During investigations of saprobic fungi on decaying wood in terrestrial habitats of southern China, several sporidesmium -like isolates were collected from dead branches of unidentified plants in Fujian, Jiangxi, and Yunnan provinces. Based on morphological comparisons and multilocus phylogenetic analyses of ITS, LSU, RPB2 , and TEF1 sequence data, four new species of Distoseptispora , namely D. acropleurogena , D. distoseptata , D. ellipsoidea , and D. jiulianshanensis , are proposed. Detailed descriptions and comparisons with allied taxa are provided. This study enriches the species diversity of Distoseptispora in southern China and highlights the importance of integrating morphological and molecular data for species delimitation.
Biscogniauxia species are typically recognized by carbonaceous stromata on woody substrates, but some also occur as asymptomatic endophytes and may shift ecological roles across hosts and substrates. Here, Biscogniauxia barriae sp. nov . is described, first isolated as a foliar endophyte from asymptomatic Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii ) needles in coastal British Columbia and later found producing stromata on dead hardwoods, including bigleaf maple ( Acer macrophyllum ), red alder ( Alnus rubra ), and hawthorn ( Crataegus sp.). Phylogenetic analyses of ITS, BenA , and RPB2 resolved B. barriae as a distinct, well-supported lineage within Biscogniauxia s.s., sister to B. capnodes and allied with a clade including B. anceps and B. nummularia . The species is characterized by applanate to pulvinate, carbonaceous stromata with coarsely papillate ostioles and dark brown, broadly ellipsoid ascospores with a conspicuous straight germ slit; a nodulisporium-like asexual morph is produced in culture. The highly complete 42.7 Mb draft genome contained 10,986 predicted protein-coding genes and was broadly comparable to available Biscogniauxia genomes. Orthogroup analyses indicated extensive conservation of protein-coding gene content, while identification of a MAT1-2 idiomorph suggests heterothallism. The discovery of B. barriae through both Douglas-fir endophyte surveys and hardwood stromatal collections highlights a dual life history linking conifer foliar endophytism with hardwood-associated saprotrophy or possible latent pathogenicity. Strong inhibition of the in vitro growth of Nothophaeocryptopus gaeumannii , the causal agent of Swiss needle cast, by culture-filtrate extracts of B. barriae suggests potential ecological relevance within the Douglas-fir needle mycobiome.
Based on a systematic survey of polypores in Jiangsu Province, China, two previously undescribed species of Polyporaceae were discovered. Through a combination of morphological examination and phylogenetic analyses, these specimens were identified as new to science: Coriolopsis albescens sp. nov . and Polyporus laoshanensis sp. nov . Coriolopsis albescens is characterized by its annual, resupinate basidiomata with a white to pale brown pore surface, round to angular pores of 0.5–1.5 per mm, a trimitic hyphal system, and cylindrical basidiospores measuring 8–12 × 3.2–4 µm. Polyporus laoshanensis is distinguished by its annual, solitary, elliptical basidiomata, obvious black stipe, pale yellow pileal surface with dark brown margins, glabrous, occasionally with distinct concentric zones and radial stripes, angular pores (3–6 per mm), a dimitic hyphal system, and cylindrical basidiospores measuring 8–12 × 3–5 μm. Illustrated descriptions of both novel taxa are provided. This work contributes to the documentation of Polyporaceae diversity and the taxonomy of wood-decaying fungi in China.
Four new species of Botryobasidium , B. fujianensis , B. fusisporellum , B. subconiferarum and B. macrosporum , are described from east China based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses using the combined dataset of ITS+nLSU sequences. Botryobasidium fujianensis is characterised by a hypochnoid, floccose to cottony, white to greyish-white hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system with simple septa, the presence of tubular cystidioid, barrel-shaped basidia with four or six sterigmata and pip-shaped basidiospores measuring 6.0–7.9 × 2.3–3.4 μm; B. fusisporellum is characterised by a hypochnoid, floccose to cottony, white to greyish-white hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system with simple septa, the presence of tubular cystidioid, long barrel-shaped basidia with two or four sterigmata and fusiform basidiospores measuring 5.3–6.5 × 2.3–3.0 μm; B. subconiferarum is characterised by a hypochnoid, floccose, white to greyish-white hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system with simple septa, the presence of tubular cystidioid, slightly barrel-shaped basidia with four sterigmata, subcylindrical conidiophores and pip-shaped basidiospores measuring 6.2–8.6 × 2.3–3.7 μm; B. macrosporum is characterised by a hypochnoid, floccose, white to cream hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system with simple septa, the presence of tubular cystidioid, slightly barrel-shaped basidia with four to six sterigmata and fusiform basidiospores measuring 9.4–11.0 × 4.8–5.9 μm. The discovery of these four new species in east China expands the known global diversity of Botryobasidium and provides additional morphological and molecular data for the genus.
