Taxonomy and Phylogeny of Xylariomycetidae Fungi in Ascomycota: A Case Study in Southwest of China
Taxonomy and Phylogeny of Xylariomycetidae Fungi in Ascomycota: A Case Study in Southwest of China
Lakmali S. Dissanayake1, Peter E. Mortimer2 and Ji-Chuan Kang1*
1Engineering and Research Center for Southwest Bio-Pharmaceutical Resources of National Education Ministry of China, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China.
2Honghe Center for Mountain Futures, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Honghe County 654400, Yunnan, China
*Email: jckang@gzu.edu.cn
Abstract
Southwestern China is widely acknowledged as a global biodiversity hotspot, renowned for its remarkable high levels of floral, faunal and microbial diversity. However, research pertaining to the kingdom of fungi, particularly microfungi, remains comparatively limited in comparison with the attention given to other kingdoms such as Plantae and Animalia. Within the fungal kingdom, the subclass Xylariomycetidae, belonging to the Sordariomycetes (Ascomycota), presents an intriguing array of macro- and micro-morphologies, yet our knowledge of their diversity and distribution is still lacking. To address this knowledge gap, our study focused on an extensive survey of Xylariomycetidae fungi across diverse habitats in Southwest of China, encompassing the provinces of Guizhou, Sichuan, and Yunnan. The primary objectives of this study were twofold: firstly, to examine fresh collections of xylarialean taxa, and secondly, to investigate their taxonomy and phylogeny via polyphasic approaches. Through our investigation, we have made significant discoveries, leading to the molecular identification and morphorlogical description of fifteen new species belonging to various families within the Xylariomycetidae subclass, including Amphisphaeriaceae, Appendicosporaceae, Cainiaceae, Fasciatisporaceae, lodosphaeriaceae, Requienellaceae, Sporocadaceae, and Vamsapriyaceae. These findings greatly enhance our understanding of fungal diversity in the region, highlighting the presence of numerous potentially novel species and providing a compelling opportunity for mycologists to explore further research avenues. Additionally, the comprehensive morphological descriptions and molecular sequences generated by this study serve as valuable resources for future taxonomic studies and contribute to a broader understanding of fungal diversity in Southwest of China.
