Expanding the genus Neobaryopsis (Calcarisporiaceae, Hypocreales): descriptions of two new species and two new combinations based on morphological and molecular data

The genus Neobaryopsis (Calcarisporiaceae) comprises lichenicolous fungi with bright-colored perithecia, long, multiseptate, filiform ascospores, and mononematous conidiophores or distinctive synnematous-like asexual morphs. The genus was originally described from species growing on Lobariella spp., but its close morphological similarity to Neobarya long obscured its phylogenetic identity. In this study, we reassess the systematics of Neobarya - like taxa using a combination of morphological and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses (ITS, LSU, tef 1, rpb 2).

Our results confirm that several lichenicolous species historically placed in Neobarya in fact belong to the genus Neobaryopsis, which is closely related to Calcarisporium. We describe two new species (Neobaryopsis eriodermaticola and N. teloschistis) and propose two new combinations (Neobaryopsis ciliaris and N. peltigerae). This work expands the genus Neobaryopsis to five recently accepted species, some of which exhibit strong host specificity and a primarily South American distribution.

An identification key for species of Neobaryopsis and Neobarya - like fungi is provided. Our results clarify the systematics of these morphologically similar lichenicolous fungi and provide a framework for future studies on host specificity, biogeography, and evolutionary relationships within Hypocreales.