Xylochrysis aquatica sp. nov. (Woswasiaceae) from freshwater habitats in Sichuan Province, China

During surveys of ascomycetous fungi in Sichuan province, China, a new aquicolous taxon, Xylochrysis aquatica, isolated from a decaying trunk of an undetermined wood is described. Xylochrysis aquatica differs from the type species X. lucida in having solitary, smaller ascomata with a short papillate ostiole, without a golden yellow layer of surrounded cells and larger asci with rounded ascospores. The phylogenetic analysis of the combined ITS-LSU-SSU-rpb2-tef1-alpha sequence data matrix showed that X. aquatica clustered together with X. lucida and formed as different lineages, it can be recognized as a distinct species. A detailed description and an illustration of the novel species are given while a nucleotide comparison of related species is provided.

Automated summary

During surveys of fungi in Sichuan province, China, a new aquicolous taxon, Xylochrysis aquatica, is described. It differs from the type species X. lucida in various morphological characteristics. Phylogenetic analysis shows that X. aquatica clusters with X. lucida but forms a distinct lineage. A detailed description and illustration of the new species are provided, along with a nucleotide comparison of related species.