Drechslerella daliensis and D. xiaguanensis (Orbiliales, Orbiliaceae), two new nematode-trapping fungi from Yunnan, China

Abstract

Nematode-trapping fungi are a highly specialised group in fungi and are essential regulators of natural nematode populations. At present, more than 130 species have been discovered in Zygomycota (Zoopagaceae), Basidiomycota (Nematoctonus), and Ascomycota (Orbiliaceae). Amongst them, nematode-trapping fungi in Orbiliaceae have become the research focus of carnivorous fungi due to their abundant species. During the investigation of carnivorous fungi in Yunnan, China, four fungal strains isolated from burned forest soil were identified as two new nematode-trapping species in Drechslerella (Orbiliaceae), based on multigene phylogenetic analysis and morphological characters. Drechslerella daliensis sp. nov. is characterised by its ellipsoid, 1–2-septate macroconidia, clavate or bottle-shaped, 0–1-septate microconidia and unbranched, simple conidiophores. D. xiaguanensis sp. nov. is characterised by fusiform or spindle-shaped, 2–4-septate conidia and unbranched, simple conidiophores. Both of them produce constricting rings to capture nematodes. The phylogenetic analysis, based on combined ITS, TEF1-α and RPB2 sequences, determined their placement in Drechslerella. D. daliensis forms a basal lineage closely nested with D. hainanensis (YMF1.03993). D. xiaguanensis forms a sister lineage with D. bembicodes (1.01429), D. aphrobrocha (YMF1.00119) and D. coelobrocha (FWY03-25-1).

Conidia Fusion: A Mechanism for Fungal Adaptation to Nutrient-Poor Habitats

“…This in turn guarantees the survival rate of conidia and provides an advantage for the rapid development of the germinator. In this study, four out of the six species with CF were common species in many habitats (Arthrobotrys oligospora, A. conoides, A. superba, A. musiformis) [40][41][42][43]. Their widespread and common appearance may also be due to the formation of CF.…”

Morphological and Phylogenetic Characterization of Five Novel Nematode-Trapping Fungi (Orbiliomycetes) from Yunnan, China

“…[2,3]. Furthermore, Dr. yunlongensis produces cylindrical or ellipsoidal chlamydospores, while none of the four closely related species produces chlamydospores [2,3,42].…”

Exploring ascomycete diversity in Yunnan II: Introducing three novel species in the suborder Massarineae (Dothideomycetes, Pleosporales) from fern and grasses

“…Since Feng and Yang (2018) updated the status of fungal diversity in this region, the taxonomic study of ascomycetes has steadily increased and over 300 novel species have been discovered in the last five years ( Luo et al 2019 ; Phookamsak et al 2019 ; Dong et al 2020 ; Hyde et al 2020a , b ; Wanasinghe et al 2020 , 2022 ; Wang et al 2020 ; Mortimer et al 2021 ; Wijayawardene et al 2021b , 2022a ; Gu et al 2022 ; Jiang et al 2022 ; Yang et al 2022a , b ; Si et al 2023 ). However, most studies were restricted to certain groups of ascomycetes, such as bambusicolous fungi ( Jiang et al 2019 , 2021b ; Dai et al 2022 ; Phookamsak et al 2022 ), cordycipitoid fungi ( Wang et al 2020 ; Fan et al 2021 ; Dong et al 2022 ; Tang et al 2023 ), endolichenic fungi ( Si et al 2021 , 2023 ), lignicolous freshwater fungi ( Luo et al 2018a , b , 2019 ; Su et al 2018 ; Dong et al 2020 ; Shen et al 2022 ), nematode-trapping fungi ( Zhang et al 2020 , 2022a , b , c , 2023 ; Yang et al 2023b ) and woody litter-inhabiting fungi ( Mortimer et al 2021 ; Wanasinghe et al 2022 ), as well as fungi associated with specific host plants (e.g. Camellia , Coffea , Magnolia , Mangifera and Rhododendron ) ( Wanasinghe et al 2020 ; Gu et al 2022 ; Lu et al 2022 ; Tibpromma et al 2022 ; Wijayawardene et al 2022a ; Yang et al 2022a , b , 2023a ).…”