Phylogeny and taxonomy of three new Ctenomyces (Arthrodermataceae, Onygenales) species from China

Abstract

Twelve Ctenomyces (Arthrodermataceae, Onygenales) strains were obtained and identified during a survey of keratinophilic fungi in soils from China. We used molecular identification combined with morphological evidence to delimit species, circumscribing five species in the genus. Three new species are herein described: C.albussp. nov., C.obovatussp. nov. and C.peltricolorsp. nov. We also described, illustrated and compared the novel species with related species in the morphology.

Three new Russula species in sect. Ingratae (Russulales, Basidiomycota) from southern China

“…Whether these Chinese specimens represent unknown taxa or intraspecific geographically-separated populations is still debatable ( Wang 2020 ). The factual presence of these species of European and North American origin in China have been analysed in recent years ( Li 2014 ; Zhang 2014 ; Wang 2019; Liu 2019 ) and symbiotic host plants were found to be very similar between north-eastern China, Europe and North America ( Wu 1979 ).…”

Phylogeny and taxonomy of two new Plectosphaerella (Plectosphaerellaceae, Glomerellales) species from China

“…Likewise, some species (mainly P. oligotrophica and P. humicola ) have so far only been isolated from soils. In comparison with these previous studies, our two new species and one known species of Plectosphaerella were obtained from the soil beside a park road by the baiting technique (a method specifically designed for isolating keratinophilic fungi, Zhang et al 2019). More studies are needed to assess whether our new species could be isolated from other habitats.…”

“…Samples were collected 3–10 cm below the soil surface and placed in Ziploc plastic bags. Isolation and purification of strains were undertaken according to methods described by Zhang et al (2019). Sterile chicken feathers and human hairs were combined with the soil samples.…”

Phylogenetic and ecological reevaluation of the order Onygenales

“…Conidia are verrucose, thick-walled, lightly pigmented, commonly with ampulliform swelling (Benjamin 1956;Zhang et al 2019). The habitat of Ctenomyces species is soil enriched with bird feathers (Currah 1985;Zhang et al 2019); no animal pathology is known.…”

“…The genus Shanorella contains a single species, S. spirotricha with characteristic peridial hyphae with coiled appendages (Benjamin 1956) and it can be differentiated from Ctenomyces by its spiral rather than ctenoid appendages on the peridium (Benjamin 1956). The habitat choice of bird feathers is similar in both genera (Currah 1985;Zhang et al 2019;Benjamin 1956) and the specialized peridial hyphae probably enhance attachment to feathers. In the current study, S. spirotricha clustered in Clade 2 with the type of Chrysosporium vallenarense (CBS 627.83) in both ITS (with 93% similarity) and LSU analyses (with 97% similarity).…”