During a survey of root-associated fungal diversity of the medicinal plant Lindera aggregata in Anhui Province, China, three noteworthy fungal taxa belonging to Hawksworthiomyces and Melnikomyces were identified. Morphological and multilocus phylogenetic analyses revealed two previously undescribed species and one new host record. Hawksworthiomyces rhizosphaerae sp. nov . and Melnikomyces linderae sp. nov . are hereby described as new to science, while H. taylorii is reported for the first time from the roots of L. aggregata . Hawksworthiomyces rhizosphaerae is characterized by polyblastic conidiogenous cells bearing short cylindrical denticles and producing aseptate, hyaline, pyriform to ellipsoidal conidia, with secondary conidia frequently observed. Melnikomyces linderae is distinguished by pale brown to brown conidiophores, polyblastic conidiogenous cells with cylindrical denticles, verrucose 1(–2)-septate conidia released by rhexolytic secession, and globose to subglobose chlamydospores. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of these taxa are provided. These findings expand the known diversity of Hawksworthiomyces and Melnikomyces and contribute to the understanding of the root-associated fungal communities of L. aggregata in China.
In this study, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference phylogenetic trees were reconstructed for Pholiotina based on the phylogenetic framework of the genus established by Song and Bau and on a concatenated dataset of internal transcribed spacer (ITS), nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA (28S), and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1-α) sequences. The phylogenetic trees resolved Pholiotina into two monophyletic clades: one containing sect. Pholiotina and the other comprising sect. Vestitae together with sect. Intermediae. The infrageneric subdivision of the genus was also reviewed, and the taxonomic issues that remain to be addressed were proposed. By further integrating morphological evidence, three new species of Pholiotina were discovered from Jilin Province and the Xizang Autonomous Region: P. constrictibasidiata (characterized by basidia with a median constriction), P. raribasidiata (notable for its rare basidia and basidiospores), and P. jilinensis (distinguished by the absence of pileocystidia and germ pores, with its type locality in Jilin City). In addition, this study provides an identification key to the new species, together with morphological descriptions and line drawings.
Pseudoplagiostoma fungi are globally widespread, encompassing plant-pathogenic, saprophytic, and endophytic fungal species associated with diverse plant hosts. Four Pseudoplagiostoma isolates were recovered from diseased leaves of Artocarpus hainanensis, Cinnamomum sp., Mallotus hookerianus, and Trachelospermum jasminoides in China. These were identified and formally described in the present study. Species boundaries were delineated using an integrative approach combining molecular phylogenetic analyses and morphological comparisons with closely related taxa. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted on concatenated LSU, ITS, RPB2, TEF1-α, and TUB2 sequence datasets using both maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods. The results demonstrated that these four isolates form well-supported, independent monophyletic lineages, clearly distinct from all previously described Pseudoplagiostoma species. Morphological characterization of colonies, conidiogenous cells, and conidia revealed stable phenotypic differences from closely related species, further corroborating their taxonomic novelty. Accordingly, four new species of Pseudoplagiostoma are proposed: Ps. artocarpi, Ps. cinnamomi, Ps. malloti, and Ps. trachelospermi.
Species of Laccaria (Hydnangiaceae, Agaricales, Basidiomycota) are an important group of ectomycorrhizal fungi with significant ecological and economic value. They are widely distributed. This study describes two new species of Laccaria based on morphological characters and molecular data. Laccaria daliensis is characterized by a pale orange to grayish orange pileus, grayish orange lamellae, and a stipe. Laccaria violaceonana is characterized by medium-sized, deep purple basidiomata and an equal stipe with an enlarged base. Phylogenetic analysis based on a combined dataset of the internal transcribed spacer ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA (nrITS), large subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nrLSU), RNA polymerase II subunit 2 (rpb2), and translation elongation factor 1-α (tef1-α) was used to provide further evidence for species delimitation. The results showed that nine Laccaria specimens formed four well-supported clades, representing two new species, Laccaria daliensis and L. violaceonana, and two known species, L. acanthospora and L. pumila. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, and phylogenetic analysis results of these species are provided, and the new species are compared with closely related taxa.
