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.

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.

Trichoderma fungi are significant saprophytic resources in nature, with only a minority of species documented as pathogenic fungi. Due to their widespread distribution, this genus of fungi has attracted considerable attention in recent years. During an investigation of fungal resources within the staple food bamboo species for giant pandas in China conducted from 2023 to 2024, a high diversity of Trichoderma species was observed. In this study, eight collected specimens were compared morphologically with known species, and DNA sequence analysis was performed using a multi-gene (ITS, tef 1-α, and rpb 2) dataset to establish phylogenetic relationships, ultimately leading to the identification of four Trichoderma species. The research uncovered four novel Trichoderma species: Trichoderma bashania , T. fargesia , T. mianyangensis and T. yaanensis . Phylogenetic analysis revealed that each of these new species forms a distinct lineage, with Trichoderma bashania , T. fargesia , T. mianyangensis and T. yaanensis all belonging to the Koningii section. All these newly identified species were isolated from the litter of the staple food bamboo species for giant pandas. This study provides morphological descriptions and illustrations of these four new species, along with DNA phylogenetic relationships based on the analysis of the multi-gene dataset. The findings indicate that Trichoderma fungi are widely present in the ecosystem of the staple food bamboo species for giant pandas and warrant close attention.

Phyllachora (Phyllachoraceae, Phyllachorales) species are parasitic fungi with a wide global distribution, causing tar spots on plants. In this study, we describe three newly discovered species: Phyllachora chongzhouensis, Phyllachora neidongensis, and Phyllachora huiliensis from Poaceae in China. These species were characterized using morphological traits and multi-locus phylogeny based on the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) with the intervening 5.8S rRNA gene, the large subunit of the rRNA gene (LSU), and the 18S ribosomal RNA gene (SSU). Three known species of P. chloridis, P. graminis, and P. miscanthi have also been redescribed, because, in reviewing the original references of P. chloridis, P. graminis, and P. miscanthi, these were found to be relatively old and in Chinese or abbreviated. In addition, the illustrations were simple. In molecular identification, the ITS sequence is short, while the ITS, LSU, and SSU are incomplete. Therefore, this study provides new important references for the redescription of three known species and provides further evidence for the identification of new taxa.

Within the genus Mallocybe, new species have been continuously discovered on a global scale, yet only few species have been reported from China. During surveys of macro-fungi diversity and taxonomy in Sichuan Province, China, two samples were collected in the forests dominated by Quercus glauca and identified as a new member of this genus, namely Mallocybe longquanensis. Morphologically, M. longquanensis is distinguished by its small-sized basidioma, light brown to yellowish-brown pileus covered with tomentose-fibrillose, ellipsoidal or ovoid basidiospores, as well as the utriform, clavate to cylindrical cheilocystidia. Multi-gene phylogenetic analysis of ITS, LSU, and rpb2 also revealed that the new taxon forms a distinct lineage within the genus Mallocybe. The detailed morphological features, color photographs, and comparisons with morphological similar taxa are provided.

During a survey of the fungal diversity associated with the primary bamboo species consumed by giant pandas in Gansu Province, China, a unique new species, Triseptatospora fargesia, was discovered. The morphological characteristics of this species include: ascomata that are scattered to gregarious and raised above the surface. Asci that are broadly clavate with short pedicels. Ascospores that are fusiform, 3-septate, and guttulate. These morphological features are similar to the sexual morph characteristics of the genus Triseptatospora. In this study, a phylogenetic analysis was conducted based on the sequence data of the large subunit ribosomal RNA gene (LSU), small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (SSU), and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1-α). The results showed that T. fargesia forms a sister lineage with T. calami within the genus Triseptatospora and represents a distinct species. Morpho-phylogenetic evidence reveals significant differences between Triseptatospora fargesia and Triseptatospora calami. This paper also provides information on the phylogenetic placement and detailed morphological description of this new species.