In the present study, we surveyed the ascomycetes from bamboo of Phyllostachys across Sichuan Province, China. A biphasic approach based on morphological characteristics and multigene phylogeny confirmed seven species, including one new genus, two new species, and five new host record species. A novel genus Paralloneottiosporina is introduced to accommodate Pa. sichuanensis that was collected from leaves of Phyllostachys violascens. Moreover, the newly introduced species Bifusisporella sichuanensis was isolated from leaves of P. edulis, and five species were newly recorded on bamboos, four species belonging to Apiospora, viz. Ap. yunnana, Ap. neosubglobosa, Ap. jiangxiensis, and Ap. hydei, and the last species, Seriascoma yunnanense, isolated from dead culms of P. heterocycla. Morphologically similar and phylogenetically related taxa were compared. Comprehensive descriptions, color photo plates of micromorphology are provided.

This study led to the discovery of three entomopathogenic fungi associated with Kuwanaspis howardi, a scale insect on Phyllostachys heteroclada (fishscale bamboo) and Pleioblastus amarus (bitter bamboo) in China. Two of these species belong to Podonectria: P. kuwanaspidis X.L. Xu & C.L. Yang sp. nov. and P. novae-zelandiae Dingley. The new species P. kuwanaspidis has wider and thicker setae, longer and wider asci, longer ascospores, and more septa as compared with similar Podonectria species. The morphs of extant species P. novae-zelandiae is confirmed based on sexual and asexual morphologies. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses of ITS, LSU, SSU, tef1-α, and rpb2 sequence data provide further evidence for the validity of the two species and their placement in Podonectriaceae (Pleosporales). The second new species, Microcera kuwanaspidis X.L. Xu & C.L. Yang sp. nov., is established based on DNA sequence data from ITS, LSU, SSU, tef1-α, rpb1, rpb2, acl1, act, cmdA, and his3 gene regions, and it is characterized by morphological differences in septum numbers and single conidial mass.

The fungal genus Microcera consists of species mostly occurring as parasites of scale insects, but are also commonly isolated from soil or lichens. In the present study, we surveyed the diversity and assess the taxonomy of entomopathogenic fungi in Sichuan Province, China. Two new species of Microcera, viz. M. chrysomphaludis and M. pseudaulacaspidis, were isolated from scale insects colonising walnut (Juglans regia). Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference analyses of ITS, LSU, tef1-α, rpb1, rpb2, acl1, act, tub2, cmdA and his3 sequence data provide evidence for the validity of the two species and their placement in Nectriaceae (Hypocreales). Microcera pseudaulacaspidis primarily differs from similar species by having more septate and smaller cylindrical macroconidia, as well as DNA sequence data. Meanwhile, Microcera chrysomphaludis has elliptical, one-septate ascospores with acute ends and cylindrical, slightly curved with 4–6 septate macroconidia up to 78 µm long. Morphological descriptions with illustrations of the novel species and DNA-based phylogeny generated from analyses of multigene dataset are also provided to better understand species relationships.

In this paper, Claviformisporagen. nov. in Linocarpaceae is introduced from Phyllostachys heteroclada in Sichuan Province, China. The new genus is characterised by its distinct morphological characters, such as ostiole with periphyses, asci with a thick doughnut-shaped, J- apical ring and clavate ascospore without septum-like band and appendage. Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference phylogenetic analyses, based on DNA sequence data from ITS, LSU, SSU and TEF-1α regions, provide further evidence that the fungus is a distinct genus within this family. The new genus is compared with similar genera, such as Linocarpon and Neolinocarpon. Descriptions, illustrations and notes are provided for the new taxon.

Entomopathogenic fungi exhibit a cosmopolitan distribution across diverse ecosystems, with their ubiquitous presence intrinsically linked to insect habitats—essentially occurring wherever insect populations exist. These fungi represent a vital biological resource, particularly in agriculture and forestry. They serve as a crucial repository of fungal strains for biological pest control. This investigation identified seven species from southwest China based on multi-gene (ITS, LSU, SSU, act, rpb1, rpb2, and tef1-α) phylogenetic analyses and morphological characteristics, including one new species and one newly recorded species in Cladosporium (Cladosporiaceae); four new species in Moelleriella (Clavicipitaceae); and one new species in Podonectria (Podonectriaceae). All seven fungi are in their asexual morphs and were discovered on aphids or scale insects, which are common and significant pests. These include Cladosporium kuwanaspidis, Cladosporium guizhouense, Moelleriella eucalypti, Moelleriella boehmeriae, Moelleriella cinnamomum, Moelleriella citrus, and Podonectria multiarmata. Descriptions and illustrations for all seven taxa are provided. Six of these species were collected from scale insects, specifically those found in bamboo forests, broad-leaved forests, or understory vegetation, and one was collected from aphids, primarily distributed on the underside of night-blooming jasmine leaves. This work reveals the rich diversity of entomopathogenic fungi in southwestern China, not only on larger insects such as Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera but also on smaller Hemiptera, many of which are significant agricultural and forestry pests. This study contributes fungal resources that may support the development of innovative pest control methods in the future.

Diaporthe species are globally distributed with a wide variety of plant hosts inhabiting diverse ecological niches and functioning as endophytes, saprobes and pathogens. Numerous species in this genus are significant pathogens responsible for a wide range of diseases in both agricultural and forest plants. In this study, eight Diaporthe strains were isolated from branches of Phellodendron chinense collected in Sichuan Province, China. Using multi-locus phylogenetic analysis of five gene regions (ITS, tef1-α, tub2, cal and his3), along with morphological characterisation, two novel species — D. phellodendri and D. leshanensis — are introduced in the present study and two new host associations were recorded for D. eucommiigena and D. litseae. This study contributes to the growing understanding of Diaporthe diversity and host associations in China.