Introducing Seriascoma yunnanense sp. nov. (Occultibambusaceae, Pleosporales) based on evidence from morphology and phylogeny

Abstract

In this study, we introduce a new fungal species from dead branches of bamboo (Poaceae) in Yunnan Province, China. Combined LSU, SSU, RPB2 and TEF1-α gene sequence data analysis showed it belongs to the family Occultibambusaceae (Pleosporales). Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses were performed to clarify the phylogenetic affinities of the taxon. The novel species is typical to Seriascoma in its elongated, gregarious, ostiolate ascostromata, immersed beneath the clypeus and clavate to fusiform, didymosporous, hyaline ascospores, but differs from S. didymospora in having uni-loculate ascostromata, short pedicellate asci and ascospores with gelatinous sheath and relatively large guttules. The new taxon is compared with known Seriascoma species and a comprehensive description and micrographs are provided.