New and Interesting Fungi. 6

Bionectriaceae: a poorly known family of hypocrealean fungi with major commercial potential

The ascomycete family Bionectriaceae (Hypocreales) contains cosmopolitan species distributed throughout a broad range of environments, mainly occurring in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, with a less frequent occurrence in marine habitats. Members of the family are commonly used in industrial, pharmaceutical, and commercial applications. Applications utilise biodegraders and biocontrol agents, while certain taxa serve as a rich source of bioactive secondary metabolites. In recent years, several studies have proposed new taxonomic concepts within Bionectriaceae based on multi-gene phylogenetic inference. However, the status of several genera remains controversial or unclear, and many need to be re-collected and subjected to molecular analysis. The present study aims to improve our understanding of Bionectriaceae by re-examining CBS culture collection strains preliminarily identified as taxa within this family. Morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses are based on alignments of the nuclear ribosomal subunits consisting of the internal transcribed spacer regions and intervening 5.8S nrDNA (ITS), as well as partial sequences for the 28S large subunit (LSU) nrDNA. Additional regions within protein-encoding genes were used, including the DNA-directed RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2), and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF1) regions. The sequences generated were used to reconstruct a phylogenetic backbone of the family Bionectriaceae, and to delineate lineages and generic boundaries within it. Based on these results, seven new genera, 35 new species, and nine new combinations are proposed. A robustly supported phylogenetic framework is provided for Bionectriaceae, resolving 352 species and 50 well-supported genera. This study provides a solid foundation for more in-depth future studies on taxa in the family. Taxonomic novelties: New genera: Clavatomyces Lin Zhao & Crous, Collarimyces Lin Zhao & Crous, Vitreipilata Lin Zhao & Crous, Parageonectria Lin Zhao & Crous, Physaromyces Lin Zhao & Crous, Smyrniomyces Lin Zhao & Crous, Urticomyces Lin Zhao & Crous. New species: Acremonium paramultiramosum Lin Zhao & Crous, Clavatomyces prestoeae Lin Zhao & Crous, Clonostachys novocaledonica Lin Zhao & Crous, Clonostachys tropica Lin Zhao & Crous, Collarimyces guttiformis Lin Zhao & Crous, Emericellopsis mexicana Lin Zhao & Crous, Emericellopsis proliferata Lin Zhao & Crous, Emericellopsis soli Lin Zhao & Crous, Fusariella triangulispora Lin Zhao & Crous, Geonectria alni Lin Zhao & Crous, Geonectria quercus Lin Zhao & Crous, Geosmithia cupressina V. Meshram et al., Geosmithia magnispora Lin Zhao & Crous, Gliomastix olivacea Lin Zhao & Crous, Hydropisphaera armeniaca Lin Zhao & Crous, Hydropisphaera gossypina Lin Zhao & Crous, Hydropisphaera martinicensis Lin Zhao & Crous, Hydropisphaera solani Lin Zhao, L.W. Hou & Crous, Lasionectria chondroidea Lin Zhao & Crous, Lasionectria phormii Lin Zhao, L.W. Hou & Crous, Lasionectriopsis stereicola Lin Zhao & Crous, Nectriopsis cribrariae Lin Zhao & Crous, Nectriopsis floccosa Lin Zhao & Crous, Ovicillium theobromae Lin Zhao & Crous, Paracylindrocarpon jigongshanense Lin Zhao & Crous, Paracylindrocarpon spartinae Lin Zhao & Crous, Parageonectria arachispora Lin Zhao & Crous, Paragliomastix venezuelana Lin Zhao & Crous, Physaromyces sterilis Lin Zhao & Crous, Protocreopsis chlamydospora Lin Zhao & Crous, Protocreopsis gallica Lin Zhao & Crous, Roumegueriella echinulata Lin Zhao & Crous, Sesquicillium pouteriae Lin Zhao & Crous, Sesquicillium thailandense Lin Zhao & Crous, Smyrniomyces setaceus Lin Zhao & P.W. Crous. New combinations: Clavatomyces korfii (Lechat & J. Fourn.) Lin Zhao & Crous, Vitreipilata cirsii (Lechat & J. Fourn) Lin Zhao & Crous, Protocreopsis loweniae (Flakus et al.) Lin Zhao & Crous, Protocreopsis vulpina (Cooke) Lin Zhao & Crous, Proxiovicillium capsici (S.Q. Tong & Y.J. Wu) Lin Zhao & Crous, Sesquicillium shanghaiense (Zhang et al.) Lin Zhao & Crous, Urticomyces pseudoarenulus (Lechat & J. Fourn) Lin Zhao & Crous, Verruciconidia guizhouensis (S.Q. Tong & Y.J. Wu) Lin Zhao & Crous, Verruciconidia saulensis (Lechat & J. Fourn.) Lin Zhao & Crous. New synonyms: Clonostachys aquatica D.F. Bao et al., Emericellopsis microspora Backus & Orpurt. Citation: Zhao L, Groenewald JZ, Hou LW, Summerbell RC, Crous PW (2025). Bionectriaceae: a poorly known family of hypocrealean fungi with major commercial potential. Studies in Mycology 111: 115-198. doi: 10.3114/sim.2025.111.04.

