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The findings from the southwestern region of China contribute to the impressive diversity of freshwater fungi in the country.
A team of researchers has recently discovered two new species of freshwater hyphomycetes (moulds), Acrogenospora alangii and Conioscypha yunnanensis, in southwestern China.
This discovery, published in a research article in MycoKeys, adds these species to the Acrogenospora and Conioscypha genera, further enriching the variety of freshwater fungi known in the region.
The research team, consisting of Lu Li, Hong-Zhi Du, and Ratchadawan Cheewangkoon from Chiang Mai University in Thailand, as well as Vinodhini Thiyagaraja and Rungtiwa Phookamsak from Kunming Institute of Botany in China, and Darbhe Jayarama Bhat from King Saud University in Saudi Arabia, conducted a comprehensive morphological analysis and multi-gene phylogenetic tests in their study.
Notably, Acrogenospora alangii was found on submerged branches of the medicinal plant Alangium chinense, highlighting a unique ecological association.
Freshwater fungi are highly diverse in China and are frequently found on submerged wood, freshwater insects, herbaceous substrates, sediments, leaves, foams, and living plants.
Most species are known as saprobes (organisms that live on decaying matter) and play an important role in ecological functioning as decomposers, but can also be pathogens and symbionts on humans and plants.
This research highlights the ecological and taxonomic richness of freshwater fungi in China, a country already known for its diverse fungal habitats. The findings provide valuable insights into the roles these organisms play in freshwater ecosystems and emphasize the importance of ongoing biodiversity studies in these environments.
Research article
Li L, Du H-Z, Thiyagaraja V, Bhat DJ, Phookamsak R, Cheewangkoon R (2024) Two novel freshwater hyphomycetes, in Acrogenospora (Minutisphaerales, Dothideomycetes) and Conioscypha (Conioscyphales, Sordariomycetes) from Southwestern China. MycoKeys 101: 249-273. https://doi.org/10.3897/mycokeys.101.115209
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This is great news for the study of biodiversity in China! Can’t wait to learn more about these newly discovered freshwater fungi species.