Pinibarreniales, a new order of Sordariomycetes from pine barrens ecosystem

<i>Pinibarrenia chlamydospora</i>, sp. nov. isolated from the roots of highbush blueberry in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, is described and illustrated. Based on multigene phylogenetic analysis, as well as morphological and ecological characteristics, Pinibarreniales and Pinibarreniaceae are established to accommodate this novel lineage in Sordariomycetidae, Sordariomycetes. Pinibarreniales, Tracyllalales, and Vermiculariopsiellales are proposed to be included in the subclass Sordariomycetidae. Pinibarreniales likely have a wide distribution and forms association with Ericaceae plants that live in acidic and oligotrophic environments because its DNA barcode matches with environmental sequences from other independent ecological studies. The plant-fungal interaction experiment revealed negative impacts on <i>Arabidopsis</i>, indicating its pathogenicity. This uncovered new fungal lineage will contribute to a better understanding of the diversity and systematics of Sordariomycetes.