Phylogeny of Phyllozyma (Spiculogloeaceae, Spiculogloeales) with description of four new species from China

Phyllozyma, belonging to the family Spiculogloeaceae of the order Spiculogloeales, is a genus of blastoconidia-forming yeasts. Until now, nine Phyllozyma species have been described. During our investigation of yeast diversity in China, several Phyllozyma strains were isolated from the surface of plant leaves collected in Guizhou and Hainan provinces, which represent undescribed taxa.

Based on multi-locus (ITS, LSU, TEF 1, and RBP 1) and single-locus (ITS) phylogenetic analyses, as well as phenotypic characteristics, these strains were identified as four new species of Phyllozyma: P. aucubae sp. nov. (holotype CICC 33627 T), P. camelliae sp. nov. (holotype CICC 33625 T), P. diaoluoensis sp. nov.

(holotype CICC 33620 T), and P. guizhouensis sp. nov. (holotype CICC 33628 T). P. aucubae sp. nov. was identified as a nonballistoconidium-forming species.

This phenomenon is extremely rare in the genus Phyllozyma, and prior to this report, only P. jiayinensis was reported to lack the ability to produce ballistoconidia.