Identification of three novel species and one new record of Kirschsteiniothelia (Kirschsteiniotheliaceae, Kirschsteiniotheliales) from Jiangxi, China.

Abstract

Fungal diversity is rapidly expanding, with numerous species being discovered worldwide. While plant debris is a habitat favoring the survival and multiplication of various microbial species. In this study, several kirschsteiniothelia-like isolates were collected from dead branches of unidentified perennial dicotyledonous plants. Based on morphological examination and phylogenetic analyses of combined ITS, LSU, and SSU sequences data using maximum-likelihood and Bayesian inference, three new species of Kirschsteiniothelia, namely K.ganzhouensis, K.jiangxiensis, and K.jiulianshanensis, were introduced, and one known species, K.inthanonensis, was recorded for the first time from China. To improve our comprehensive knowledge of the species diversity of Kirschsteiniothelia, all accepted Kirschsteiniothelia species with morphological characteristics, sequence data, asexual morphs, habitat, host, and locality are listed.