Eight new genera, 28 new species, four epitypes, two lectotypes, and 21 interesting new host and / or geographical records are introduced in this study. New genera include: Amesomyces (based on Amesomyces atrobrunneus), Carteromyces (based on Carteromyces arctostaphyli), Scolecofusariella (based on Fusarium peltigerae), Nothoniesslia (based on Nothoniesslia solidaginis), Paraacanthostigma (based on Paraacanthostigma eucalypti), Paraphaeophleospora (based on Paraphaeophleospora tripteridis), Parapolyscytalum (based on Parapolyscytalum minutum) and Subverticillium (based on Subverticillium juncicola). New species include: Bisifusarium duo (from human cornea, India), Capronia parasitica (on Eutypella sorbi on branches of Sorbus aucuparia, Switzerland), Castanediella acericola on dead leaf of Acer cf. pseudoplatanus, Germany), Cladophialophora calamagrostidis (on culm of Calamagrostis arenaria, The Netherlands), Cladophialophora paramycetomatis (on culms of Elegia tectorum, South Africa), Cladophialophora yuccae (on dead leaf of Yucca sp., Germany), Cordana ligni (on dead wood, Germany), Curvularia moniliformis (on leaves of unidentified Poaceae, Chile), Davidhawksworthia rubi (on Rubus stems, Germany), Exophiala ligni (on dead wood, Germany), Fusarium aloetica (on symptomatic leaves of Aloe ferox, South Africa), Harzia cupressicola (on needles of Cupressus sp., The Netherlands), Hoehneliella falsiundulosetulata (on bark of woody host, Germany), Mjuua pseudoclavispora (in association with Fusarium paeoniae and a bacterium, on dead fruit of Alnus glutinosa, Germany), Monilinia yunnanensis (on fruit of Prunus persica, China), Niesslia goniomae (on leaf of Gonioma kamassi, South Africa), Nothoniesslia solidaginis (on dead stems of Solidago sp., Germany), Paraacanthostigma eucalypti (on bark of Eucalyptus globulus, Australia), Phaeococcomyces mesembryanthemi (on Mesembryanthemum schultzii, South Africa), Phialemonium parasulfureum (on algae, Germany), Phytophthora caput-medusae (from rhizosphere soil of Citrus × aurantium, Italy), Pleurophragmium fallopiae (on dead leaf Fallopia sp., Germany), Rhinotrichella carpini (on dead branches of Carpinus betulus, Ukraine), Stagonosporopsis citri (on peel of living fruit of Citrus latifolia, quarantine interception), Subverticillium juncicola (on culms of Juncus effusus, Netherlands), Veronaea parabrunnea (on Eutypella prunastri on twigs of Prunus spinosa, France), Veronaea parasiticola (on Euonymus europaeus, Germany), Verrucocladosporium mesembryanthemi (on Mesembryanthemum schultzii, South Africa). New combinations include: Amesomyces atrobrunneus (based on Chaetomium atrobrunneum), Amesomyces cymbiformis (based on Chaetomium cymbiforme), Amesomyces dreyfussii (based on Chaetomium dreyfussii), Amesomyces gelasinosporus (based on Chaetomium gelasinosporum), Amesomyces hispanicus (based on Amesia hispanica), Amesomyces khuzestanicus (based on Amesia khuzestanica), Amesomyces nigricolor (based on Chaetomium nigricolor), Amesomyces raii (based on Chaetomium raii), Carteromyces arctostaphyli (based on Carteria arctostaphyli), Carteromyces canariensis (based on Carteria canariensis), Capronia americana (based on Cadophora americana), Didymella conyzaphthora (based on Phoma conyzaphthora), Heterotruncatella watsoniae (based on Pestalotia watsoniae), Hoehneliella undulosetulata (based on Paramenisporopsis undulosetulata), Microascus stellatus (based on Humicola stellata), Neoceratosperma marasasii (based on Mycosphaerella marasasii), Paraphaeophleospora tripteridis (based on Septoria tripteridis), Parapolyscytalum minutum (based on Infundichalara minuta), Scolecofusariella peltigerae (based on Fusarium peltigerae) and Veronaea brunnea (based on Exophiala brunnea). Zygophiala is reduced to synonymy under Schizothyrium, Paramenisporopsis and Klebahnopycnis under Hoehneliella, and the descriptions of the order Comminutisporales and family Comminutisporaceae are emended. Citation: Crous PW, Akulov A, Alfenas AC, Alfenas RF, Aloi F, Balashov S, Barreto RW, Bensch K, Cacciola SO, Cantillo T, Castillo R, Conti Taguali S, Czachura P, da Silva NF, Delgado MA, Denman S, de Silva NI, de Vries RP, Figge M, Guarnaccia V, Guterres DS, Hongsanan S, Horta Jung M, Houbraken JA, Hülsewig T, Jung T, Jurjević Ž, La Spada F, Madrid H, Mombert A, Osieck ER, Pane A, Parlascino R, Pereira CM, Piątek M, Piattino V, Riolo M, Sandoval-Denis M, Scanu B, Starink-Willemse M, Stryjak-Bogacka M, Tennakoon DS, van Ingen-Buijs VA, van Iperen AL, Verkley GJM, Lamprecht SC, Wang XW, Braun U, Wingfield MJ, Groenewald JZ (2026). New and Interesting Fungi. 8. Persoonia 56: 457-547. doi: 10.3114/persoonia.2026.56.08.
