Taxonomic and Phylogenetic Insights into Novel Ascomycota from Forest Woody Litter

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Studies suggest that fungi belonging to Ascomycota are sensitive to environmental changes which are disrupting ecosystems globally, with numerous extinction events, imbuing fungal diversity research with a sense of urgency. Thus, it is crucial we assess the diversity of Ascomycota across different habitats and substrates, and include programs to seek out novel taxa within Ascomycota. Our study provides some insights into the woody-based saprotrophic microfungi in Yunnan, China by introducing two novel Ascomycota species. Furthermore, these species were discovered by a 5-year-old boy, thus highlighting how young enthusiasts can be involved in field studies and make a significant impact. ABSTRACT: While surveying the mycobiomes of dead woody litter in Yunnan Province, China, numerous isolates with affinity to Pleosporales (Dothideomycetes, Ascomycota) were recovered. The present work characterizes two species associated with dead woody twigs found in terrestrial habitats in the Kunming area of Yunnan. The novel taxa were recognized based on a polyphasic approach, including morphological examination and multiple gene phylogenetic analyses (non-translated loci and protein-coding regions). Neokalmusia jonahhulmei sp. nov. is introduced in Didymosphaeriaceae (Pleosporales) as a woody-based saprobic ascomycete that possesses multiloculate ascostromata immersed under a black clypeus-like structure, and three-septate, brown, fusiform, guttulate ascospores. Thyridaria jonahhulmei (Thyridariaceae) is introduced with teleomorphic and anamorphic (coelomycetous) characteristics. The teleomorph has the following characteristics: globose to subglobose ascomata with an ostiolum, a pruinose layer of yellow to reddish- or orange-brown material appearing around the top of the ostiolar necks, and brown, ellipsoid to fusoid, two-to-three-septate, euseptate, rough-walled ascospores; the anamorph features pycnidial conidiomata, phialidic, ampulliform to doliiform, conidiogenous cells, and brown, guttulate, ellipsoidal, aseptate conidia.