Novel saprobic Hermatomyces species (Hermatomycetaceae, Pleosporales) from China (Yunnan Province) and Thailand

During our survey of the diversity of woody litter fungi in China and Thailand, three Hermatomyces species were collected from dead woody twigs of Dipterocarpus sp. (Dipterocarpaceae) and Ehretia acuminata (Boraginaceae). Both morphology and multigene analyses revealed two taxa as new species (Hermatomyces turbinatus and H. jinghaensis) and the remaining collections as new records of H. sphaericus. Hermatomyces turbinatus is characterized by 1) dimorphic conidia, having circular to oval lenticular conidia and 2) turbinate conidia consisting of two columns with two septa composed of 2-3 cells in each column. Hermatomyces jinghaensis is characterized by dimorphic conidia, having circular to oval lenticular conidia and clavate or subcylindrical to cylindrical conidia and consisting of one or two columns with 6-8 cells in each column. Phylogenetic analyses of combined LSU, ITS, tub2, tef1-alpha and rpb2 sequence data supports the placement of these new taxa within Hermatomycetaceae with high statistical support.

Automated summary

During a survey of woody litter fungi diversity in China and Thailand, three Hermatomyces species were collected from dead woody twigs. Two new species (H. turbinatus and H. jinghaensis) and a new record of H. sphaericus were identified through morphology and multigene analyses. Phylogenetic analyses supported the placement of these new taxa within the Hermatomycetaceae family.