Taxonomy of the Phialophora verrucosa complex with the description of two new species

An RFLP analysis of the SSU and ITS domains of Phialophora strains morpholo gically similar to P. verrucosa (generic type species, anamorph of the asco mycete family Herpotrichiellaceae) was performed; the ITS1-2 sequences of 3 4 strains were compared. A general phylogenetic tree based on alignable pos itions showed that distances within the group are considerable. A number of clearly delimited species could be distinguished. Two unidentified strains were supposed to represent a new species of Onychophora. Two new Phialopho ra species, P. reptans de Hoog and P. sessilis de Hoog, with Exophiala-like cultural characteristics are described; morphological and physiological pa rameters are available for their distinction. The species Phialophora ameri cana (teleom.: Capronia semiimmersa) and P. verrucosa are relatively close to each other; their possible separation is discussed.