Taxonomy and Phylogeny of Hyphomycetous Muriform Conidial Taxa from the Tibetan Plateau, China

Abstract

During the investigation of lignicolous freshwater fungi in the Tibetan Plateau habitat, fifteen collections were isolated from submerged decaying wood. Fungal characteristics are commonly found as punctiform or powdery colonies with dark pigmented and muriform conidia. Multigene phylogenetic analyses of combined ITS, LSU, SSU and TEF DNA sequences showed that they belong to three families in Pleosporales. Among them, Paramonodictys dispersa, Pleopunctum megalosporum, Pl. multicellularum and Pl. rotundatum are established as new species. Paradictyoarthrinium hydei, Pleopunctum ellipsoideum and Pl. pseudoellipsoideum are reported as new records on the freshwater habitats in Tibetan Plateau, China. The morphological descriptions and illustrations of the new collections are provided.

Morphological and multi-gene phylogenetic analyses reveal five new hyphomycetes from freshwater habitats

“…The discovery of these five new taxa enriches the freshwater fungi resources of China and further reveals the diverse morphology for this group of fungi. Hermatomyces , Kirschsteiniothelia , Paramonodictys and Pleopunctum have been reported from both terrestrial and freshwater habitats ( Sun et al, 2021 ; Calabon et al, 2022 ; Xu et al, 2023 ). Among them, Hermatomyces and Kirschsteiniothelia have a worldwide distribution, while Pleopunctum are reported from China and Thailand ( Liu et al, 2019 ; Phukhamsakda et al, 2020 ; Senwanna et al, 2021 ; Xu et al, 2023 ).…”

“…Hermatomyces , Kirschsteiniothelia , Paramonodictys and Pleopunctum have been reported from both terrestrial and freshwater habitats ( Sun et al, 2021 ; Calabon et al, 2022 ; Xu et al, 2023 ). Among them, Hermatomyces and Kirschsteiniothelia have a worldwide distribution, while Pleopunctum are reported from China and Thailand ( Liu et al, 2019 ; Phukhamsakda et al, 2020 ; Senwanna et al, 2021 ; Xu et al, 2023 ). To date, all published Paramonodictys species are described from China ( Hyde et al, 2020 ; Yang et al, 2022 ; Xu et al, 2023 ).…”

“…Among them, Hermatomyces and Kirschsteiniothelia have a worldwide distribution, while Pleopunctum are reported from China and Thailand ( Liu et al, 2019 ; Phukhamsakda et al, 2020 ; Senwanna et al, 2021 ; Xu et al, 2023 ). To date, all published Paramonodictys species are described from China ( Hyde et al, 2020 ; Yang et al, 2022 ; Xu et al, 2023 ). However, occurring at different altitudes suggests that Paramonodictys is highly adaptable to different environments and thus may also exist in other countries.…”

“…Paramonodictys is classified in Parabambusicolaceae (Pleosporales) ( Hyde et al, 2020 ). To date, four species are accepted in this genus ( Hyde et al, 2020 ; Yang et al, 2022 ; Xu et al, 2023 ), among which, P. dispersa , has been reported from a freshwater habitat ( Xu et al, 2023 ).…”

“…rotundatum were reported from freshwater habitats ( Xu et al, 2023 ). The sexual morph of Pleopunctum has not been reported, and its asexual morph is characterized by sporodochial conidiomata, oval to ellipsoidal, brown, muriform conidia often with one or several hyaline, globose to ellipsoidal basal cells ( Liu et al, 2019 ; Phukhamsakda et al, 2020 ; Boonmee et al, 2021 ; Senwanna et al, 2021 ; Wanasinghe et al, 2022 ; Xu et al, 2023 ). Hyaline phragmosporous or dictyosporous conidia have also been reported in this genus ( Phukhamsakda et al, 2020 ; Senwanna et al, 2021 ; Wanasinghe et al, 2022 ).…”