A new corticioid fungus from Guizhou Province in southwest China, Asterostroma rhizomorpharum, is described and illustrated based on morphological and molecular evidence. It is characterized by producing annual, resupinate basidiomata with long rhizomorphs, a dimitic hyphal structure with simple septa on generative hyphae, asterosetae frequently present in subiculum, asterohyphidia present in hymenium, ellipsoid to subglobose, and echinulate and amyloid basidiospores (5.5–6.8 × 4.6–5.9 μm). The phylogenetic analysis based on ITS+nLSU rDNA sequences shows that the new species belongs to the section Asterostroma.

Wood-decaying fungi represent a vital group of higher fungi that drive the cycling of matter and energy in forest ecosystems, and they have been the focus of thorough investigation. In this study, five new species, viz. Botryobasidium daweishanense, Inonotus subglobisporum, Kneiffiella bubalina, Xylodon granulanoides, and X. granulans from China, are described and illustrated based on the morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic analyses, in which the sequences of ITS+nLSU genes were used for the phylogenetic analyses by maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods. The phylogeny revealed that the Botryobasidium daweishanense groups with three taxa, viz., B. intertextum, B. leptocystidiatum, and B. subcoronatum. Inonotus subglobisporum is closely related to I. radiatus. Kneiffiella bubalina clustered sister to K. subalutacea. Xylodon granulanoides and X. granulans have a close relationship with X. bambusinus, X. fissuratus, X. subclavatus, X. montanus, and X. wenshanensis. Additionally, Xylodon granulanoides and X. granulans clustered together. Botryobasidium daweishanense is characterized by an araneose hymenial surface, fusiform, and cyanophilous basidiospores (6.1–7.3 × 3.3–3.9 μm). Inonotus subglobisporum is characterized by perennial basidiomata with lateral stipes, polygon pores measuring 4–6 per mm, and subglobose, cyanophilous basidiospores (3.6–4.3 × 2.8–3.5 μm). Kneiffiella bubalina is characterized by cream basidiomata and cylindrical to slightly allantoid basidiospores (8.0–8.9 × 1.8–2.3 μm). Xylodon granulanoides is characterized by grandinioid hymenial surfaces, various cystidia, and broadly ellipsoid, thick-walled basidiospores (4.7–5.3 × 3.6–4.1 μm). Xylodon granulans is characterized by grandinioid hymenial surfaces, capitate and clavate cystidia, and broadly ellipsoid basidiospores (3.8–4.2 × 2.9–3.3 μm). Phylogenetic analysis based on internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and nuclear large subunit RNA (nLSU) shows that the four species are members of Hymenochaetales, and one belongs to Cantharellales. All five new species are compared with morphologically and phylogenetically closely related species. The present study contributes to understanding the species diversity, taxonomy, and phylogeny of macrofungi in Southwestern China.

Alloexidiopsis sinensis sp. nov. found in Yunnan Province, China, is described here as a new species based on its morphology and phylogeny. Alloexidiopsis sinensis is characterized by its membranaceous basidiomata with a grandinoid hymenophore and a monomitic hyphal system bearing generative hyphae with clamp connections and allantoid basidiospores measuring 14.5–23 × 4.5–6.5 µm. Phylogenetic analyses of the new species were based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large subunit (nLSU) of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that the new species belonged to the genus Alloexidiopsis, and was retrieved as a sister to A. nivea.

Wood-decaying fungi play crucial roles as decomposers in forest ecosystems. In this study, four new wood-inhabiting fungi from Yunnan Province of southwest China—Crystallicutis albomarginata, Efibula glossophora, E. punctata, and Scopuloides farinacea—are described and illustrated based on morphological and molecular evidence. The species C. albomarginata is characterized by its slightly pink to orange basidiomata when dry, a monomitic hyphal system with simple septa, and narrowly ellipsoid basidiospores measuring 3.7–4.4 × 1.9–2.8 µm. The taxon E. glossophora is characterized by its hard, membranous, slightly yellow to yellow basidiomata; a monomitic hyphal system with simple-septate generative hyphae; and ellipsoid basidiospores measuring 3.8–6 × 2.6–3.7 µm. The species E. punctata is characterized by its membranaceous, slightly gray to pale brown basidiomata; a monomitic hyphal system with simple-septate generative hyphae; and ellipsoid basidiospores measuring 4.3–6.2 × 2.2–3.3 µm. Additionally, the taxon S. farinacea is characterized by its coriaceous, pale cream to buff basidiomata; a monomitic hyphal system with simple-septate generative hyphae; and ellipsoid basidiospores measuring 2.8–3.5 × 1.4–2 µm. Sequences of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), the large subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nLSU), the translation elongation factor 1-α gene (TEF1), the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB1), and the second subunit of RNA polymerase II (RPB2) of the studied samples were employed, and phylogenetic analyses were performed using maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods, ensuring the robustness of the findings. Based on the combined ITS + nLSU + RPB1 + RPB2 + TEF1 dataset, phylogenies of the two families Irpicaceae and Meruliaceae were constructed. In these analyses, Crystallicutis albomarginata was recovered as sister to C. serpens; E. punctata as sister to E. intertexta; Efibula glossophora as closely related to E. intertexta and E. hainanensis; and the new species S. farinacea as sister to S. allantoidea.

Wood-decaying fungi, as crucial decomposers in forest ecosystems, have been the subject of meticulous research. In this study, a new wood-decaying fungal species, Scopuloides yunnanensis, found in Yunnan, China, is proposed. Scopuloides yunnanensis was identified based on a comprehensive analysis of its membranaceous basidiomata, generative hyphae, lamprocystidia, projecting cystidia, and allantoid basidiospores. In addition to the morphology, phylogenetic analyses of ITS and nLSU rRNA markers were performed with Maximum Likelihood, Maximum Parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods, ensuring the robustness of our findings. The phylogenetic analysis showed that S. yunnanensis is sister to S. hydnoides. The new species’ description, illustrations, and results of the phylogenetic analysis are provided. In addition, an identification key to all Scopuloides species worldwide is provided.

Wood-decaying fungi play crucial roles as decomposers in forest ecosystems. In this study, two new corticioid fungi, Rhizochaete fissurata and R. grandinosa spp. nov., are proposed based on a combination of morphological features and molecular evidence. Rhizochaete fissurata is characterized by resupinate basidiomata with a cracking hymenial surface, a monomitic hyphal system with simple-septa generative hyphae, presence of subfusiform to conical cystidia encrusted at the apex or coarse on the upper half, and ellipsoid basidiospores. Rhizochaete grandinosa differs in its resupinate basidiomata with a smooth hymenial surface, presence of two types of cystidia, and ellipsoid basidiospores. Sequences of ITS and nLSU rRNA markers of the studied samples were employed, and phylogenetic analyses were performed with maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony, and Bayesian inference methods on two datasets (ITS+nLSU and ITS). Both dataset analyses showed that two new species clustered into the genus Rhizochaete, in which, based on the ITS+nLSU dataset, R. fissurata was sister to R. belizensis, and R. grandinosa grouped with R. radicata; the phylogram inferred from ITS sequences inside Rhizochaete indicated that R. fissurata formed a monophyletic lineage with a lower support; R. grandinosa grouped closely with R. radicata. In addition, an identification key to all Rhizochaete species worldwide is provided.