Molecular phylogenetic and estimation of evolutionary divergence and biogeography of the family Schizoparmaceae and allied families (Diaporthales, Ascomycota)

[Display omitted] •The divergence times and evolutionary relationships of Schizoparmaceae were analyzed for the first time.•The ancestor of Schizoparmaceae split from Upper Cretaceous period approximately 75.7 Mya was revealed using molecular clock analyses.•Most likely origin of the family Schizoparmaceae was exposed in Africa by Reconstructing Ancestral State in Phylogenies (RASP) coupled with Bayesian Binary Markov chain Monte Carlo (BBM) Method.•Three new species and a key of Pseudoplagiostomataceae, and a new species of Schizoparmaceae were reported first. The Diaporthales includes 32 families, many of which are important plant pathogens, endophytes and saprobes, e.g., members of the families Pseudoplagiostomataceae, Pyrisporaceae and Schizoparmaceae. Nucleotide sequences derived from five genetic loci including: ITS, LSU, TEF1-α, TUB2 and RPB2 were used for Bayesian evolutionary analysis to determine divergence times and evolutionary relationships within the Schizoparmaceae. Molecular clock analyses revealed that the ancestor of Schizoparmaceae split during the Upper Cretaceous period approximately 75.7 Mya (95 % highest posterior density of 60.3–91.3 Mya). Reconstructing ancestral state in phylogenies (RASP) with using the Bayesian Binary Markov chain Monte Carlo (BBM) Method to reconstruct the historical biogeography for the family Schizoparmaceae indicated its most likely origin in Africa. Based on taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses, the Pseudoplagiostomataceae and Pyrisporaceae relationships were clarified and a total of four species described herein. For Pseudoplagiostomataceae, three new species and one known species that include, Pseudoplagiostoma fafuense sp. nov., Ps. ilicis sp. nov., Ps. sanmingense sp. nov. and Ps. bambusae are described and a key of Pseudoplagiostomataceae is provided. With respect to Pyrisporaceae, we considered Pseudoplagiostoma castaneae to be a synonym of Pyrispora castaneae. In addition, a new species of Schizoparmaceae, Coniella fujianensis sp. nov. is described and illustrated.