New species, Parahelicomyces yunnanensis sp. nov. and Tubeufia nigroseptum sp. nov. from freshwater habitats in Yunnan, China

Diversity of lignicolous freshwater fungi in northwestern Yunnan, China is currently being studied. Four fresh collections of tubeufiaceous taxa were collected and identified. Among of them, Parahelicomyces yunnanensis sp. nov and Tubeufia nigroseptum sp. nov. are introduced as new species based on morphology and molecular phylogenetic analysis of combined ITS, SSU, TEF1-α and RPB2 sequence data. The detailed descriptions and illustrations of the new species are provided, as well as the morphological comparison with similar taxa are discussed. Two strains of Neohelicomyces aquaticus and Tubeufia cylindrothecia are provided.

Two novel species and two new records of Distoseptispora from freshwater habitats in China and Thailand

During investigations into freshwater fungi from the Great Mekong Subregion, four Distoseptispora taxa were collected from China and Thailand. Based on morphological characteristics, and phylogenetic analyses of combined LSU, ITS, SSU, TEF1-α, and RPB2 sequence data, two new species Distoseptispora bangkokensis and D. lancangjiangensis are introduced, and two known species D. clematidis and D. thysanolaenae were first reported in freshwater habitat. Illustrations and descriptions of these taxa are provided, along with comparisons with extant taxa in the genus.

Novelties in Fuscosporellaceae (Fuscosporellales): Two New Parafuscosporella from Thailand Revealed by Morphology and Phylogenetic Analyses

Asexual morphs of freshwater fungi have been mostly reported from tropical and subtropical regions. From our ongoing investigation of the diversity and taxonomy of freshwater microfungi in Thailand, a country with rich natural resources and diverse ecosystems, Parafuscosporella ellipsoconidiogena sp. nov. and P. obovata sp. nov., collected from decaying submerged twigs at Phalad Waterfall in a conserved forest in Chiang Mai Zoo, Chiang Mai Province, northern Thailand, are proposed. DNA phylogenies based on a combination of ITS and LSU datasets support the placement of these species in Parafuscosporella (Fuscosporellaceae, Fuscosporellales, Sordariomycetes), and these two novel species differ from known species in terms of morphology. Detailed descriptions, illustrations and a key to Parafuscosporella species are provided, as well as comparisons with other accepted Parafuscosporella species.

Aquapteridospora Jiangxiensis sp. Nov., A New Aquatic Hyphomycetes From Freshwater Habitats in China and A. Bambusinum Comb. Nov.

During an investigation of freshwater fungi in Jiangxi province, China, a new hyphomycetous species, Aquapteridospora jiangxiensis, was collected and isolated. A. jiangxiensis is characterized by its unbranched and guttulate conidiophores with multi-septa and swollen at the base, polyblastic conidiogenous cells with sympodial proliferations and denticles, guttulate conidia with a sheath. The new species was illustrated and a muti-loci (ITS, LSU, SSU, TEF1 and RPB2) phylogenetic tree was constructed. Pleurophragmium bambusinum was is transferred to Aquapteridospora based on molecular and morphological data. A key to the species of Aquapteridospora is presented in this paper.

Veronaea aquatica sp. nov. (Herpotrichiellaceae, Chaetothyriales, Eurotiomycetes) from submerged bamboo in China

Freshwater fungi are highly diverse and ecologically important in freshwater systems. In China, more than 1000 species of freshwater fungi are known. Here, we present a brown-spored hyphomycetes that was collected on a submerged decaying bamboo culm in a forest stream in China. Phylogenetic analyses of combined LSU, ITS and TUB2 sequences confirm the placement of our new strain in Veronaea (Herpotrichiellaceae), sister to V. japonica. Veronaea aquatica sp. nov. differs from related taxa V. compacta and V. japonica in having longer conidiophores and cylindrical to pyriform or subclavate conidia with 0–2 septa. Veronaea aquatica also has darker brown hyphae compared to V. japonica. A morphological description and detailed illustrations of V. aquatica are provided.

