Gohteikhimyces, a novel hyphomycete genus from submerged wood, based on three collections in Taiwan

Abstract

Gohteikhimyces, a new genus of dematiaceous hyphomycetes occurring on decaying wood submerged in a freshwater stream of Taiwan, is proposed based on morphological and molecular data. It is characterized by effuse, black, and somewhat glistening colonies on the surface of natural substratum, which are mainly composed of solitary, dry, dark, cymbiform, or ellipsoidal to obovoid, 3–4-euseptate conidia. The conidia secede rhexolytically from semi-macronematous conidiophores with percurrent regeneration. The conidia resemble those of Bactrodesmium species, but they are not produced from sporodochial conidiomata. Phylogenetically, this new genus is placed in the Savoryellomycetidae incertae sedis, closely related to Flammispora, but is distant from the Fucosporellales which contains the Bactrodesmium species. This new genus is proposed based on three collections from different localities in Taiwan, with descriptions of two novel species, G. bactrodesmioides and G. tarooides, which differ in conidial morphology. The two species are supported by sufficient differences in their LSU, SSU, and the ITS sequences. In this paper, the genus Gohteikhimyces is illustrated with light micrographs and scanning electron micrographs.