New and notable taxa of Ascomycota on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and its surrounding areas: Filamentous and entomopathogenic fungi

Abstract

This paper represents the third installment in our series dedicated to the documentation of novel and noteworthy fungal taxa inhabiting the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and its surrounding areas. In this study, we concentrate on filamentous and entomopathogenic fungi endemic to the Q-X Plateau, an area that has historically received limited taxonomic attention. We describe a total of 67 newly identified species classified within four classes, 19 orders, 35 families, and 52 genera of the Ascomycota. Comprehensive morphological assessments, coupled with robust phylogenetic analyses, substantiate the taxonomic identities of these newly described species, affirming their placements within the established fungal classification framework. One new genus Zangmuomyces, and 44 new species, viz. Beauveria lanceolata, Chalara aquatica, Chalara guttulata, Cladophialophora biguttulata, Clonostachys habaensis, Cordana pohuashanensis, Cordana tumida, Cordyceps biclavata, Corynespora xinjiangensis, Dictyocheirospora luojiensis, Digitodochium lacustre, Falholtia linzhiensis, Fusarium highlandense, Helminthosporium xinjiangense, Hermatomyces motuoensis, Juncigena hyalina, Kernia xizangensis, Metarhizium luteum, Moelleriella yusheensis, Neodictyosporium lacustre, Ophiocordyceps fusispora, Ophiocordyceps hutiaoxiaensis, Ophio¬cordyceps multiseptata, Ophiocordyceps polyphialidica, Ophiocordyceps yuhongii, Papiliomyces aurantiacus, Peren¬nicordyceps woodihabitata, Periconia xizangensis, Phaeoisaria linzhiensis, Phialocephala guizhouensis, Phialosporostilbe gaoligongensis, Ramophialophora ramosa, Samsoniella daiae, Savoryella submersa, Setophoma manglietiae, Simplicillium tengchongense, Sporidesmiella gezaensis, Sporidesmium fluviatile, Stanjehughesia motuoensis, Thysanorea linzhiensis, Torula motuoensis, Trichoderma habaense, Trichoderma xinpingense and Zangmuomyces xizangensis are introduced. In addition, 23 new hosts, geographical, habitat, recollected records and new combinations comprise Acrogenospora carmichaeliana, Akanthomyces phariformis, Aquaphila albicans, Chloridium fuscum, Conioscypha aquatica, Corynespora yunnanensis, Cylindrotrichum clavatum, Dichotomopilus ramosissimus, Fusarium rubellum, Ilyonectria liriodendri, Kylindria cryptomeriae, Mariannaea elegans, Ophiocordyceps sporangifera, Petchia siamensis, Pleurocordyceps sinensis, Pleurocordyceps yunnanensis, Polycephalomyces formosus, Polycephalomyces tengchongensis, Samsoniella hepiali, Sporoschisma longicatenatum, Sterigmatobotrys uniseptatus, and Tetraploa hainanensis. By providing a comprehensive checklist of fungal taxa, this paper lays the groundwork for future studies aimed at exploring the fungal diversity of the Q-X Plateau. Such research is essential for understanding the evolutionary processes that have shaped the region's biodiversity and for informing conservation strategies.