We redescribe the only previously known species of Myrsidea from bulbuls, M. pycnonoti Eichler. Sixteen new species are described; they and their type hosts are: M. phillipsi ex Pycnonotus goiavier goiavier (Scopoli), M. gieferi ex P. goiavier suluensis Mearns, M. kulpai ex P. flavescens Blyth, M. finlaysoni ex P. finlaysoni Strickland, M. kathleenae ex P. cafer (L.), M. warwicki ex Ixos philippinus (J. R. Forster), M. mcclurei ex Microscelis amaurotis (Temminck), M. zeylanici ex P. zeylanicus (Gmelin), M. plumosi ex P. plumosus Blyth, M. eutiloti ex P. eutilotus (Jardine and Selby), M. adamsae ex P. urostictus (Salvadori), M. ochracei ex Criniger ochraceus F. Moore, M. borbonici ex Hypsipetes borbonicus (J. R. Forster), M. johnsoni ex P. atriceps (Temminck), M. palmai ex C. ochraceus, and M. claytoni ex P. eutilotus. A key is provided for the identification of these 17 species.

A new species

The question of how many species of Fungi there are has occasioned much speculation, with figures mostly posited from around half a million to 10 million, and in one extreme case even a sizable portion of the spectacular number of 1 trillion. Here we examine new evidence from various sources to derive an updated estimate of global fungal diversity. The rates and patterns in the description of new species from the 1750s show no sign of approaching an asymptote and even accelerated in the 2010s after the advent of molecular approaches to species delimitation. Species recognition studies of (semi-)cryptic species hidden in morpho-species complexes suggest a weighted average ratio of about an order of magnitude for the number of species recognized after and before such studies. New evidence also comes from extrapolations of plant:fungus ratios, with information now being generated from environmental sequence studies, including comparisons of molecular and fieldwork data from the same sites. We further draw attention to undescribed species awaiting discovery in biodiversity hot spots in the tropics, little-explored habitats (such as lichen-inhabiting fungi), and material in collections awaiting study. We conclude that the commonly cited estimate of 1.5 million species is conservative and that the actual range is properly estimated at 2.2 to 3.8 million. With 120,000 currently accepted species, it appears that at best just 8%, and in the worst case scenario just 3%, are named so far. Improved estimates hinge particularly on reliable statistical and phylogenetic approaches to analyze the rapidly increasing amount of environmental sequence data.

Fungal Diversity Revisited: 2.2 to 3.8 Million Species

The Botryosphaeriaceae: genera and species known from culture

Ainsworth and Bisby's Dictionary of the Fungi

DURING this year I have so often been asked how this Code could be obtained that I hasten, with your permission, to announce that the Washington Biological Society has just published a reprint at the price of one dollar. Prof. C. W. Stiles, secretary to the Commission, says: “I would suggest that, if your colleagues wish copies, it would expedite matters to order a number at once”. The address of the Society is at the Bureau of Entomology, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.

/pdf/international-code-of-zoological-nomenclature-2fg701d5it.pdf

International Code of Zoological Nomenclature

During a survey of ascomycetes in Yunnan in the dry season (April 2021), an ascomycete was found on para grass [Brachiaria mutica (Forssk.) Stapf] submerged in a freshwater stream in Mengla County, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. Multi-locus phylogenetic analyses of combined ITS, LSU, SSU, tef1-α and rpb2 gene regions demonstrated that the novel strain (KUMCC 21-0469) shared the same branch length with Occultibambusa jonesii [GZCC 16-0117, ex-type strain] (98% ML, 1.00 PP) and grouped with O. aquatica with signifi cant support (91% ML, 1.00 PP). Morphological characteristics were inadequate to distinguish species in Occultibambusa. We therefore identify our new collection (KUN-HKAS122243, strain KUMCC 21-0469) as O. jonesii based solely on phylogenetic evidence. The conspecifi c status of O. aquatica and O. jonesii is questionable in this study due to the lack of genetic information on O. aquatica. The ex-type stain of O. aquatica has been acquired to be re-sequenced for further evaluation of its phylogenetic status. Occultibambusa jonesii was isolated from dead culms of bamboo in terrestrial environments in Guizhou Province, China. In the present study, the species was isolated from para grass submerged in a freshwater stream in Yunnan Province, China. This discovery is a new record on host/habitats and geography for O. jonesii. Detailed description and illustration of O. jonesii as well as the updated phylogenetic relationships of taxa in Occultibambusaceae and geographical distribution map of Occultibambusa are provided.

First Report of Occultibambusa jonesii on Para Grass (Brachiaria mutica) in Yunnan, China

A new species, Rhexocercosporidium camporesii was collected from dead branches of Scabiosa maritima (Caprifoliaceae) in Forli-Cesena, Italy. The new species is characterized by a lack of setae surrounding the apothecia and by fusiform, aseptate ascospores containing multiple guttules. Rhexocercosporidium camporesii has larger asci and ascospores than other species of Rhexocercosporidium. Phylogenetic analyses using a combined gene analysis of LSU and ITS sequence data indicated that the new species belongs to Ploettnerulaceae (Helotiales). A detailed morphological description and illustration of the new species are provided.

Rhexocercosporidium camporesii sp. nov. (Ploettnerulaceae, Helotiales) from Italy

During a survey of micro-fungi in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand, fruiting bodies of Rhytidhysteron growing on dead twigs of several host plants were collected. Phylogenetic analyses of a combined LSU, ITS, SSU, and TEF1 sequence data along with morphological characteristics, were used to identify the new collections as R. bruguierae, R. neorufulum and R. subrufulum which were collected from Murraya paniculata, Rosa × damascena, and Prunus sp., respectively. These Rhytidhysteron species are reported herein from these hosts for the first time. Interestingly, R. subrufulum is the first geographical record of this species from Thailand, which extends knowledge of the geographic range of this species. In addition, we synonymize R. erioi under R. bruguierae and R. mengziense under R. ligustrum based on phylogenetic analyses and morphology.

Rungtiwa Phookamsak

Papers

First Report of Occultibambusa jonesii on Para Grass (Brachiaria mutica) in Yunnan, China

Rhexocercosporidium camporesii sp. nov. (Ploettnerulaceae, Helotiales) from Italy

New host and geographical records of Rhytidhysteron in northern Thailand, and species synonymization