Abstract

Species ofPseudoplagiostomataceaewere mainly introduced as endophytes, plant pathogens, or saprobes from various hosts. Based on multi-locus phylogenies from the internal transcribed spacers (ITS), the large subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (LSU), partial DNA-directed RNA polymerase II subunit two gene (rpb2), the partial translation elongation factor 1-alpha gene (tef1α), and the partial beta-tubulin gene (tub2), in conjunction with morphological characteristics, we describe three new species, viz.Pseudoplagiostoma alsophilaesp. nov.,P. bambusaesp. nov., andP. machilisp. nov. Molecular clock analyses on the divergence times ofPseudoplagiostomataceaeindicated that the conjoint ancestor ofPseudoplagiostomataceaeandApoharknessiaceaeoccurred in the Cretaceous period. and had a mean stem age of 104.1 Mya (95% HPD of 86.0–129.0 Mya, 1.0 PP), and most species emerged in the Paleogene and Neogene period. Historical biogeography was reconstructed forPseudoplagiostomataceaeby the RASP software with a S–DEC model, and suggested that Asia, specifically Southeast Asia, was probably the ancestral area.Keywords:Pseudoplagiostomataceae;biogeography;divergence times;morphology;new species;phylogeny