Morphological and phylogenetic study of five species of Astrocystis and Collodiscula on bamboo

Five taxa that morphologically resemble Astrocystis and Collodiscula were collected on bamboo culms from Guizhou, Hainan and Yunnan provinces in China. Based on morphology and molecular analyses (combined ITS, RPB2, beta-tubulin and alpha-actin genes), these species were identified as Astrocystis cocoes (a new record to China), A. bambusicola, Collodiscula japonica and two new species (A. multiloculata and C. lancangjiangensis). Astrocystis multiloculata can be distinguished from other Astrocystis species by its superficial stromata containing many perithecia and larger ascospores (19-25 x 7-11 mu m). Collodiscula lancangjiangensis has larger ascospores (26-36.5 x 5-7.5 mu m) than those of the most similar species C. fangjingshanensis (19-25.5 x 4.5-6 mu m). It also has larger, 3-septate ascospores than C. japonica (1-septate, 19-26 x 4.5-5.5 mu m).

Automated summary

Five taxa resembling Astrocystis and Collodiscula were found on bamboo culms in Guizhou, Hainan, and Yunnan provinces in China. Through morphological and molecular analyses, including new records to China and new species, the researchers were able to identify these species accurately.