Arachnophora dinghuensis sp. nov. and Websteromyces inaequale sp. nov., and two new records of anamorphic fungi from dead branches of broad-leaved trees in China

Two new species of hyphomycetes, Arachnophora dinghuensis and Websteromyces inaequale, are described and illustrated from specimens collected on dead branches of unidentified plants in China. Arachnophora dinghuensis is characterized by monoblastic, integrated, terminal, occasionally percurrently extending conidiogenous cells that produce solitary, acrogenous, staurosporous conidia. The conidia are two-celled, irregular, brown, 21–27.5 × 10–17 μm, with a central body that bears 2 or more fertile, brown to pale brown lateral cells, which in turn give rise to 1–3 fertile, conical, hyaline to pale brown arm-cells, 4–6.5 × 3.5–4.5 μm. A microconidial, Selenosporella-like synanamorph occurs at the apex of the arms. Websteromyces inaequale is recognized as the second species in the genus, and differs from the type species, W. verruculosus, in possessing naviculiform, obclavate to ellipsoidal, smooth, larger conidia in unbranched acropetal chains. The hyphomycetes Rhexoacrodictys queenslandica and Solicorynespora sylvatica are reported from China for the first time. A key to Arachnophora species is provided.     

Three new species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spadicoides</Emphasis> from Lushan Mountain,China

Spadicoides lushanensis sp. nov., S. multiseptata sp. nov. and S. rostrata sp. nov. are described and illustrated from specimens collected on dead branches of unidentified plants in Lushan Mountain, China. Spadicoides lushanensis is characterized by obclavate, rostrate, pale brown, 40–65?×?4.5–5.5 μm, smooth, 6–8-euseptate conidia. Spadicoides multiseptata is easily distinguished by obclavate, smooth, 11–15-euseptate, 65–115?×?11.5–13 μm, brown to pale brown conidia with a subacute apex. Spadicoides rostrata differs from other described Spadicoides species by obclavate, rostrate, pale brown, 40–65?×?10.5–12.5 μm, smooth, predominantly 5-euseptate conidia. A dichotomous key to Spadicoides species is provided.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sporidesmioides thailandica</Emphasis> gen. et sp. nov. (Dothideomycetes) from northern Thailand

Sporidesmioides thailandica gen. et sp. nov., isolated from herbaceous litter in northern Thailand, is described and illustrated. The new genus is characterised by sporidesmium-like, septate, solitary, acrogenous, pale brown to brown, obclavate, conidia, which taper towards the apex and are truncate at the base and septate conidiophores similar to those of Sporidesmium species in Sporidesmiaceae (Sordariomycetes). It differs from similar genera by the presence of a stromatic base, polyblastic conidiogenous cells and a distinct, colourless sheath at the conidial apex. Phylogenetic analyses of combined LSU, SSU, TEF1-α and RPB2 sequence data show that the new taxon, Sporidesmioides thailandica, forms a separate, single clade with Torulaceae in Pleosporales, Dothideomycetes, and is distinct from Sporidesmiaceae (Sordariomycetes).     

Phylogeny and morphology of Hirsutella tunicata sp. nov. (Ophiocordycipitaceae), a novel mite parasite from Peru

A new species of Hirsutella was isolated from unidentified mites on Petri plates inoculated with soil and root fragments collected from asparagus rhizosphere at Virú, Northern Peru. The fungus differs from other Hirsutella species by an envelope surrounding the conidium, conidia dimension and DNA sequences. In PDA cultures, the mycelium produced aerial hyphae with conidiogenous cells mainly at right angles, occasionally showing a secondary conidiophore. The solitary conidia are cymbiform, slightly apiculate, 5.0–6.0 × 3.0–4.0 μm. Phylogenetic analyses with partial rRNA and β-tubulin gene sequences confirmed the fungus as an Hirsutella (Ophiocordycipitaceae). Closest species shown by maximum likelihood and neighbor-joining trees were H. nodulosa and H. aphidis, from which the new species differs for conidium or conidiogenous cells dimensions, lack of synnemata and host type. A recombination event was also detected in the rRNA of the holotype strain, involving Ophiocordyceps sinensis as major parent and O. cochlidiicola as minor parent. A complement, inverted insertion was also found in its rRNA, involving part of the ITS2 and 5.8S regions, flanked by two short nucleotide arrays. Due to conidia dimension and phylogenetic position, the fungus is described as Hirsutella tunicata sp. nov. A review of mononematous Hirsutella species is provided.     

Athelia termitophila sp. nov. is the teleomorph of the termite ball fungus Fibularhizoctonia sp.

