Trematosphaeriaceae fam. nov. (Dothideomycetes, Ascomycota)

Trematosphaeriaceae fam. nov. is introduced to accommodate the genera Falciformispora, Halomassarina and Trematosphaeria. The main distinguishing characters of the family are medium-sized rounded ascomata with a papillate ostiole, a relatively wide, coriaceous peridium, cellular pseudoparaphyses and cylindro-clavate asci. The ascospores are two-celled or many celled, hyaline or brown. Phylogenetic analysis inferred from combined nuclear SSU and LSU rRNA and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF-1-alpha) and second largest subunit of RNA polymerase (RPB2) datasets show that these genera form a strongly supported cluster within the Pleosporales. The type species of each genus is illustrated and briefly discussed. Asteromassaria pulchra has been included in the family in previous publications; however, since the type of the genus (A. macrospora) was not included in the phylogenetic analysis, the familial placement cannot be confirmed. Furthermore Asteromassaria pulchra did not cluster in Trematosphaeriaceae in the analysis presented in this paper.