Funiliomyces jiangxiensis L. X. Mi, K. D. Hyde, H. Y. Song & D. M. Hu 2026, sp. nov

Funiliomyces jiangxiensis L. X. Mi, K. D. Hyde, H. Y. Song & D. M. Hu sp. nov Fig. 3 Etymology. The name refers to the place where the fungal was collected. Holotype. HFJAU 10125. Description. Endophytic fungus isolated from the roots of Tetradium ruticarpum. Sexual morph: Undetermined. Asexual morph: Mycelium consisted of hyaline, smooth, branched, septate, 1.7–2.6 µm diam hyphae. Conidiophores (6 –) 8.5–17.5 (– 23.5) × 1.8–3.5 (– 4) µm (mean ± SD = 12.5 ± 4.3 × 3 ± 0.4 µm, n = 35), macronematous, mononematous, hyaline, subcylindrical, arising from terminal or intercalary parts of aerial hyphae, mostly reduced to conidiogenous cells (rarely with a supporting cell), tapering towards the base, apex polyblastic, sympodial, inflated or geniculous-sinuous, with conspicuous, cylindrical denticles, up to 0.9 µm wide. Conidia 20–40 × 1.5–3.5 μm (mean ± SD = 27.8 ± 3.9 × 2.6 ± 0.3 µm, n = 40), hyaline, narrowly fusoid-ellipsoid, 0–3 - septate, guttulate, apex sub-obtuse, base truncate. Culture characteristics. Colonies on PDA at 25 ° C for 5 days, convex, white with cream margin, reverse pale brown with cream margin, no pigment in agar. Material examined. CHINA, Jiangxi Province, Ganzhou City, Ganxian District, 25.6121 ° N, 115.1211 ° E 412.9 m asl, isolated from healthy roots of Tetradium ruticarpum, 26 June 2022, Lixue Mi, dry culture HFJAU 10125 (holotype); ex-type JAUCC 5298 = CCTCC AF 2023034; ibid., Yichun City, Zhangshu county-level city, 27.9931 ° N, 115.2123 ° E, 46 m asl, 21 September 2021, Lixue Mi, dry culture HFJAU 10124; living culture: JAUCC 4255 = CCTCC AF 2023033. Notes. In the multi-gene analysis, Funiliomyces jiangxiensis (strains CCTCC AF 2023033 and CCTCC AF 2023034) forms a distinct lineage that groups with F. hwasunensis (≡ Dactylaria hwasunensis) and F. calliandrae (≡ D. calliandrae) as a sister branch, supported by high statistical values in the phylogenetic tree (SH-aLRT / UFB / BPP = 98.8 / 100 / 0.98). Morphologically, Funiliomyces jiangxiensis can be distinguished from F. hwasunensis by their conidiogenous cells and conidia. Specifically, Funiliomyces jiangxiensis develops distinct denticles on its conidiogenous cells, a feature that is absent in F. hwasunensis. Additionally, there is a notable difference in the number of septa in their conidia: Funiliomyces jiangxiensis has conidia with 0–3 septa, whereas F. hwasunensis produces conidia with more septa, ranging from 1 to 5. In terms of morphology, F. jiangxiensis resembles F. calliandrae but can be distinguished from it. Both have denticles on conidiogenous cells, yet those of F. jiangxiensis (0.9 μm) are shorter than F. calliandrae ’ s (1–3 μm). Additionally, the conidia of F. jiangxiensis (20–40 μm) are shorter than those of F. calliandrae [(37 –) 40–45 (– 47) μm]. The species was isolated from the roots of Tetradium ruticarpum (medicinal plant), which provides a basis for further research on its potential functional properties.