Three new species of Conidiobolus sensu stricto from plant debris in eastern China

The genus Conidiobolus Bref. is widely distributed and the Conidiobolus sensu lato contained three other genera, Capillidium, Microconidiobolus and Neoconidiobolus. A molecular phylogeny based on the nuclear large subunit of rDNA (nucLSU), the mitochondrial small subunit of rDNA (mtSSU) and the translation elongation factor 1-alpha gene (TEF1) revealed three novel species within the clade of Conidiobolus s.s., i.e. C. bifurcatussp. nov., C. taihushanensissp. nov. and C. variabilissp. nov. These three species were isolated from plant debris in eastern China. Morphologically, C. bifurcatussp. nov. is characterised by its secondary conidiophores often branched at the tip to form two short stipes each bearing a secondary conidium. C. taihushanensissp. nov. is different from the others in its straight apical mycelia and the production of 2–5 conidia. C. variabilissp. nov. is distinctive because of its various shapes of primary conidia. All these three new taxa are illustrated herein with an update key to the species of the genus Conidiobolus s.s.