A new species of Athelia, A. termitophila, from Japan is described and illustrated on the basis of morphological and phylogenetic analyses. Basidiomes of this species are characterized by having hyphae sometimes with clamp connections at the septa, basidia without clamp connections at the basal septa, and ellipsoid to ovoid basidiospores measuring 4.5–6 × 3–4.5 μm. In culture, mycelia produce pale brown, orange-brown to brown, globose sclerotia measuring 0.24–0.41 mm diam. The sclerotia are distinctly different in shape and size from those of other Athelia species, and are occasionally found inside the woody substrate beneath basidiomes. They are identical in shape and size to those of Fibularhizoctonia sp., also known as termite balls. Phylogenetic analysis using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence data revealed that A. termitophila is the teleomorph of Fibularhizoctonia sp.     

Glomerella truncata sp. nov., the teleomorph of Colletotrichum truncatum

Anthracnose of lentil, caused by Colletotrichum truncatum is a serious threat to lentil (Lens culinaris) grown in western Canada. The teleomorph stage of this pathogen was induced to form under laboratory conditions. Random pairing of single conidium isolates enabled the identification of fertile isolates. The individual isolates of this fertile pair were crossed with 14 other isolates, and all isolates were also incubated alone. Self-sterility was observed for all 16 isolates tested. Three isolates did not produce perithecia with either tester isolate, and none of the isolates tested produced perithecia with both tester isolates. Perithecia were brown–black, superficial, solitary or in small groups, obpyriform to ovate or ampulliform, 200–520 × 110–320 μm (mean: 350 × 200 μm). Asci were cylindrical, narrowing slightly at the apex, unitunicate, evanescent, 53–142 × 5–14 μm (mean: 90 × 8 μm), and contained eight ascospores. Ascospores were hyaline, aseptate, oblong, 12–20 × 5–8 μm (mean: 15.7–6.7 μm). The characteristics agree with those described for the genus Glomerella, and the species was named G. truncata sp. nov. The morphology of the new species is compared with that of other species in the genus, and future research on G. truncata is described.     

Parablastocatena tetracerae gen. et sp. nov. and Corynesporella licualae sp. nov. from Hainan, China

Parablastocatena tetracerae gen. et sp. nov. and Corynesporella licualae sp. nov., collected on dead branches of Tetracera asiatica and Licuala fordiana, respectively, in tropical forests of China, are described and illustrated. Parablastocatena tetracerae is the type species for a new monotypic genus in possessing macronematous conidiophores forming distinct synnemata with holoblastic conidiogenesis and euseptate, short-chained conidia ending in a paler brown rostrum, whereas C. licualae is distinguished from described species by the smaller conidia with long appendages. A key to currently accepted species of Corynesporella is provided.     

Two new species of Solicorynespora from Spain

Solicorynespora insolita sp. nov. and Solicory-nespora biseptata sp. nov., collected from plant debris in natural areas of Spain, are described and illustrated. The former species is characterized by obclavate to fusiform, 4- to 7-septate, dark brown conidia, with a mucous tunica at the apex; sometimes with an unusual oblong to bacilliform, hyaline, phialidic conidial synanamorph arising from the apical cell. Analysis of D1/D2 region rDNA sequences revealed that this fungus is related to members of the family Kirschsteiniotheliaceae of the Dothideomycetes. Solicorynespora biseptata is distinguished by obclavate, 2-septate, brown, but pale brown at the apex, smooth conidia. This latter fungus did not grow in culture. A key to species of Solicorynespora is provided.     

Perenniporia cinereofusca sp. nov. (Polyporales,Basidiomycota) evidenced by morphological characters and phylogenetic analysis

A new Perenniporia species, P. cinereofusca, is described based on morphological and molecular characters. It is characterized by an annual growth habit, resupinate basidiocarps with gray to pale brown pore surface, tissues becoming black in 5% potassium hydroxide (KOH), a dimitic hyphal system with weakly dextrinoid skeletal hyphae and hyaline to pale yellowish, distinctly thick-walled and indextrinoid basidiospores (6.5–7.7 × 5.3–6.3 μm), and presence of dendrohyphidia and large rhomboid crystals. Both morphological and molecular evidence confirmed the placement of the new species in Perenniporia sensu stricto and showed its relationships with similar species in the genus.     

Minteriella cenotigena anam. gen. & sp. nov. from submerged plant material in Mexico

Minteriella cenotigena gen. & sp. nov., found on decaying bark submerged in a sinkhole from the southern of Mexico, is described and illustrated. The new taxa is distinguished by synnematous conidiomata, with polyblastic, discrete, indeterminate, sympodially proliferating conidiogenous cells, with flat conidiogenous loci and cylindrical, 3- to 4- (to 5) euseptate, hyaline conidia.     

