Two new species of Chionosphaera and Kurtzmanomyces (Chionosphaeraceae, Agaricostilbomycetes) isolated from China

Within the family Chionosphaeraceae, only nine species of Chionosphaera and Kurtzmanomyces have been described to date. In this study, two strains of Chionosphaera and two strains of Kurtzmanomyces from China were examined using phylogenetic, physiological, and biochemical approaches. Phylogenetic analyses based on sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, the D 1 / D 2 domain of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene, and the translation elongation factor 1 - α gene (tef 1 α) were conducted to infer species relationships within the genera Chionosphaera and Kurtzmanomyces.

As a result, two novel species are proposed: Chionosphaera foliicola sp. nov. (holotype GDMCC 2.531 T) and Kurtzmanomyces guiyangensis sp. nov. (holotype GDMCC 2.499 T).

Descriptions and illustrations of both species are provided, together with comparisons to closely related taxa. This study expands the known diversity of Chionosphaeraceae in China and provides a basis for future taxonomic and ecological investigations.