Morphological and phylogenetic analyses reveal two new species in Conidiobolus s.s. (Conidiobolaceae, Entomophthorales) from China

Abstract

The genus Conidiobolus s.s. (Conidiobolaceae, Entomophthorales) has been delimited to accommodate members that produce microspores. Herein, morphological studies, combined with phylogenetic analysis based on the nuclear large subunit of rDNA (nucLSU), the mitochondrial small subunit of rDNA (mtSSU), and the elongation-factor-like gene (EFL) revealed two Conidiobolus s.s. species isolated from plant debris in China. Conidiobolus longiconidiophorus sp. nov. is mainly characterised by its long primary conidiophores, while Conidiobolus polysporus sp. nov. is diagnosed by 2–3 primary conidia arising from branched primary conidiophores. Phylogenetically, the former is grouped into a separate clade, while the latter is closely related to C. incongruus, but is morphologically distinguished by its larger primary conidia and branched conidiophores.