Phylogenetic classification of ten novel species belonging to the genus Bifidobacterium comprising B. phasiani sp. nov., B. pongonis sp. nov., B. saguinibicoloris sp. nov., B. colobi sp. nov., B. simiiventris sp. nov., B. santillanense sp. nov., B. miconis sp. nov., B. amazonense sp. nov., B. pluvialisilvae sp. nov., and B. miconisargentati sp. nov

Ten Bifidobacterium strains, i.e., 6T3, 64T4, 79T10, 80T4, 81T8, 82T1, 82T10, 82T18, 82T24, and 82T25, were isolated from mantled guereza (Colobus guereza), Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abeli), silvery marmoset (Mico argentatus), golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia), pied tamarin (Saguinus bicolor), and common pheasant (Phaisanus colchinus). Cells are Gram-positive, non-motile, non-sporulating, facultative anaerobic, and fructose 6-phosphate phosphoketolase-positive. Phylogenetic analyses based on the core genome sequences revealed that isolated strains exhibit close phylogenetic relatedness with Bifidobacterium genus members belonging to the Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium pullorum, and Bifidobacterium tissieri phylogenetic groups. Phenotypic characterization and genotyping based on the genome sequences clearly show that these strains are distinct from each of the type strains of the so far recognized Bifidobacterium species. Thus, B. phasiani sp. nov. (6T3 = LMG 32224^T = DSM 112544^T), B. pongonis sp. nov. (64T4 = LMG 32281^T = DSM 112547^T), B. saguinibicoloris sp. nov. (79T10 = LMG 32232^T = DSM 112543^T), B. colobi sp. nov. (80T4 = LMG 32225^T = DSM 112552^T), B. simiiventris sp. nov. (81T8 = LMG 32226^T = DSM 112549^T), B. santillanense sp. nov. (82T1 = LMG 32284^T = DSM 112550^T), B. miconis sp. nov. (82T10 = LMG 32282^T = DSM 112551^T), B. amazonense sp. nov. (82T18 = LMG 32297^T = DSM 112548^T), pluvialisilvae sp. nov. (82T24 = LMG 32229^T = DSM 112545^T), and B. miconisargentati sp. nov. (82T25 = LMG 32283^T = DSM 112546^T) are proposed as novel Bifidobacterium species.     

Description ofAvesicladiella gen. nov. (hyphomycetes) for two undescribed leaf litter microfungi

The new hyphomycete genusAvesicladiella with two species,A. britannica sp. nov., type species, andA. microsperma sp. nov., is described and illustrated. Both species are leaf litter microfungi. The genus closely resemblesVesicladiella, Circinotrichum, Gyrothrix, Ceratocladium andVermiculariopsiella, several hyphomycete genera with comparable characters such as superficial hyphal networks; production of setae; absence of conidiophores; lageniform or ampulliform conidiogenous cells; and hyaline aseptate conidia produced in clusters around the apices of conidiogenous cells. The new genus differs from these by its hyaline, septate setae, typical ‘phialidic’ conidiogenous cells, and hyaline, aseptate cylindrical conidia.     

Three species of Fulvifomes (Basidiomycota,Hymenochaetales) associated with rots on mangrove tree Xylocarpus granatum in Thailand

We describe three new species of Fulvifomes from Thailand, all of which grow on Xylocarpus granatum, a major mangrove tree species in southeastern Asia. Fulvifomes xylocarpicola sp. nov. is characterized by the perennial and sessile basidiocarps, woody context without a distinct crust, pores 4–6/mm, a dimitic hyphal system both in the context and trama, broadly ellipsoid basidiospores measuring 4–5.5 × 3.5–4.5 μm, and occurrence on the stem of X. granatum. Fulvifomes siamensis sp. nov. is characterized by the perennial and sessile basidiocarps, woody context without a crust, pores 7–8/mm, a monomitic hyphal system in the context, subglobose basidiospores measuring 4.5–6 × 4–5 μm, and occurrence on the root or butt of X. granatum. Fulvifomes halophilus sp. nov. is characterized by perennial, sessile basidiocarps, leathery to corky context with a crust near the pileus surface, pores 5–8/mm, a subdimitic hyphal system in the context, subglobose basidiospores measuring 4–5.5 × 3.5–5 μm, and occurrence on the root or butt of X. granatum. Fulvifomes mangrovicus comb. nov. is proposed for Fomes mangrovicus. A key to the worldwide species of Fulvifomes is provided.     

