Annulatascus nilensis sp. nov., from freshwater habitats in Egypt, is described, illustrated and compared to other species in the genus. Phylogenetic analyses of its LSU rDNA sequence with similar fungi placed the new species in the genus Annulatascus (Annulatascaceae, Sordariomycetidae incertae sedis). Annulatascus nilensis is characterized by immersed ascomata with an ascomatal neck oriented horizontally to the substrate surface, asci with a long, narrow stalk and massive bipartite apical ring, and 5–11-septate, hyaline ascospores surrounded by a large irregular, granular sheath that is not seen in water.
A new species, Chaetopsina aquatica, collected from the River Nile, Sohag, Egypt, is described and illustrated. Phylogenetic analyses of the combined ITS and LSU rDNA placed the new species within Chaetopsina as a phylogenetically distinct species. Chaetopsina aquatica formed a basal clade to a node containing C. aurantisalinicola and C. penicillata. The new species is characterized by its longer conidia (20–35.2 × 5–8.5 μm on natural substrate, 27.5–41.5 × 5–7 μm in culture) than those reported in Chaetopsina species.
Pisolithus albus (Basidiomycota, Sclerodermataceae) is reported here for the first time from Egypt where it was found on the Karaman Island in Sohag Governorate. It was found forming an ectomycorrhizal association with Eucalyptus occidentalis and Vachellia nilotica. The fungus was also reported near two potentially new hosts: Paspalum distichum and Dodonaea viscosa; however, the mycorrhizal connections with these two hosts is not proven. Phylogenetic analyses for the combined ITS and LSU rDNA sequences dataset placed the Egyptian specimen within the Pisolithus albus complex clade. It is described, illustrated, and phylogenetically analyzed in this article. Various hosts and locations of the taxon are reviewed.
A new species, Phaeonectriella alba, collected from the River Nile, Aswan Governorate, Egypt, is described and illustrated. Phylogenetic analyses of LSU rDNA sequences placed the new species with P. lignicola (the type species) in a highly supported clade. Phaeonectriella alba is characterized by conical, superficial, hyaline, membranous ascomata; 4- or 8-spored asci that are persistent, clavate, with a truncate apical thickening and a simple pore and cytoplasmic retraction below apex; early deliquescing catenophyses; and ascospores that are ellipsoid to broad ellipsoid, thin-walled, 1–3 septate, hyaline when young, becoming brown at maturity, with an apical germ pore in each cell and without appendages.