Morphological and phylogenetic analyses reveal two new species of Neohelicomyces (Tubeufiales, Tubeufiaceae) from China

Neohelicomyces is a genus of helicosporous hyphomycetes with the potential to produce bioactive secondary metabolites. During a survey of helicosporous fungi in Guizhou and Hainan provinces, southern China, four isolates were obtained from both freshwater and terrestrial habitats. Based on combined analyses of multigene phylogenetic data (ITS, LSU, tef1-α, and rpb2) and morphological characteristics, two novel species, Neohelicomyces aquisubtropicus and N. wuzhishanensis, are proposed. Detailed descriptions, illustrations, and phylogenetic analyses of the new taxa are presented. Additionally, a checklist of currently accepted Neohelicomyces species supported by molecular data is provided.