Species of Cylindrocladiella are soil-borne fungi that are distributed in temperate, sub-tropical and tropical regions of the world. Very little is known regarding the biology of these fungi that are mostly considered as saprobes, but there have also been reports of pathogenicity in some cases. Prior to this study, 46 species of Cylindrocladiella were known based on DNA sequence comparisons and phylogenetic analyses. Only seven of those species have been reported from China, some of which were associated with diseases of woody plants. In this study, soil samples were collected from natural forests and plantations in eight provinces (autonomous regions) of northeastern, central, southeastern, southwestern, and southern regions of China. A total of 914 soil samples were analysed, resulting in 407 Cylindrocladiella isolates. They were identified based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequence data for the tef1, tub2, his3, and ITS regions. This resulted in the identification of eight known, and 22 novel species. Cylindrocladiella spp. tended to be widely distributed in forest soils across a wide range of climatic zones. The species diversity in warm areas was higher than in cooler areas. Of the 68 species now recognised and verified based on DNA data, these fungi are known from more than 25 countries, of which 57 species were isolated from soils, 18 from plant tissues, and nine from both soils and plant tissues. Species with wide geographic distributions including putative pathogens such as, Cy. peruviana and Cy. parva that have been found on multiple plant species, while others are confined to more limited niches. The exceptionally large number of new species found in this study suggests that Cylindrocladiella species have been poorly sampled and that many more are likely to be found in warm and humid environments. Overall, this study provides a foundation for future investigations aimed at clarifying the evolutionary relationships, ecology, and pathology of this interesting and little understood genus. Citation: Zhou WW, Dong HB, Zhou HX, Crous PW, Wingfield MJ, Chen SF (2026). Forest soils: A species-rich habitat for Cylindrocladiella. Persoonia 56: 548-605. doi: 10.3114/persoonia.2026.56.09.
Cordycipitoid fungi, encompassing the four families Clavicipitaceae, Cordycipitaceae, Ophiocordycipitaceae, and Polycephalomycetaceae, have been the focus of intensive molecular phylogenetic and taxonomic research over the past twenty years. Utilizing a six-locus dataset (LSU, ITS, SSU, tef1-α, rpb1, and rpb2) with expanded taxon sampling, this study establishes a robust phylogenetic framework for this group, with particular emphasis on the Ophiocordycipitaceae. Our work significantly expands the documented diversity of cordycipitoid fungi in China through the description of nine new species: Cordyceps multisynnematosa, Metarhizium acrididarum, Ophiocordyceps sungii, O. brunneascospora, O. ramosiphialidica, O. rubella, Paraisaria clavata, Par. cocoonihabita, Purpureomyces fenggangensis and reports three new records: Jenniferia thomisidarum, O. brunneipunctata, and Pleurocordyceps heilongtanensis. Macro- and micro-morphological descriptions are provided to support the taxonomic placement of these new taxa. Beyond taxonomic additions, we have accessed to the morphological diversity of the asexual morphs of Cordyceps, Metarhizium, Ophiocordyceps, Paraisaria, and Purpureomyces, elucidating conserved and divergent features in phialides and conidia. Beyond enhancing knowledge of cordycipitoid fungal phylogeny and diversity in China, this study highlights the pressing need for sustained exploration of entomopathogenic fungi and their ecological roles. Citation: Peng XC, Wei DP, Zhang X, Tangtrakulwanich K, Wang Y, Hyde KD, Kang JC, Jayawardena RS, Liu ZL, Xie SW, Bu J, Wen TC (2026). Nine new species of cordycipitoid fungi (Hypocreales, Sordariomycetes) from China. Persoonia 56: 381-419. doi: 10.3114/persoonia.2026.56.06.
