Three novel aquatic species of Distoseptispora (Distoseptisporaceae, Distoseptisporales) from the Philippines, with a new geographic record for D. septata

Surveys of lignicolous aquatic fungi conducted in the Philippines, yielded four taxa of Distoseptispora . Multi-locus phylogenetic analyses, based on a concatenated dataset of ITS, LSU, RPB2 and TEF1-α sequences, together with detailed morphological examinations, confirmed the novelty and phylogenetic placement of Distoseptispora antiqueana , D. iloiloensis and D. panayensis as distinct species within the genus. In addition, the strain UPVMICC 25–0100 clustered with the ex-type strain of D. septata (GZCC 22–0078) with strong statistical support (100% MLBS, 1.00 BYPP). Phylogenetic inference further supported taxonomic revisions within the genus, resulting in the synonymisation of D. thailandica under D. phangngaensis and D. mengsongensis under D. fasciculata . The present study expands the known diversity of Distoseptispora in tropical aquatic habitats and provides updated phylogenetic insights and morphological descriptions supporting species delimitation and reclassification within the genus.