Three new wood-inhabiting corticioid fungal species from Southwest China, Phanerochaete albomarginata , P. nigella , and Rhizochaete membranacea , are proposed based on a combination of morphological features and molecular evidence. Phanerochaete albomarginata is characterized by membranaceous basidiomata, a monomitic hyphal system, generative hyphae with simple septa, tapering cystidia, and ellipsoid basidiospores. Phanerochaete nigella is characterized by its coriaceous basidiomata with a tuberculate hymenial surface, tubular cystidia, and ellipsoid basidiospores measuring 4.7–5.7 × 2.5–3.2 µm. Rhizochaete membranacea is characterized by membranaceous basidiomata, a monomitic hyphal system, generative hyphae encrusted with crystals, and ellipsoid basidiospores (4–5.5 × 2.7–3.1 µm). Phylogenetic analyses using Maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) were conducted based on ITS + nLSU markers. The resulting ITS + nLSU phylogram revealed that P. albomarginata formed a monophyletic lineage closely related to P. taiwaniana and P. yingjiangensis , while P. nigella formed a sister lineage to P. albida . Additionally, the phylogenetic tree of Rhizochaete inferred from the ITS + nLSU sequences showed that the new species formed a distinct branch and was sister to R. yunnanensis . This discovery enriches the known diversity of Phanerochaetaceae in subtropical Asia and further clarifies the phylogenetic relationships within the family.
In this study, using the phylogenetic framework for Conocybe from Tóth et al. and Song, along with a combined dataset of internal transcribed spacer (ITS), nuclear large subunit ribosomal DNA (28S), and translation elongation factor 1-alpha ( tef 1-α) sequences, we reconstructed a Bayesian inference Maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree for sect. Conocybe . The phylogenetic trees showed that sect. Conocybe is divided into two monophyletic clades: sect. Conocybe Clade 1 is consistent with sect. Conocybe in both morphology and phylogenetic positions, whereas some species in sect. Conocybe Clade 2 have morphological characteristics that conform to sect. Mixtae . Moreover, we also discovered two new species of Conocybe in southwestern China: C. maculatostriata , which has a pileus with maculate stripes, and C. lidaensis , whose caulocystidia and pileocystidia are of a mixed type. In addition, the study provides an identification key for sect. Conocybe Clade 1 and 2, accompanied by morphological descriptions and line drawings of C. mesospora OTU 21 and the new species.
Colletotrichum species are well-known plant pathogens, and many also exist as endophytes or saprobes on diverse plant hosts. In this study, three novel Colletotrichum species were isolated from diseased leaves of Millettia rugosa, Paederia scandens, and Pleioblastus fortunei in Fujian Province, China, and taxonomically characterized using an integrative taxonomic approach. Species boundaries were delineated through combined molecular phylogenetic reconstruction and morphological comparison with closely allied taxa. Phylogenetic reconstructions were carried out based on concatenated sequence datasets of five loci (ITS, gapdh, chs-1, act, and tub2) using both maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) analytical methods. The results indicate that these three species form highly supported, independent monophyletic lineages clearly distinguishable from all previously described Colletotrichum species. Morphological assessment of colony traits, conidiogenous cells, and conidial morphology further confirms their taxonomic novelty by identifying stable phenotypic differences relative to phylogenetically close relatives. Consequently, three new species of Colletotrichum are formally proposed: C. millettii, C. pleioblasti, and C. wuyishanense. Phylogenetically, C. wuyishanense nests within the C. destructivum species complex, whereas C. millettii and C. pleioblasti represent two distinct monophyletic lineages nested within the genus without assignment to any formally described species complex. This study implies that additional undescribed Colletotrichum taxa remain to be uncovered from subtropical plant hosts across China, which will enrich genus-level species diversity and support native plant conservation and anthracnose disease management.
