Neotherrya Lan Zhuo & C. L. Hou, 2025

Neotherrya Lan Zhuo & C. L. Hou gen. nov.

Etymology.

Referring to the morphologically similar genus Therrya .

Diagnosis.

This new genus is similar to Therrya , but Neotherrya differs in having well-developed excipulum formed by marginal paraphyses, internal matrix of Covering stroma consisting of hyaline hyphae, and filiform, fusiform, or cylindrical ascospores.

Type.

Neotherrya circinata Lan Zhuo & C. L. Hou , described below.

Sexual morph.

Ascomata on twigs of conifers, scattered to clustered, circular, sessile, usually black, opening by irregular splits. Covering stroma formed by dark brown (# 2 b 180 b) to black (# 000000), thick-walled angular cells. Basal Covering stroma usually present, consisting of carbonized, thick-walled, angular cells. Internal matrix of Covering stroma usually well developed, consisting of hyaline hyphae, filled or not filled with crystals. Subhymenium consisting of textura intricata or hyaline cells. Paraphyses filiform, not branched, with swollen tips. Asci ripening sequentially, clavate, thin-walled, J –, 8 - spored or 4 - spored. Ascospores mostly septate, filiform, fusiform or cylindrical, hyaline, covered or not covered by a gelatinous sheath.

Notes.

Some of the morphological characteristics of members in Neotherrya are similar to those in Therrya , but species of Neotherrya differs by a well-developed excipulum formed by marginal paraphyses, an internal matrix of Covering stroma consisting of hyaline hyphae and cylindrical ascospores. Phylogenetic analyses shows that sequences of Neotherrya and Therrya form two separate clades. Sequences of Neotherrya (Clade 6, Fig. 1 View Figure 1 ) are distant from the type of Therrya , Th. pini (Alb. & Schwein.) Höhn. Based on differences of morphological features and the position in the phylogenetic tree, we herein establish a new genus to accommodate four new species and one new combination described below.