Entomophthora brevinucleata sp. nov. [Zygomycetes,Entomophthoraceae], a pathogen of gall midges [Dip.: Cecidomyiidae]

Entomophthora brevinucleata, a fungal pathogen of gall midges, is described. The species occurs on at least 3 host species, including the wheat blossom midgeSitodiplosis mosellana Géhin andMycodiplosis sp.E. brevinucleata produces rhizoids, either monohyphal or comprising bundles of a few hyphae, without holdfasts. The hyphal bodies are subspherical with mean dimensions of 27.5×22.1 μm. The primary conidia are campanulate with mean dimensions from individual hosts of 11.2–18.9×8.7–15.8 μm. They contain 3–13 nuclei with a mean diameter of between 2.7 and 3.7 μm stained with lactophenol-aceto-orcein. The secondary conidia are of similar shape but smaller. Cystidia and resting spores were not observed.     

Ultrastructure and Systematics of Two New Species of Dinoflagellate,Paragymnodinium Asymmetricum sp. nov. and Paragymnodinium Inerme sp. nov. (Gymnodiniales,Dinophyceae)1

The genus Paragymnodinium currently includes two species, P. shiwhaense and P. stigmaticum, that are characterized by mixotrophic nutrition and the possession of nematocysts. In this study, two new dinoflagellates belonging to this genus were described based on observations using LM, SEM, and TEM together with a molecular analysis. Cells of P. asymmetricum sp. nov., isolated from Nha Trang Beach, Vietnam, were 7.9–12.6 μm long and 4.7–9.0 μm wide. The species showed no evidence of feeding behavior and was able to sustain itself phototrophically. Paragymnodinium asymmetricum shared many features with P. shiwhaense, including presence of nematocysts, absence of an eyespot, and a planktonic lifestyle, but was clearly distinguished by the asymmetric shape of the hyposome, possession of a single chloroplast, and its nutritional mode. Cells of P. inerme sp. nov., isolated from Jogashima, Kanagawa Pref, Japan, were 15.3–23.7 μm long and 10.9–19.6 μm wide. This species also showed no evidence of feeding behavior. Paragymnodinium inerme was similar to cells of P. shiwhaense in shape and planktonic lifestyle, but its nutritional mode was different. The presence of incomplete nematocysts was also a unique feature. A phylogenetic analysis inferred from concatenated SSU and LSU rDNA sequences recovered the two dinoflagellates in a robust clade with Paragymnodinium spp., within the clade of Gymnodinium sensu stricto. This evidence, together with their morphological similarities, made it reasonable to conclude that these two dinoflagellates are new species of Paragymnodinium.     

Characterization of Bifidobacterium apousia sp. nov., Bifidobacterium choladohabitans sp. nov., and Bifidobacterium polysaccharolyticum sp. nov., three novel species of the genus Bifidobacterium from honey bee gut

Bifidobacterium is one of the dominating bacterial genera in the honey bee gut, and they are the key degrader of diet polysaccharides for the host. Previous genomic analysis shows that they belong to separate phylogenetic clusters and exhibited different functional potentials in hemicellulose digestion. Here, three novel strains from the genus Bifidobacterium were isolated from the guts of the honey bee (Apis mellifera). Phylogenomic analysis showed that the isolates could be grouped into four phylogenetic clusters. The average nucleotide identity values between strains from different clusters are <95%, while strains in Cluster IV belong to the characterized species Bifidobacterium asteroides. Carbohydrate-active enzyme annotation confirmed that the metabolic capacity for carbohydrates varied between clusters of strains. Cells are Gram-positive rods; they grew both anaerobically and in a CO₂-enriched atmosphere. All strains grew at a temperature range of 20–42 °C, with optimum growth at 35 °C. The pH range for growth was 5–9. Strains from different phylogenetic clusters varied in multiple phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characterizations. Thus, we propose three novel species Bifidobacterium apousia sp. nov. whose type strain is W8102^T (=CGMCC 1.18893 ^T = JCM 34587 ^T), Bifidobacterium choladohabitans sp. nov., whose type strain is B14384H11^T (=CGMCC 1.18892 ^T = JCM 34586 ^T), and Bifidobacterium polysaccharolyticum sp. nov. whose type strain is W8117^T (=CGMCC 1.18894 ^T = JCM 34588 ^T).     

中国云南色串孢科的新种苍山长喙孢和新记录露

本研究对中国滇西北地区淡水木腐真菌进行了调查,在云南省的苍山、怒江和澜沧江采集到3个菌株。根据形态学特征和多基因系统发育分析（ITS、LSU、SSU、TEF1-α和RPB2）描述了新种——苍山长喙孢Rostriconidium cangshanense。苍山长喙孢的特征是菌体形态与营养菌丝不同,分生孢子梗单生或者松散成束,光滑或粗糙;产孢细胞多芽、深褐色、具有黑色驼峰状的分生孢子脱落痕;分生孢子梭形至倒棒状、长喙状,6-8个横隔,有明显油滴状细胞内含物,有时具顶端粘膜鞘。露兜长喙孢Rostriconidium pandanicola报道为世界淡水环境的新记录。