Taxonomy and phylogeny of the novel rhytidhysteron-like collections in the Greater Mekong Subregion

MycoKeys. 2022 Jan 12:86:65-85. doi: 10.3897/mycokeys.86.70668. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

During our survey into the diversity of woody litter fungi across the Greater Mekong Subregion, three rhytidhysteron-like taxa were collected from dead woody twigs in China and Thailand. These were further investigated based on morphological observations and multi-gene phylogenetic analyses of a combined DNA data matrix containing SSU, LSU, ITS, and tef1-α sequence data. A new species of Rhytidhysteron, R.xiaokongense sp. nov. is introduced with its asexual morph, and it is characterized by semi-immersed, subglobose to ampulliform conidiomata, dark brown, oblong to ellipsoidal, 1-septate, conidia, which are granular in appearance when mature. In addition to the new species, two new records from Thailand are reported viz. Rhytidhysterontectonae on woody litter of Betula sp. (Betulaceae) and Fabaceae sp. and Rhytidhysteronneorufulum on woody litter of Tectonagrandis (Lamiaceae). Morphological descriptions, illustrations, taxonomic notes and phylogenetic analyses are provided for all entries.

Keywords: Ascomycota; Yunnan; one new taxon; phylogeny; saprobic; taxonomy.

Grants and funding

Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Science,the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. XDA2602020).