Harmoniella junipericola ( Strobiloscyphaceae , Pezizales ), a new hyphomycete inhabiting on leaf litter of Juniperus chinensis in Japan, its molecular phylogenetic classification, and brief notes on other Harmoniella species

Harmoniella junipericola , a new hyphomycete inhabiting on leaf litter of Juniperus chinensis ( Cupressaceae ) in Japan is described based on morphological characters on natural substrates and in culture and phylogenetic analyses using the sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS), large subunit nrRNA gene (LSU; 28S), DNA-directed RNA polymerase I largest subunit gene ( RPB1 ), and DNA-directed RNA polymerase II second largest subunit gene ( RPB2 ). The fungus belongs to the monotypic/monogeneric family Strobiloscyphaceae (one genus with two species; Pezizales ) typified by Strobiloscypha . Brief notes are added on morphological and ecological comparisons among H. chrysocephala (type species, in Ukraine), H. campanaensis (in Chile), and H. junipericola . Using the ITS sequences deposited in the DNA Data Bank, additional operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of Harmoniella and phylogenetically related sequences are briefly discussed based on the data from East Asia (Japan, China), Middle East (Israel), Europe (France, Italy, Portugal), and North America (USA).