Molecular and Morphological Characterization of Two Novel Species from Soil and Beetles (Dorcus titanus castanicolor) in Korea

Two fungal strains belonging to Ascomycota were discovered in Gyeonggi-do, Korea, during this investigation of soil microfungi and microbiota of insects. The strain KNUF-20-047 produced milky white on the back and a milky creamy center to white toward the margin on the front side of colonies. Conversely, the closest Xenoacremonium falcatus displayed a pale luteous to luteous center, white toward margins on the front side, and pale luteous or luteous pigment on the back side, whereas X. recifei produced white colonies. The conidiophores of KNUF-20-047 were slightly larger than those of X. falcatus, and the conidia were distinct from X. recifei. Strain KNUF-20-NI-005 produced light brown to subhyaline conidiophores up to 56.0 μm tall, whereas Rhinocladiella anceps displayed golden to dark brown conidiophores up to 350 μm. Strain KNUF-20-NI-005 also produced larger conidia than R. anceps but smaller than R. coryli and R. fasciculata. Moreover, the molecular phylogeny strongly supports the detailed description and illustration of each proposed species to be designated as Xenoacremonium minutisporum sp. nov. and Rhinocladiella terrigenum sp. nov. in Korea.