Cyphellophora denticulata sp. nov. a new dark septate endophyte from banana roots in Brazil

The genus Cyphellophora includes fungal species with dark mycelia and diverse lifestyles. These morphological characteristics are similar to those of dark septate endophytes (DSEs), which are strict root fungi. However, DSEs are rarely reported in economically important crops such as bananas. The present study aimed to describe dark septate endophytes belonging to Cyphellophora isolated from healthy banana plants in Brazil. The isolates were obtained from healthy banana roots of the Prata Anã, Prata Catarina, and Nanica cultivars. Posteriorly, the fungal isolates were submitted for phylogenetic and morphological analyses. Phylogenetic analysis was performed based on the Internal transcribed spacer (ITS), Large subunit ribosomal ribonucleic acid (LSU rRNA) and Beta-tubulin gene (tub2). The morphological analysis was performed using four culture media: Malt Extract Agar, Oatmeal Agar, Potato Carrot Agar and Potato Dextrose Agar. The fungal isolates were cultivated for three weeks in the dark at 25 °C and 37 °C. Based on morphological and phylogenetic analyses, the isolates represents a new Cyphellophora species, namely C. denticulata. The new species has some morphological characteristics different from those shared by the most species of the genus Cyphellophora, such as the denticles presence in the conidiogenous cells. In this study, we report for the first time a Cyphellophora species isolated from banana plants as dark septate endophyte and provided a key for Cyphellophora species.

Two new species of Penicillium and a new genus in Xylariomycetidae from the forest dump-sites in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Waste accumulation in forest regions can have a severe impact on the soil mycobiome. However, research on soil fungi inhabiting forest disposal sites remains limited. Therefore, this study focused on the taxonomy and phylogeny of ascomycetes isolated from soil in forest dump-sites in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The fungal strains were identified using morphological characterisations and multigene phylogenetic reconstruction. A new genus, Pseudoleptodontidium, typified by Ps.chiangmaiense sp. nov. (Amphisphaeriales genera incertae sedis, Xylariomycetidae), along with two new species, Penicilliumchiangmaiense (series Janthinella, section Lanata-Divaricata) and P.terrae (series Erubescentia, section Exilicaulis) (Aspergillaceae, Eurotiales), are described in detail and compared with closely-related species. Our discovery offers valuable insights into the soil ascomycetes associated with forest disturbances.