As part of an ongoing inventory of Basidiomycota in China, we examined species of the order Hymenochaetales collected from tropical forests. Fungi of this order cause wood rot or diseases in woody plants worldwide and recent studies have substantially contributed to improve their classification system by combining phylogenetic and morphological analysis. However, the species diversity of Hymenochaetales in the high-altitude forests of southwestern China is comparably understudied. We tackled this sampling gap in the present study and provide morphological descriptions, illustrations, and comprehensive notes as well as sequence and phylogenetic data for in total one new genus and 26 new species. As a result of these integrative analyses, we were able to phylogenetically resolve thirteen supported lineages in the Hymenochaetales. While numerous Hymenochaetales fungi have been documented in China, our report clearly shows that the diversity within the family Hymenochaetales remains largely unexplored, leaving significant potential for further discoveries in Chinese tropical forests. Citation: Wang L, He SY, Lambert C, Zhu YG, Zhang JL, Yang Y, Li WL, Zhou HM, Zhao CL (2026). Comprehensive morphological and phylogenetic analyses of Hymenochaetales (Basidiomycota) unveil one new genus and twenty-six novel wood-inhabiting species from southwestern China. Persoonia 56: 328-380. doi: 10.3114/persoonia.2026.56.05.
Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Australia, Marasmius ballator on leaf litter in subtropical rainforest, Marasmius carbinensis on litter and twigs of Hyptis suaveolens, Marasmius clocca on leaf litter of regenerating subtropical rainforest. Bolivia, Aggregatorygma saraanense on trunk of Trichilia inaequilatera. Brazil, Arthropolymorpha endophytica (incl. Arthropolymorpha gen. nov.), from healthy roots of Coffea arabica, Didymella digitariae on Digitaria insularis, Geastrum baseiae on soil, Magnibotryascoma souzamottae as endophyte from cladodes of Tacinga inamoena, Neoleptosporella agapanthi from stalks of Agapanthus praecox, Penicillifer endoradicis as endophyte from roots of Musa acuminata, Sirastachys cavernicola from leaf litter, Toxicocladosporium atratum as root endophyte of Cattleya locatellii. China, Fasciatispora citri on dead twig of Citrus maxima. Denmark, Inocybe leucantheana on wet ground with Alnus, Betula and Picea. Ecuador (Galapagos Islands), Fusarium cristobalense on Scalesia gordilloi, Fusarium scalesiae on Scalesia pedunculata. Finland, Inocybe ranaria on mull soil, near Betula pendula and Abies sp. France, Bullatosporium pinophilum on the bark of Pinus nigra subsp. nigra, Dialonectria eutypellicola on Eutypella prunastri, on branches of Prunus spinosa, Mycobernardia involucriformis on dead Bambusa sp., Pseudocosmospora perforaticola on dead stromata of Hypoxylon perforatum on Fraxinus, Stylonectria colleeniae on Trimmatostroma scutellare, with Lophium mytillinum, on dead branch of Larix decidua. French Guiana, Neocosmospora duolechatii on dead bark of Bauhinia sp. Germany, Inocybe giovannii on soil under Abies alba, Fagus sylvatica and Picea abies, Triseptosporium fallopiae (incl. Triseptosporium gen. nov.) on Fallopia japonica. India, Phylloporia bharatavarsa on living tree of Phyllanthus emblica. Iran, Fusarium phoenicis on roots of Phoenix dactylifera. Italy, Inosperma confusum