<i>Synhelminthosporium</i> gen. et sp. nov. and Two New Species of <i>Helminthosporium</i> (Massarinaceae, Pleosporales) from Sichuan Province, China

<i>Helminthosporium</i> is a polyphyletic genus in Massarinaceae (Pleosporales). Species of <i>Helminthosporium</i> are characterized by having septate and erect conidiophores, acro-pleurogenous and distoseptate conidia with a ring-shaped scar at the base. During a survey of...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yanpeng Chen, Wenhui Tian, Yaobin Guo, Hugo Madrid, Sajeewa S. N. Maharachchikumbura
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-07-01
Series:Journal of Fungi
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/8/7/712
Description
Summary:<i>Helminthosporium</i> is a polyphyletic genus in Massarinaceae (Pleosporales). Species of <i>Helminthosporium</i> are characterized by having septate and erect conidiophores, acro-pleurogenous and distoseptate conidia with a ring-shaped scar at the base. During a survey of fungal diversity in Sichuan Province, China, six <i>Helminthosporium</i>-like isolates were collected from dead branches of unknown trees. Five barcodes, including ITS (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2), SSU, LSU, <i>TEF1</i>, and <i>RPB2</i> were amplified and sequenced. Morphological examination and multi-locus phylogenetic analyses revealed two new <i>Helminthosporium</i> species (<i>H. chengduense</i> sp. nov., and <i>H. chinense</i> sp. nov.), a new genus (<i>Synhelminthosporium</i> gen. nov.) with a type species <i>Synhelminthosporium synnematoferum</i> sp. nov., and two known species (<i>Helminthosporium submersum</i> and <i>H. velutinum</i>) within Massarinaceae. The new genus <i>Synhelminthosporium</i> differs from the phylogenetically closest genus <i>Helminthosporium</i> by producing synnematous conidiophores. This work expands our understanding of the diversity of <i>Helminthosporium</i>-like taxa in Sichuan Province, China.
ISSN:2309-608X