New additions to Sympoventuriaceae (Venturiales, Dothideomycetes): three new species from China

Fungi in urban soils are an indispensable component of urban ecosystems, playing a central role in maintaining soil health, promoting nutrient cycling, facilitating plant growth, and safeguarding ecosystem functions. However, taxonomic studies of fungi in urban soils remain extremely limited. During an investigation of culturable fungi from urban soils in China, eight isolates belonging to Sympoventuriaceae were isolated.

Although recent taxonomic refinements at the generic level within Sympoventuriaceae have progressed, the taxonomic status of some monotypic genera remains to be stabilized. Based on integrated morphological characterization and multigene phylogenetic analyses of five loci (ITS, LSU, tef 1, tub 2, and rpb 2), three novel species are described and illustrated: Scolecobasidium campestre, Verruconis obovatus, and Veronaeopsis sinensis.

This study provides comprehensive morphological descriptions, illustrations, phylogenetic data, and comparisons with closely related species for these novel taxa. This research contributes to fungal data from urban soils and enhances the understanding of the species diversity, taxonomy, and distribution of Sympoventuriaceae.