Two novel lignicolous freshwater fungi, Conioscypha xizangensis and Cordana linzhiensis, from the Tibetan Plateau, China

ABSTRACT

Lignicolous freshwater fungi form a highly diverse group and are primarily distributed in the classes Dothideomycetes and Sordariomycetes. During an investigation of lignicolous freshwater fungi on the Tibetan Plateau, China, four collections were obtained from submerged wood in freshwater habitats. Morphological studies combined with multi-gene phylogenetic analysis based on ITS, LSU, SSU, and RPB2 indicated that the collected taxa belonged in the orders Conioscyphales and Cordanales in Sordariomycetes. Based on evidence from morpho-molecular analyses, two new species, Conioscypha xizangensis and Cordana linzhiensis, are introduced with descriptions of their hyphomycetous asexual states. Conioscypha xizangensis shows a close phylogenetic relationship with Conioscypha tenebrosa but, unlike that species, has phialidic and integrated conidiogenous cells. Cordana linzhiensis forms a distinct clade within the genus and possesses unique characteristics compared with existing species in having swollen conidiophores, polyblastic, clavate, or cylindrical conidiogenous cells, and solitary or acropleurogenous conidia with a hyaline mucoid sheath. These new discoveries further add to the diversity of freshwater fungi on the Tibetan Plateau.

KEYWORDS:

• Two new taxa
• Conioscyphaceae
• Cordanaceae
• morphology
• phylogeny
• taxonomy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The authors appreciate the support given by the Thesis Writing Grant of Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand, to Rong-Ju Xu. This study was supported by the Survey of Wildlife Resources in Key Areas of Tibet (ZL202203601); the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research (STEP) Program [grant number 2019QZKK0503]; major science and technology projects and key R&D plans/programs, Yunnan Province [grant number 202202AE090001]; Natural Science Foundation of Guizhou Province [grant number Qian Ke Zhong Yin Di [2021]4031, Qian Ke He Zhi Cheng [2021] Generally 200]; the open research project of the ‘Cross-Cooperative Team’ of the Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences [grant number 292019312511043]; Science and Technology Service Network Initiative of the Chinese Academy of Sciences [grant number KFJ-STS-QYZD-171]; and the Biodiversity Survey and Assessment Project of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, People’s Republic of China [grant number 2019HJ2096001006]. Vinodhini Thiyagaraja would also like to thank the Flexible Talent Introduction Program—Kevin David Hyde [grant number E16441].