Cytospora junipericola Senan., Camporesi & K.D. Hyde, sp. nov., MycoBank: MB821569

Etymology: Named after the host genus JuniperusSaprobic on dead branch of Juniperus sp. Sexual morph: Stromata poorly developed, comprising loosely packed parenchymatous cells, black. Ascomata 630–700 μm high, 150–250 μm diam (x̅ = 670 × 170 μm, n = 20), immersed in stromatic tissues, globose to subglobose, dark brown, coriaceous, ostiolate, papillate. Papilla 300–500 μm high, 45–65 μm diam (x̅ = 440 × 58 μm, n = 20), long, central, wide, thick-walled, internally covered by hyaline periphyses. Peridium comprises brown, thick-walled cells of textura angularis. Asci 30–35 × 5.5–7 μm (x̅ = 32 × 6 μm, n = 20), 8-spored, unitunicate, clavate to fusiform, without apical ring and pedicel. Ascospores 5–10 × 1–2 μm (x̅ = 7 × 1.5 μm, n = 20), biseriate, allantoid, hyaline, smooth. Asexual morph: Not observed.

Culture characteristics: Colonies growing on MEA attenuated 1 cm incubated at 18 °C within 7 d, moderate fast growing, irregular, flat, undulate, greenish ash, woolly, curled, loosely attached to the media.

Specimen examined: Italy, Province of Forlì-Cesena, Santa Sofia, near Cabelli, dead branch of Juniperus communis (Cupressaceae), 13 Jan. 2014, E. Camporesi, IT 1643 (holotype MFLU 17–0882, isotype BBH42444).

Notes: Cytospora junipericola forms a distinct clade that is sister to Cytospora quercicola with high bootstrap support (Clade 16). Morphologically Cytospora junipericola produces tightly packed aggregated ascomata in poorly developed stromatic tissues. Papilla are asymmetrically located and only the ostiolar openings are close together.

Fig. Cytospora junipericola (MFLU 17–0882). A. Ascomata on substrate. B. Vertical cross section of ascoma. C. Peridium. D–G. Asci. H. Ascospores. Scale bars: A = 500 mm, B = 100 mm, C = 20 mm, D–H = 10 mm.