Zasmidium longisporum X. Yu. Zhang, Q. Y. Zhang & B. Fan, 2025

Zasmidium longisporum X. Yu. Zhang, Q. Y. Zhang & B. Fan sp. nov.

Fig. 18 View Figure 18

Type.

CHINA • Jiangsu Province, Nanjing, Nanjing Forestry University, Baima Campus , fungal endophytes from Pinus densiflora , May 2023, Ben Fan and Xiuyu Zhang, NF 622 ( holotype HMAS 352958 View Materials , culture ex-type CGMCC 3.28954 View Materials ) .

Etymology.

Derived from the Latin words “longus” and “spora”, the species epithet refers to the elongated conidia produced by the fungus.

Description.

Mycelium composed of branched, septate, pale brown, verruculose hyphae, 1.5–3 μm diam. Numerous orange-coloured granules are observed among the hyphae (Fig. 18 G View Figure 18 ). Asexual state: Conidiophores erect or curved, cylindrical, hyaline to pale brown, aseptate, smooth, (17.2 –) 30.9–58.1 (– 79.5) × (1.9 –) 2.3–3.1 (– 3.7) μm. Conidiogenous cells absent; conidia produced directly from the sides or apices of hyphae, hyaline, subcylindrical with a slightly narrowed base, slightly verruculose, mostly aseptate, occasionally with one septum, (6.1 –) 7.7–16.2 (– 21.2) × (2.3 –) 2.7–3.3 (– 3.6) μm. Sexual state unknown.

Culture characteristics.

Colonies on MEA with irregular margins and slightly raised centres, bearing abundant aerial mycelium, yellowish-green to cream-coloured. On SNA and OA, aerial mycelium is sparse; colonies appear dark olivaceous on OA and deep yellowish-green on SNA. The optimal temperature is 25 ° C, with colonies reaching 12–14 mm in diameter in 10 days. No growth at 5 ° C or 35 ° C.

Additional material examined.

CHINA • Jiangsu Province, Nanjing, Nanjing Forestry University, Baima Campus , fungal endophytes from Pinus densiflora , May 2023, Ben Fan and Xiuyu Zhang, NF 822 .

Notes.

Two isolates, NF 622 and NF 622-2, were identified as Zasmidium longisporum , a species phylogenetically related to Z. fructicola . The two taxa can be distinguished primarily by conidial size: NF 622 produces significantly larger conidia, measuring up to 21.2 μm, compared to those of Z. fructicola , which reach a maximum length of 12 μm. Additionally, NF 622 exhibits slower growth, achieving a colony diameter of 12–14 mm after 10 days, whereas Z. fructicola grows more rapidly, reaching 40 mm in diameter within 14 days. Ecologically, NF 622 was isolated as an endophytic fungus from pine trees, while Z. fructicola is a known pathogen of citrus fruit ( Huang 2015).