The Inocybe tiliae group (sect. Marginatae ) was previously known mainly from Europe. In this study, a multigene phylogeny of the group was reconstructed based on ITS, LSU, and rpb2 sequences, incorporating extensive collections from subtropical and temperate China for the first time. Four new species, I. qiongzhuensis sp. nov ., I. ravida sp. nov ., I. xihuensis sp. nov ., and I. zijinshanensis sp. nov ., are described, and three taxa, I. tiliae , I. dunensis , and the I. pallida / I. nobilis complex, are reported for the first time from China. Phylogenetic analyses recovered a fully supported major clade comprising the former core lineage, I. robertii , the Dunensis clade, and the four new Chinese species. The Pseudohiulca clade is sister to this major clade, whereas the Velata clade is sister to all the aforementioned lineages. Based on these results, the circumscription of the Tiliae group is expanded to include the major clade, the Pseudohiulca clade, and the Velata clade, comprising 12 species plus the I. pallida / I. nobilis complex and the I. pseudohiulca complex. The broad Tiliae group is defined by a combination of morphological traits: robust basidiomata, a yellowish-ochraceous to dark brown pileus, a stipe often with pinkish tones, a bulbous or marginate stipe base, a stipe that is either entirely pruinose or at least pruinose in the upper half, and often a spermatic odor.
Freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems harbor a rich diversity of fungi, many of which remain poorly explored, particularly within the order Chaetothyriales . Four hyphomycetous isolates were obtained from freshwater and terrestrial habitats in Guizhou Province, China. Their morphological characteristics were examined, and multilocus phylogenetic analyses based on ITS, LSU, SSU, and tub2 were performed to clarify their taxonomic positions. Phylogenetic reconstruction indicated that the isolates represent two distinct species within Veronaea ( Herpotrichiellaceae , Chaetothyriales ), which are herein described as V. guizhouensis and V. terrestris . Comprehensive descriptions, illustrations, and morphological comparisons with related taxa are provided. These findings expand the known diversity of Veronaea and underscore the significance of freshwater and terrestrial woody substrates as reservoirs of novel fungal taxa.
We describe Myriospora hilitzeri from the Czech Republic, Germany and Italy. It is named after the Czech lichenologist and science fiction writer Alfred C. Hilitzer (1899–1940). The species Acarospora smaragdula form macrophylla was described by Magnusson from a single collection by A. C. Hilitzer from the summit of Keprník Mountain in Jeseníky Mountains of the Czech Republic on some gneiss rocks in 1925. It has never been collected again and is possibly extinct. It is raised to the species level in this paper as Myriospora macrophylla . A world-wide key of the 15 species of Myriospora is supplied.
Xylaria nigripes and its close relatives, specialized for their associations with termite fungus combs, are capable of producing massive sclerotia within the chambers of dead termite nests. These sclerotia, traditionally referred to in Chinese medicine as “Wulingshen,” exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities. Massive Xylaria sclerotia are typically harvested from natural habitats, and their formation under laboratory conditions has rarely been reported. This study induced the formation of small sclerotia in Xylaria minima by incubating mature Macrotermes fungus combs. Sclerotium formation on the comb was characterized by an inconspicuous vegetative growth phase, rapid sclerotial development, early dormancy, and temporally delayed reproduction. Sclerotia formed more sporadically on potato dextrose agar (PDA), water agar (WA), and oat-based media. In contrast, growth on comb leachate agar (CLA) was faster, and sclerotia developed readily. The sclerotia of X. minima show strong potential for cultivation using comb materials and agricultural substrates. Exploratory chemical analyses revealed that sclerotia were enriched in crude polysaccharides, alkaloids, and terpenoids, as well as amino acids and amino acid derivatives such as L-glutamic acid and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), compared with mycelia. These findings indicate that X. minima does not exhibit strict substrate specificity for sclerotium formation and highlight its potential for future studies on cultivation and bioactive compound discovery. This study additionally highlights that the sclerotium-forming habit in comb-associated Xylaria species has likely evolved independently multiple times, occurring in both the newly reported small-sclerotium-forming X. minima and the X. nigripes species complex.
