Taxonomic and phylogenetic insights to Dothideomycetes and Sordariomycetes associated with medicinal plants in Southwestern China

This study provides taxonomic and phylogenetic insights into fungal taxa within Dothideomycetes and Sordariomycetes associated with medicinal plants in Southwestern China. These fungi are of significant interest for investigating their functional potential and for broader studies on medicinal plant-fungal interactions. A total of 90 fungal isolates were obtained from medicinal plants in Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan Provinces, representing 27 genera, 19 families, and six orders. Among these, one species was identified in Pleurotremataceae (Dyfrolomycetales, Dothideomycetes), three in Eriomycetaceae (Monoblastiales, Dothideomycetes), and 30 species across 12 families of Pleosporales (Dothideomycetes). Additional taxa include three species in Amphisphaeriaceae and Sporocadaceae (Amphisphaeriales, Sordariomycetes), ten in Distoseptisporaceae (Distoseptisporales, Sordariomycetes), and two in Magnaporthaceae and Ophioceraceae (Magnaporthales, Sordariomycetes). Species delimitations and new taxa establishments were based on morphological characterization, cultural features, and multi-locus phylogenies. A novel genus, Testudiniscutum, is introduced, together with 32 new species: Acrocalymma kevinii, Amphisphaeria davidihuangtciae, A. hydeimucosa, Brunneofusispora kevinimucosa, Chromolaenicola hydei, Ch. hydeiwikstroemiae, Chromolaenomyces davidii, Distoseptispora combreticola, D. davidalangii, D. heptapleuricola, D. keviniligustrina, D. uncariicola, Gaeumannomyces hydeicoicis, Leptoparies hydei, Leucaenicola hydeinandinae, Lophiotrema hydeirubicola, Lo. kevinobpyriforme, Melomastia kevinhydei, Neoheleiosa hydeispora, N. hydeiverrucosa, N. septata, Neokalmusia kevinitetradii, Neoroussoella kevinii, Ophioceras hydeanum, Paraconiothyrium kevinhydei, Paraphaeosphaeria hydeihelleniae, Parathyridariella davidiseptata, Periconia hydeiguttulosa, Pseudochaetosphaeronema hydeiseptatum, Pseudoteichospora hydei, Seiridium kevinitibouchinicola, and Testudiniscutum isodonticola. Fourteen new host records are reported for Austropleospora ochracea, Distoseptispora aquatica, D. longispora, D. pachyconidia, D. yichunensis, Lophiostoma japonicum, Lophiotrema hydei, Lo. mucilaginosis, Lo. neohysterioides, Periconia alishanica, Pe. byssoides, Pe. pseudobyssoides, Pe. verrucosa, and Pseudothyridariella idesiae. Moreover, three new host and geographical records are provided for Chromolaenicola lampangensis, Distoseptispora tectonigena, and Parathyridaria ellipsoidea. Chromolaenicola nanensis is synonymized under Ch. Lampangensis based on morphological and molecular evidence. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, and taxonomic notes are provided for all new taxa and records. This study represents the first comprehensive account of fungi from medicinal plants in China, significantly enriching knowledge of fungal diversity and their ecological associations in medicinal plant ecosystems.