Non-lichenized Cytosporella, including C.fuligomixta sp. nov., and related plant-associated and fungicolous genera are close to foliicolous, lichenized fungi (Ascomycota, Graphidales)

The genus Cytosporella includes non-lichenized, plant associated fungi producing eustromatic conidiomata, phialidic conidiophores and hyaline, ellipsoid conidia. Of the 69 names assigned to this genus in Index Fungorum, only three species are associated with sequence data. In this study, a new species: Cytosporellafuligomixta is described based on a strain isolated from the sooty mould community on Quercusrobur leaves in Poland. The phylogenetic analyses including sequences of two loci (LSU, mtSSU) showed that Cytosporella species, together with members of four other non-lichenized, plant associated or fungicolous genera, namely Cladosterigma, Neoacrodontiella, Nothoramularia and Vanderaaea, form a sister group to lichenized and lichenicolous fungi from the family Gomphillaceae and order Graphidales. Previously, Cladosterigma was resolved as a member of Gomphillaceae using multi-locus (mtSSU, SSU, LSU, ITS, rpb2, tef1) and two-locus (LSU, mtSSU) sequence analyses, while Cytosporella, Neoacrodontiella, Nothoramularia were shown to belong to this family using LSU sequence analyses. However, none of them resolved these genera as a sister group to lichenized members of Gomphillaceae. The placement of the genus Vanderaaea within Gomphillaceae is shown here for the first time. Due to phylogenetic, morphological and ecological characteristics a new subfamily Cladosterigmoideae is described for these five non-lichenized genera.

Taxonomic Study of Sixteen Unrecorded and Five New Species of Hypocreales from the Korean Marine Environment

The order Hypocreales, which belongs to the Ascomycota class Sordariomycetes, has a large number of species and occupies a variety of ecological niches, including saprophytic, symbiotic, and parasitic fungi. While much research has focused on terrestrial Hypocrealean fungi, there remains a significant gap in our understanding of their diversity and ecological roles in marine environments. In this study, we isolated 47 fungal strains from various marine habitats in South Korea. Through the polyphasic study, including phylogenetic analysis using multi-genetic markers (ITS, LSU, TEF1, RPB2, TUB, and ACT) and morphological analysis, we identified 21 species previously undiscovered in Korea, including 5 new and 16 unrecorded species. Our findings illustrate the species diversity of marine Hypocreales, highlighting the need for additional research into their ecological functions and potential in biotechnology and medicine.

Fungal Species Causing Canker and Wilt of Ficus carica and Evidence of Their Association by Bark Beetles in Italy

Field surveys conducted during 2021 and 2022 in Western Sicily, Italy, revealed the presence of common fig trees severely affected by trunk and crown root canker and bark cracking. Moreover, in conjunction with the symptomatic tissues, the same surveyed plants showed the presence of bark beetle holes and internal wood galleries. The predominant beetle Criphalus dilutus was previously reported attacking figs in Sicily. Phylogenetic analyses based on multilocus DNA data showed the presence of different fungal taxa associated with disease symptoms, including Botryosphaeria dothidea, Ceratocystis ficicola, Diaporthe foeniculina, Neocosmospora bostrycoides, N. perseae, and Neofusicoccum luteum. Pathogenicity tests conducted on potted fig plants showed that all the species were pathogenic to fig, with C. ficicola and Neocosmospora spp. as the most aggressive fungal species. Moreover, isolations conducted from the bodies of emerging adult insects recovered from disease samples confirmed the presence of C. ficicola and Neocosmospora spp., suggesting the potential involvement of C. dilutus in their dissemination.

Two new species and one new combination of Ophiocordyceps (Hypocreales, Ophiocordycipitaceae) in Guizhou

Ophiocordyceps is the largest genus in Ophiocordycipitaceae and has a broad distribution with high diversity in subtropical and tropical regions. In this study, two new species, pathogenic on lepidopteran larvae are introduced, based on morphological observation and molecular phylogeny. Ophiocordycepsfenggangensissp. nov. is characterised by having fibrous, stalked stroma with a sterile tip, immersed perithecia, cylindrical asci and filiform ascospores disarticulating into secondary spores. Ophiocordycepsliangiisp. nov. has the characteristics of fibrous, brown, stipitate, filiform stroma, superficial perithecia, cylindrical asci and cylindrical-filiform, non-disarticulating ascospores. A new combination Ophiocordycepsmusicaudata (syn. Cordycepsmusicaudata) is established employing molecular analysis and morphological characteristics. Ophiocordycepsmusicaudata is characterised by wiry, stipitate, solitary, paired to multiple stromata, yellowish, branched fertile part, brown stipe, immersed perithecia, cylindrical asci and cylindrical-filiform, non-disarticulating ascospores.

