Unveiling four new taxa and Nigrosynnemanatarajanensis comb. nov. in Stachybotryaceae (Hypocreales) from monocotyledon plants in Guangdong Province, China.

Abstract

Members of Stachybotryaceae are distributed worldwide, with certain species playing a significant role as bio-degraders and some causing diseases in plants, humans, and animals. Other species within this family can be found in soil and have been reported as saprobes in various plants. In this study (2021-2022), fungal taxa resembling Stachybotryaceae, isolated from dead leaves of Agavesisalana and a dead stem of Wurfbainiavillosa in Guangdong Province, China, are identified based on morphological characteristics and molecular data. Multi-locus phylogeny based on calmodulin (cmdA), internal transcribed spacer (ITS), the large subunit nuclear rDNA (LSU), RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (rpb2), the partial translation elongation factor 1-α (tef1-α), and β-tubulin (tub2) revealed that nine strains were grouped within Stachybotryaceae. Nigrosynnemaguangdongense gen. et sp. nov., typical of Stachybotryaceae but having unusual olivaceous brown to black synnemata that are narrower towards the apex and produce phialidic, aseptate, slimy conidia in black and glistening heads, is introduced. Additionally, Brevistachyswurfbainiae and Sirastachysguangdongensis are introduced as new species. Stachybotrysmicrosporus is a new host record for Agavesisalana. The present study provides comprehensive descriptions, illustrations, and molecular data analyses of the newly discovered taxa and newly recorded species as a taxonomic and phylogenetic contribution to Stachybotryaceae. Furthermore, a new combination, Nigrosynnemanatarajanensis, is proposed for the previously described Virgatosporanatarajanensis.