Pseudobionectria S.N. Zhang, K.D. Hyde & Jian K. Liu, 2024

Zhang, Sheng-Nan, Hyde, Kevin D. & Liu, Jian-Kui, 2024, Morpho-phylogenetic evidence reveals Pseudobionectria phoenicis gen. et sp. nov. (Bionectriaceae) from a mangrove habitat, Phytotaxa 668 (3), pp. 207-225 : 211

Pseudobionectria S.N. Zhang, K.D. Hyde & Jian K. Liu , gen. nov.

MycoBank number: MB855147

Etymology: The generic name refers to the taxon resembling Bionectria .

Type species: Pseudobionectria phoenicis S.N. Zhang, K.D. Hyde & Jian K. Liu

Saprobic on palms in a mangrove habitat. Sexual morph Ascomata superficial on a subiculum, solitary to gregarious, tan or brownish orange with a black crown flattened on the top, globose, tomentose, with hyaline hyphal appendages that merge with the subiculum below, membraneous, KOH-, LA-. Ostiole central and periphysate. Peridium thick, comprising compressed hyaline cells, and brown, angular to globose cells toward the outer layer. Paraphyses hypha-like, numerous and septate, embedded in a gelatinous matrix. Asci 8-spored, clavate, shortly pedicellate, unitunicate, apex narrowly and rounded, without a visible ring. Ascospores oblong-ellipsoidal to fusiform, hyaline, 1-septate, spinulose, without a mucilaginous sheath. Asexual morph Undetermined.

Notes:—The genus Pseudobionectria is established to accommodate Pseudobionectria phoenicis , based on its phylogenetic distinction from other genera within Bionectriaceae . Pseudobionectria phoenicis and Septofusidium herbarum (CBS 265.58) are closely related; however, significant nucleotide differences (ca. 32 out of 833 base pairs in the LSU gene region) justify their classification into separate genera. Septofusidium has only known its hyphomycetous asexual morph and S. herbarum is characterized by fasciculate conidiophores, phialidic, cylindrical to allantoid conidiogenous cells, producing fusiform to irregularly ellipsoidal, hyaline, aseptate conidia in chains and with minute collarette-like projections at both ends ( Gams 1971; Samson 1974). Pseudobionectria is characterized by superficial, globose, brownish-orange ascomata with a distinctive black crown that is flattened at the apex. The ascomata possess hyphal appendages that merge with the subiculum. The asci are unitunicate, lacking a visible ring, and produce 1- septate, oblong-ellipsoidal to fusiform, hyaline ascospores with spinose ornamentation.