Fungal Planet description sheets: 1550-1613

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Argentina, Neocamarosporium halophilum in leaf spots of Atriplex undulata. Australia, Aschersonia merianiae on scale insect (Coccoidea), Curvularia huamulaniae isolated from air, Hevansia mainiae on dead spider, Ophiocordyceps poecilometigena on Poecilometis sp. Bolivia, Lecanora menthoides on sandstone, in open semi-desert montane areas, Sticta monlueckiorum corticolous in a forest, Trichonectria epimegalosporae on apothecia of corticolous Megalospora sulphurata var. sulphurata, Trichonectria puncteliae on the thallus of Punctelia borreri. Brazil, Catenomargarita pseudocercosporicola (incl. Catenomargarita gen. nov.) hyperparasitic on Pseudocercospora fijiensis on leaves of Musa acuminata, Tulasnella restingae on protocorms and roots of Epidendrum fulgens. Bulgaria, Anthracoidea umbrosae on Carex spp. Croatia, Hymenoscyphus radicis from surface-sterilised, asymptomatic roots of Microthlaspi erraticum, Orbilia multiserpentina on wood of decorticated branches of Quercus pubescens. France, Calosporella punctatispora on dead corticated twigs of Aceropalus. French West Indies (Martinique), Eutypella lechatii on dead corticated palm stem. Germany, Arrhenia alcalinophila on loamy soil. Iceland, Cistella blauvikensis on dead grass (Poaceae). India, Fulvifomes maritimus on living Peltophorum pterocarpum, Fulvifomes natarajanii on dead wood of Prosopis juliflora, Fulvifomes subazonatus on trunk of Azadirachta indica, Macrolepiota bharadwajii on moist soil near the forest, Narcissea delicata on decaying elephant dung, Paramyrothecium indicum on living leaves of Hibiscus hispidissimus, Trichoglossum syamviswanathii on moist soil near the base of a bamboo plantation. Iran, Vacuiphoma astragalicola from stem canker of Astragalus sarcocolla. Malaysia, Neoeriomycopsis fissistigmae (incl. Neoeriomycopsidaceae fam. nov.) on leaf spots on flower Fissistigma sp. Namibia, Exophiala lichenicola lichenicolous on Acarospora cf. luederitzensis. Netherlands, Entoloma occultatum on soil, Extremus caricis on dead leaves of Carex sp., Inocybe pseudomytiliodora on loamy soil. Norway, Inocybe guldeniae on calcareous soil, Inocybe rupestroides on gravelly soil. Pakistan, Hymenagaricus brunneodiscus on soil. Philippines, Ophiocordyceps philippinensis parasitic on Asilus sp. Poland, Hawksworthiomyces ciconiae isolated from Ciconia ciconia nest, Plectosphaerella vigrensis from leaf spots on Impatiens noli-tangere, Xenoramularia epitaxicola from sooty mould community on Taxus baccata. Portugal, Inocybe dagamae on clay soil. Saudi Arabia, Diaporthe jazanensis on branches of Coffea arabica. South Africa, Alternaria moraeae on dead leaves of Moraea sp., Bonitomyces buffels-kloofinus (incl. Bonitomyces gen. nov.) on dead twigs of unknown tree, Constrictochalara koukolii on living leaves of Itea rhamnoides colonised by a Meliola sp., Cylindromonium lichenophilum on Parmelina tiliacea, Gamszarella buffelskloofina (incl. Gamszarella gen. nov.) on dead insect, Isthmosporiella africana (incl. Isthmosporiella gen. nov.) on dead twigs of unknown tree, Nothoeucasphaeria buffelskloofina (incl. Nothoeucasphaeria gen. nov.), on dead twigs of unknown tree, Nothomicrothyrium beaucarneae (incl. Nothomicrothyrium gen. nov.) on dead leaves of Beaucarnea stricta, Paramycosphaerella proteae on living leaves of Protea caffra, Querciphoma foliicola on leaf litter, Rachicladosporium conostomii on dead twigs of Conostomium natalense var. glabrum, Rhamphoriopsis synnematosa on dead twig of unknown tree, Waltergamsia mpumalanga on dead leaves of unknown tree. Spain, Amanita fulvogrisea on limestone soil, in mixed forest, Amanita herculis in open Quercus forest, Vuilleminia beltraniae on Cistus symphytifolius. Sweden, Pachyella pulchella on decaying wood on sand-silt riverbank. Thailand, Deniquelata cassiae on dead stem of Cassia fistula, Stomiopeltis thailandica on dead twigs of Magnolia champaca. Ukraine, Circinaria podoliana on natural limestone outcrops, Neonematogonum carpinicola (incl. Neonematogonum gen. nov.) on dead branches of Carpinus betulus. USA, Exophiala wilsonii water from cooling tower, Hygrophorus aesculeticola on soil in mixed forest, and Neocelosporium aereum from air in a house attic. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes. Citation: Crous PW, Costa MM, Kandemir H, et al. 2023. Fungal Planet description sheets: 1550-1613. Persoonia 51: 280-417. doi: 10.3767/persoonia.2023.51.08.

