Knowledge of the relationships and thus the classification of fungi, has developed rapidly with increasingly widespread use of molecular techniques, over the past 10–15 years, and continues to accelerate. Several genera have been found to be polyphyletic, and their generic concepts have subsequently been emended. New names have thus been introduced for species which are phylogenetically distinct from the type species of particular genera. The ending of the separate naming of morphs of the same species in 2011, has also caused changes in fungal generic names. In order to facilitate access to all important changes, it was desirable to compile these in a single document. The present article provides a list of generic names of Ascomycota (approximately 6500 accepted names published to the end of 2016), including those which are lichen-forming. Notes and summaries of the changes since the last edition of ‘Ainsworth & Bisby’s Dictionary of the Fungi’ in 2008 are provided. The notes include the number of accepted species, classification, type species (with location of the type material), culture availability, life-styles, distribution, and selected publications that have appeared since 2008. This work is intended to provide the foundation for updating the ascomycete component of the “Without prejudice list of generic names of Fungi” published in 2013, which will be developed into a list of protected generic names. This will be subjected to the XIXth International Botanical Congress in Shenzhen in July 2017 agreeing to a modification in the rules relating to protected lists, and scrutiny by procedures determined by the Nomenclature Committee for Fungi (NCF). The previously invalidly published generic names Barriopsis, Collophora (as Collophorina), Cryomyces, Dematiopleospora, Heterospora (as Heterosporicola), Lithophila, Palmomyces (as Palmaria) and Saxomyces are validated, as are two previously invalid family names, Bartaliniaceae and Wiesneriomycetaceae. Four species of Lalaria, which were invalidly published are transferred to Taphrina and validated as new combinations. Catenomycopsis Tibell & Constant. is reduced under Chaenothecopsis Vain., while Dichomera Cooke is reduced under Botryosphaeria Ces. & De Not. (Art. 59).

The order Meliolales comprises the families Armatellaceae and Meliolaceae. These are black mildews that grow on the surface of host plants, often regarded as minor plant pathogens. In this study, types or specimens of 17 genera of Armatellaceae and Meliolaceae were borrowed from herbaria and re-examined. Armatella is accepted in Armatellaceae and Amazonia, Appendiculella, Asteridiella, Cryptomeliola, Endomeliola, Irenopsis and Meliola are accepted in the family Meliolaceae. Laeviomeliola is synonymized under Meliola. Ceratospermopsis, Ectendomeliola, Haraea, Hypasteridium, Leptascospora, Metasteridium, Ophiociliomyces, Ophioirenina, Ophiomeliola, Parasteridium, Pauahia, Pleomeliola, Pleomerium, Prataprajella, Ticomyces, Urupe and Xenostigme are excluded from Meliolaceae, and are treated as doubtful genera or placed in ascomycetes genera incertae sedis. The type species of each genus is re-described and illustrated with photomicrographs. Notes are provided and comparisons made. Two new species of Meliola and one new species of Irenopsis are also introduced with molecular data and we provide the most populated phylogenetic tree of Meliolomycetidae to date. Meliola thailandicum was found on Dimocarpus longan (Sapindales) and Acacia auriculiformis (Fabales) and confirmed to be the same species in the molecular analyses. This has important implications as the several hundred Meliola species are recognized based on host associations. Thus the same species being recorded from two unrelated hosts sheds doubt on Meliola species being host-specific.

Inaccurate taxonomic placement of fossils can lead to the accumulation of errors in molecular clock studies and their generated evolutionary lineages. There are limited fossil data that can be used in divergence time estimations. Therefore, reliable morphological characterization and taxonomical identification of fossil fungi are extremely important. Most fossils of Dothideomycetes and Sordariomycetes are from the early Cenozoic (66–23 Mya), with fewer from the late Mesozoic (174–145 Mya). However, it is hard to distinguish some fossil descriptions as photographs and illustrations are unclear; thus, the validity of using these fossils in calibrations of molecular clocks is problematic. This study brings scattered paleobiological data on selected fossil Ascomycota, using descriptions, fossil images and illustrations, coupled with recent age estimations, and taxonomic and phylogenetic affinity of extant species. As an integrated approach, this study summarizes a historical fossil outline with a reliable minimum age for 16 calibrating points viz. crown of Aigialus, Anzia, Aspergillus, Asterina, Calicium chlorosporum–C. nobile, Capnodiales, Chaenotheca, Colletotrichum, Diaporthales, Meliola, Ophiocordyceps, Microthyriales, Microthyrium, Muyocopron, Pezizomycotina and Stigmatomyces. A scheme of Ascomycota ancient lineages is also provided in order to improve divergence time estimations.

The order Asterinales comprises a single family, Asterinaceae. In this study, types or specimens of 41 genera of Asterinaceae are re-examined and re-described and illustrated by micrographs. Seventeen genera, namely Asterina (type genus), Asterinella, Asterotexis, Batistinula, Cirsosia, Echidnodella, Halbania, Lembosia, Meliolaster, Parasterinopsis, Platypeltella, Prillieuxina, Schenckiella (=Allothyrium), Trichasterina, Trichopeltospora, Uleothyrium and Vizellopsis, are maintained within Asterinaceae. Echidnodes, Lembosiella, Lembosina, Morenoina, and Thyriopsis are transferred to Aulographaceae based on morphological and molecular characteristics. Anariste is transferred to Micropeltidaceae, while Lembosiopsis is transferred to Mycosphaerellaceae. Placoasterella and Placosoma are morphologically close to taxa in Parmulariaceae, where they are transferred. Aulographina is placed in Teratosphaeriaceae, while Asterodothis, Asterinema, Dothidasteromella, Leveillella, Petrakina and Stephanotheca are transferred to Dothideomycetes, genera incertae sedis. Eupelte, Macowaniella, Maheshwaramyces, Parasterinella, and Vishnumyces are treated as doubtful genera, because of lack of morphological and molecular data. Aphanopeltis, Asterolibertia, Neostomella, Placoasterina, and Symphaster are synonyms of Asterina based on morphology, while Trichamelia, Viegasia, and Yamamotoa are synonyms of Lembosia. The characteristics of each family are discussed and a phylogenetic tree is included.

Pestalotiopsis-like fungi are widely distributed in many plants and include endophytes, pathogens and saprobes. Five strains of Neopestalotiopsis were isolated from diseased leaves of Rhapis excelsa (Principes, Palmae), Rhododendron simsii and Rho. championiae (Ericales, Ericaceae) and Erythropalum scandens (Santalales, Olacaceae) in southern China. Based on morphology and multi-gene (ITS, tub2, tef1) phylogeny, our five strains of Neopestalotiopsis represent two new species and one extant species. Descriptions, illustrations and notes are also provided for the new species.