Species of Trichoderma are globally distributed across diverse ecosystems. In this study, four Trichoderma strains were isolated from Ophiocordyceps jinguangensis , two from O. sinensis , and two from Dracaena sp. To determine their taxonomic placement, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses of ITS, tef1-α , and rpb2 sequences, along with morphological examinations, were conducted. Integrating phylogenetic and morphological evidence, these strains were identified as three new species, Trichoderma diqingense , T. dracaenae , and T. yuxiense , which are distributed in three distinct clades of Trichoderma (i.e., Harzianum , Viride , and Polysporum , respectively), and two known species, T. fertile and T. paraviridescens , which are newly recorded from the substrate O. sinensis . Descriptions and illustrations of all species are provided. These findings expand the understanding of Trichoderma species and substrate diversity, providing a taxonomic basis for future studies.
Ganoderma is a group of macrofungi with significant economic and medicinal values. In this study, two new species, Ganoderma ficuum and G. fijiense , are described based on morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic analyses. Ganoderma ficuum is characterized by imbricate and highly umbonate pilei, with relatively coarse radial sulcations, circular to angular pores (6–8 per mm), ellipsoid and distinctly truncated basidiospores, and from Guangdong, China. Ganoderma fijiense is characterized by reddish brown to dark brown pilei, with usually obtuse margins, circular pores (5–7 per mm), narrowly ellipsoid basidiospores, with the endospore wall bearing densely spinulose ornamentation, and from Nadi, Fiji. In addition, multi-gene phylogenetic analyses showed that G. fijiense and G. ficuum formed two independent lineages with well supports based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), translation elongation factor 1-α gene ( TEF1-α ), and the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II ( RPB2 ) genes using Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian Inference (BI) methods. The morphological descriptions and illustrations for two new species are also provided.
The genus Alternaria ( Pleosporales , Pleosporaceae ) is globally distributed, occurs on a wide variety of substrates, and comprises saprobic, endophytic, and pathogenic species. In this study, four unidentified Alternaria isolates were obtained from symptomatic leaves of cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata ) in Hainan Province, China. These Alternaria spp. were characterized based on morphological features and phylogenetic analysis with multiple loci ( GAPDH , RPB2 , Alt a 1 , EndoPG , and OPA10-2). Based on the combined morphological and phylogenetic evidence, two novel species in Alternaria sect. Alternaria are described: A. unguiculatae sp. nov . and A. hainanensis sp. nov . This study expands the known diversity of Alternaria associated with Fabaceae , particularly cowpea, in China.
Hysteriaceae is a taxonomically diverse family of ascomycetes, and continued taxonomic studies are improving our understanding of its species diversity and phylogenetic relationships. Two new species of Hysteriaceae , Ericboehmia guizhouensis sp. nov ., and Psiloglonium yunnanense sp. nov ., are described from southwestern China, delineated through an analysis of both morpho-anatomical characteristics and multilocus phylogenetic analyses based on ITS, LSU, SSU, tef 1-α, and rpb2 sequence data. Both species share key morphological characteristics typical of Hysteriaceae , while their differentiation from previously described congeners was substantiated by comparative morphological characters and phylogenetic analyses. Comprehensive morphological descriptions, detailed illustrations, and a multilocus phylogenetic analysis demonstrating the phylogenetic placements of the new taxa presented. Furthermore, SSU and tef 1-α sequence data from additional collections of Psiloglonium macrosporum , are provided in this study. These findings expand the known diversity of Ericboehmia and Psiloglonium and enhance our understanding of their taxonomic framework and evolutionary relationships based on morphology and multilocus phylogeny.
Eight fungal strains isolated from agricultural soils in mountainous regions of Yunnan Province, China, were identified as three novel species of Penicillium section Lanata-Divaricata based on morphological characteristics and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses. Phylogenetic inference using four gene regions, including the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, β-tubulin (BenA), calmodulin (CaM), and the second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2), supported the recognition of these isolates as distinct species. The new taxa are described here as P. longyangense (series Janthinella), P. longlingense (series Dalearum), and P. zhenyuanense (series Rolfsiorum). Morphological comparisons with closely related species further confirmed their taxonomic placement. The discovery of these species expands the known diversity of Penicillium section Lanata-Divaricata and improves our understanding of the species distribution of soilborne Penicillium in mountainous agricultural ecosystems of Yunnan, China.