on soil under Quercus ilex and Pinus halepensis, Inosperma subinodorum on calcareous soil in Picea abies forest. Madagascar, Oudemansiella viscida on dead wood or branches. Netherlands, Colletotrichum urticicola from leaf spots on Urtica dioica. Pakistan, Agrocybe punjabensis on soil on fallen remains of Saccharum officinarum. Panama, Ijuhya panamaensis and Sarcopodium panamaense on twig litter of angiosperm. Poland, Cytospora tatrensis from dead stems of Pinus mugo, Myxotrichum flavum on resin of Picea abies, Symphoricola tarnoviensis (incl. Symphoricola gen. nov.) from sooty mould community on Symphoricarpos albus. Portugal, Hypoxylon azoricum on fallen branch of Laurus azorica, Tuber honstrassii in clayey and calcareous soil under Quercus rotundifolia and Arbutus unedo. South Africa, Paraphaeosphaeria andropogonicola on leaves of Andropogon eucomus, Talaromyces armstrongii from soil. Spain, Geoglossum martinae on soil under Quercus ilex and Cistus ladanifer, Inocybe percastanea on sandy, acidic soils under Cistus ladanifer and Pinus pinaster, Lamproderma stephensonii on twigs of Pinus sylvestris, Ramariopsis alboviolacea on soil under Prunus lusitanica subsp. lusitanica, Russula olivaceopinetorum on acidic sandy soil among Pinus sylvestris needles, Scolecobasidium endophyticum from root-associated soil collected in a grassland, Tuber danielis in acidic soil beneath Cistus ladanifer, Quercus ilex, and Genista scorpius. Sweden, Inocybe adusticans on soil, in snow bed area with Salix herbacea and Bistorta vivipara, Inosperma friesii on soil in mixed deciduous forest. Switzerland, Stylonectria stoeckliana on Cytospora sp. on twigs of Salix sp. Thailand, Neoleptosporella camporesiana on dead branch of unidentified plant. Uganda, Bjerkandera ugandensis on a rotting log. UK (Scotland), Narcissea scotica on decaying dung of Lagopus scotica. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes. Citation: Crous PW, Akram W, Albuquerque GMR, Alfenas AC, Alfenas RF, Altés A, Alvarado P, Amirmijani AR, Arumugam E, Asif M, Bandini D, Barreto GG, Barreto RW, Batista VEC, Bezerra JDP, Bilański P, Bizio E, Castañeda-Ruiz RF, Chaves J, Condé TO, Costa MM, Custódio FA, Courty P-E, Czachura P, Damm U, Darmostuk V, Dearnaley J, De la Peña-Lastra S, Delgado G, de Silva NI, Dovana F, Drummond-Herdman A, Eberhardt U, Esteve-Raventós F, Ferisin G, Ferreira RJ, Ferro LO, Firmino AL, Flakus A, Fournier J, Gardiennet A, Gerbeau-Pissot P, Ghobad-Nejhad M, Gruhn G, Guard FE, Harms K, Heilmann-Clausen J, Hongsanan S, Hülsewig T, Inokuti EM, Jankowiak R, Kaliyaperumal M, Kehlet T, Lacerda SR, Larsson E, Leão AF, Lebel T, Lima AA, López-Villalba Á, Maciá-Vicente JG, Mateos A, Mejía LC, Mendes DR, Möller L, Mombert A, Monteiro MBN, Moreno G, Nagy L, Niskanen T, Nogueira PTS, Oliveira JA, Oliveira PHF, Ortiz DA, Pancorbo F, Paz A, Pazmiño DA, Pereira OL, Piątek M, Plata O, Pordel A, Raaijmakers JM, Ralaiveloarisoa AB, Ramos DO, Ravikumar S, Rigueiro-Rodríguez A, Rivas-Torres GF, Rodrigues JG, Rodriguez-Flakus P, Romero M, Saba M, Sánchez A, Sánchez-Dueñas G, Santana JS, Serrano M, Silva JAS, Stępniewska H, Stryjak-Bogacka M, Tennakoon DS, van 't Hof P, van Vuuren NI, Varga T, Vauras J, Vieira BS, Visagie CM, Wipf D, Woods R, Groenewald JZ (2026). Fungal Planet description sheets: 1868-1920. Persoonia 56: 1-173. doi: 10.3114/persoonia.2026.56.01.
