Morphological and phylogenetic evidence reveal a new species of Vuilleminia (Corticiales, Basidiomycota) from China

Abstract

Wood-decaying fungi, as crucial decomposers in forest ecosystems, have been the subject of meticulous research. In this study, a new wood-decaying fungal species, Vuilleminia ellipsoidea, found in Yunnan Province, China, is described and illustrated based on morphological and molecular evidence. It is characterized by producing cream to buff and smooth basidiomata, a monomitic system with clamp connections, cylindrical cystidia, numerous frequently branched dendrohyphidia, cylindrical to tubulate basidia, and thin-walled and ellipsoid basidiospores measuring 10.7–13 × 6.3–7.8 µm. Phylogenetic analyses of ITS and nLSU rRNA markers were performed with Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian methods. Inference methods showed that the new species formed a distinct lineage and then grouped with V. bambusicola and V. punctata. A full description, illustrations, and phylogenetic analysis results of the new species are provided.