Abstract
During a survey of root-associated fungal diversity of the medicinal plant
Lindera aggregata
in Anhui Province, China, three noteworthy fungal taxa belonging to
Hawksworthiomyces
and
Melnikomyces
were identified. Morphological and multilocus phylogenetic analyses revealed two previously undescribed species and one new host record.
Hawksworthiomyces rhizosphaerae
sp. nov
. and
Melnikomyces linderae
sp. nov
. are hereby described as new to science, while
H. taylorii
is reported for the first time from the roots of
L. aggregata
.
Hawksworthiomyces rhizosphaerae
is characterized by polyblastic conidiogenous cells bearing short cylindrical denticles and producing aseptate, hyaline, pyriform to ellipsoidal conidia, with secondary conidia frequently observed.
Melnikomyces linderae
is distinguished by pale brown to brown conidiophores, polyblastic conidiogenous cells with cylindrical denticles, verrucose 1(–2)-septate conidia released by rhexolytic secession, and globose to subglobose chlamydospores. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of these taxa are provided. These findings expand the known diversity of
Hawksworthiomyces
and
Melnikomyces
and contribute to the understanding of the root-associated fungal communities of
L. aggregata
in China.