Diversity and novel lineages of black yeasts in Chaetothyriales from freshwater sediments in Spain

Black yeasts comprise a group of Ascomycota of the order Chaetothyriales with highly variable morphology, a great diversity of ecological niches and life cycles. Despite the ubiquity of these fungi, their diversity in freshwater sediments is still poorly understood. During a survey of culturable Ascomycota from river and stream sediments in various sampling sites in Spain, we obtained 47 isolates of black yeasts by using potato dextrose agar supplemented with cycloheximide. A preliminary morphological study and sequence analyses of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and the large subunit (LSU) of the nuclear rDNA revealed that most of the isolates belonged to the family Herpotrichiellaceae. We have confidently identified 30 isolates representing the following species: Capronia pulcherrima, Cladophialophora emmonsii, Exophiala equina, Exophiala pisciphila, Exophiala radicis, and Phialophora americana. However, we encountered difficulty in assigning 17 cultures to any known species within Chaetothyriales. Combining phenotypic and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses based on the ITS, LSU, β-tubulin (tub2) and translation elongation factor 1-α (tef1-α) gene markers, we propose the new genus Aciculomyces in the Herpotrichiellaceae to accommodate the novel species Aciculomyces restrictus. Other novel species in this family include Cladophialophora denticulata, Cladophialophora heterospora, Cladophialophora irregularis, Exophiala candelabrata, Exophiala dehoogii, Exophiala ramosa, Exophiala verticillata and Phialophora submersa. The new species Cyphellophora spiralis, closely related to Cyphellophora suttonii, is described, and the phylogeny of the genus Anthopsis in the family Cyphellophoraceae is discussed. By utilizing these four markers, we were able to strengthen the phylogenetic resolution and provide more robust taxonomic assessments within the studied group. Our findings indicate that freshwater sediments may serve as a reservoir for intriguing black yeasts, which warrant further investigation to address gaps in phylogenetic relationships, particularly within Herpotrichiellaceae. Citation: Torres-Garcia D, García D, Réblová M, et al. 2023. Diversity and novel lineages of black yeasts in Chaetothyriales from freshwater sediments in Spain. Persoonia 51: 194-228. doi: 10.3767/persoonia.2023.51.05.