on Poaceae hosts in Sichuan and Guizhou provinces, China, revealing the high potential for identifying novel taxa.