Samsoniella subasiatica J. Bu, K. D. Hyde & T. C. Wen, 2025

Samsoniella subasiatica J. Bu, K. D. Hyde & T. C. Wen sp. nov.

Fig. 7 View Figure 7

Etymology.

Referring to the morphology similar to Samsoniella asiatica .

Description.

Parasitic on pupa of Lepidoptera. Sexual morph. Undetermined. Asexual morph. Synnema arising from middle part of pupa, solitary, erect, flexuous, unbranched, 2.8 × 0.2 mm. Stipe cylindrical, pale orange. Hyphae smooth-walled, septate, hyaline 1.3–2.8 µm (x ̄ = 2.0 µm, n = 50). Conidiophores grouped together at the apex of synnema and the head of pupa, verticillate 3.6–7.4 × 2–3 µm (x ̄ = 5.2 × 2.4 µm, n = 20). Phialides lageniform, usually in whorls of two to five, 4.2–6.8 µm (x ̄ = 5.6 µm, n = 50) long, globose at basal portion, tapering gradually toward the apex, from 1.8–2.4 µm (x ̄ = 2.1 µm, n = 50) wide (base) to 0.6–1 µm (x ̄ = 0.8 µm, n = 50) wide (apex). Conidia single, smooth-walled, hyaline, fusiform to oval, 1.9–2.9 × 1.4–1.8 μm (x ̄ = 2.4 × 1.6 µm, n = 50).

Culture characteristics.

Colonies on PDA reaching a diameter of 27–29 mm in two weeks at room temperature, white, circular, velvety, mycelia dense, becoming loose in the outmost ring, reverse brightly yellow.

Type.

China • Guizhou Province, Qiannan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Anlong County (24°99'08.43"N, 105°59'76.06"E, alt. 1395.6 m), on lepidopteran pupa on leaf litter, 07 September 2023, Jing Bu, Al 2023090717 B (holotype HKAS 144400 , ex-holotype KUNCC 24-18537 ) .

Notes.

Samsoniella subasiatica morphologically resembles S. asiatica ( Wang et al. 2023 a) by producing a flexuous synnema, pale orange stipe, with a mass of conidia at the apex. However, S. subasiatica differs from S. asiatica in having simple synnema and larger conidia (1.9–2.9 μm vs. 1.1–1.8 μm) (Table 4 View Table 4 ). The synnema of S. asiatica is branched at the base ( Wang et al. 2023 a). Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis based on four loci revealed that S. subasiatica is sister to S. winandae , with moderate statistical support (89 % SH-aLRT / 94 % UFB / 0.99 PP; Fig. 2 View Figure 2 ). However, S. subasiatica can be distinguished from S. winandae by its significantly smaller synnemata and phialides (4.2–6.8 × 1.8–2.4 µm vs. 5–12 × 2–3 µm) (Table 4 View Table 4 ). Additionally, a comparison of nucleotide sequences between S. subasiatica and S. winandae indicated that there are 6 bp differences in 3 P _ TEF, 14 bp in rpb 1, and 8 bp in rpb 2. Based on the recommendations made by Jeewon and Hyde (2016), we determined this fungus as a novel species.