Abstract
An unusual dematiaceous microfungus was isolated from an actively composting swine-manure matrix in Gia Lai Province, Vietnam. To our knowledge, this represents the first record of a Neodevriesia species recovered from a swine-manure composting substrate, expanding the known ecological range of the genus. A polyphasic approach integrating colony morphology, light and scanning electron microscopy, physiological characterization, qualitative extracellular enzyme assays, and phylogenetic analyses based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and 28S large subunit (LSU) rDNA was employed for taxonomic assessment. The isolate formed very slow-growing, highly elevated, melanized, and distinctly cerebriform colonies, with thick-walled, septate hyphae showing moniliform constrictions and polymorphic arthroconidium-like structures. Clear hydrolysis zones on carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and soluble starch media demonstrated extracellular cellulolytic and amylolytic activities, respectively, while catalase activity was also detected. Phylogenetic analyses resolved the isolate as a distinct, well-supported lineage (MLBS = 96%) sister to N. infestans (MLBS = 99%). The combination of stable nucleotide differences, distinctive morphological characteristics, and occurrence in a previously unreported composting substrate supports recognition of the isolate as a separate species, for which Neodevriesia mongdiepiae sp. nov. is proposed. The demonstrated hydrolytic activities provide an initial basis for investigating the ecological role and biotechnological potential of this newly characterized fungus in the biodegradation of organic and cellulose-rich substrates.