Five Novel Taxa from Freshwater Habitats and New Taxonomic Insights of Pleurotheciales and Savoryellomycetidae

Pleurotheciales is the largest order in Savoryellomycetidae with a large proportion of species known from freshwater habitats. In order to investigate the phylogenetic relationships of taxa within Pleurotheciales and contribute to their diversity, submerged wood was collected from freshwater habitats in China (Yunnan Province) and Thailand. Two dematiaceous, sporodochial hyphomycetes and one annulatascales-like ascomycete with unusual morphology as compared to extant ones were discovered. They were subjected to DNA-based phylogenetic analyses and the results revealed three distinct lineages in Savoryellomycetidae. This morpho-phylo taxonomic study supports the establishment of five novel taxa including two novel genera, Obliquifusoideum and Saprodesmium, and three novel species, Coleodictyospora muriformis, Obliquifusoideum guttulatum and Saprodesmium dematiosporum. Coleodictyospora muriformis and S. dematiosporum are placed in Pleurotheciales, while O. guttulatum is referred to Savoryellomycetidae genera incertae sedis. The phylogenetic relationships are also presented for Coleodictyospora and Pseudocoleodictyospora, which raises an intriguing taxonomic issue. These two genera are positioned in two different classes, viz Sordariomycetes and Dothideomycetes, although they are quite similar except for the presence of a conidial sheath. This study expands our knowledge of the fungal diversity of freshwater fungi, and also indicates that Pleurotheciales species are mostly found in freshwater habitats.

Biodiversity of Lignicolous Freshwater Hyphomycetes from China and Thailand and Description of Sixteen Species

Freshwater hyphomycetes are a highly diverse group of fungi with a worldwide distribution and have been mostly reported from tropical and subtropical regions. During investigations of freshwater fungi from the Greater Mekong subregion in China and Thailand, sixteen freshwater hyphomycetes (three of them belong to the class Dothideomycetes while thirteen belong to the class Sordariomycetes) were collected. Based on morphology and multi-gene phylogenetic analyses, Neospadicoides thailandica, Pseudodactylaria aquatica, Sporidesmium nujiangense, Tetraploa thailandica, Vamsapriya aquatica and Wongia fusiformis are described as new species; Aquapteridospora bambusinum is proposed as a new combination; Acrodictys liputii, Chloridium gonytrichii, Pseudoberkleasmium chiangmaiense, Pleomonodictys capensis, Sporidesmium aturbinatum and Vamsapriya indica are reported as new country records; and Sporidesmium tropicale, Sporoschisma chiangraiense and Sporoschisma longicatenatum are introduced as three new collections. In addition, a checklist of freshwater fungi from China over the last five years is also provided.

Growth inhibition of Hydrilla verticillata by freshwater fungi

Triadiati T, Sukarno N, Rahmah IS. 2021. Growth inhibition of Hydrilla verticillata by freshwater fungi. Biodiversitas 22: 2876-2882. The uncontrolled growth of hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle) in Mekarsari Fruit Garden, Bogor causes various losses. A Freshwater fungus is one of the alternatives to control hydrilla growth. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate the damage and growth inhibition of hydrilla using freshwater fungi. Freshwater fungi were isolated from Lake Mekarsari Fruit Garden. Hydrilla growth characteristics observed were stem length, stem nodus number, number of healthy leaves, leaf number, leaf damage, wet and dry weight. The results showed that a total of seven isolates of freshwater fungi were obtained from Lake Mekarsari Fruit Garden. Two species, i.e. Myrothecium sp. and Stachybotrys sp. were selected to control hydrilla growth. Fungal treatment reduced the stem length and leaf number of hydrilla. The combination of both fungal isolates showed less leaf damage than Myrothecium sp. The damage of hydrilla leaves by Myrothecium sp. and Stachybotrys sp. were 98.07% and 78.71%, respectively.

Freshwater hyphomycetes in Sordariomycetes: two new species of Tainosphaeria (Chaetosphaeriaceae, Chaetosphaeriales) from Thailand

Ongoing investigation of diversity and taxonomy of lignicolous freshwater fungi in Thailand have revealed plenty of new hyphomycetous species. In this study, Tainosphaeria aquatica sp. nov. and T. thailandense sp. nov., occurred on submerged wood in Thailand, are described and illustrated based on the evidences of morphological characters and phylogenetic analysis of combined LSU, ITS and TEF1-α dataset. Tainosphaeria aquatica is characterized by hyaline, 0–3-septate, cylindrical to long fusiform conidia with hair-like, hyaline appendages at both ends. Tainosphaeria thailandense is distinct in having laurel-green, 0–1-septate, reniform to ellipsoidal conidia with polar appendages. A synopsis of morphological characteristics of Tainosphaeria species is provided.