Two new species of Geejayessia (Hypocreales) from Asia as evidenced by morphology and multi-gene analyses

Abstract

Two new species of Geejayessia are introduced, based on materials collected from central China. Geejayessia clavata sp. nov. is characterised by gregarious, red brownish to dark red, oval-subglobose to globose perithecia that are formed on a basal stroma; (4–7-)8-spored cylindrical asci; ellipsoidal or rarely broadly ellipsoidal, uniseptate, smooth or finely verruculose ascospores; clavate, aseptate microconidia and absence of macroconidia. Geejayessia sinica sp. nov. is characterised by red to bright red, pyriform, subglobose to globose, perithecia on a basal stroma, collapsing laterally when dry; subcylindrical to clavate asci with a rounded apex; ellipsoidal, uniseptate ascospores; and falcate, multiseptate macroconidia with an arcuate tip. Morphological distinctions of the new species from the related fungi are discussed. This is the first report of Geejayessia from Asia.