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Two New Species and a New Record of Astrocystis from Southwestern China
Qi-Rui Li, You-Peng Wu, Yin-Hui Pi, Si-Han Long, Nalin N. Wijaywardene, Nakarin Suwannarach, Li-Li Liu
MycoAsia 2022/08.
https://doi.org/10.59265/mycoasia.2022-08
Abstract
In this study, three species of Astrocystis were collected from bamboo culms in Guizhou and Yunnan Provinces in China. Morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses (based on ITS, rpb2, β-tubulin, and α-actin gene regions) supported the proposal of two new species, viz., Astrocystis pseudomirabilis sp. nov. and A. tessellati sp. nov., and a new record of A. sublimbata from China. Astrocystis pseudomirabilis can be distinguished from A. mirabilis by its larger stromata (0.64–0.83 × 0.38–0.52 mm vs. 0.4–0.6 × 0.2–0.5 mm) and larger ascospores (11–14 × 6–8 μm vs. 10–12 × 4.5–6 μm). Astrocystis tessellati differs from A. multiloculata by its smaller ascospores (16.2–19.2 × 7.2–9 μm vs. 19–25 × 7–11 μm). Astrocystis pseudomirabilis and A. tessellati form two distinct clades within Astrocystis.
Plain Language Summary
During a survey of fungi on bamboo in southern China, researchers made several new discoveries. Using both DNA analysis and physical examination, they identified two species entirely new to science, naming them Astrocystis pseudomirabilis and A. tessellati. A third species, A. sublimbata, was also documented for the first time in the country. The new species were distinguished from their close relatives by clear differences in the size of their spores and the fungal structures that contain them. This research adds to our understanding of the unique fungal biodiversity supported by bamboo ecosystems.
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