Fungi associated with seagrass Enhalus acoroides in Puttalam Lagoon, Sri Lanka: Discovery of two new species (Neodevriesia zeylanica and Neooccultibambusa zeylanica (Dothideomycetes )) and taxonomic validation of Halophilomyces (Sordariomycetes)

Abstract

During our ongoing research on seagrass-associated fungi in Kalpitiya, Puttalam Lagoon, Sri Lanka, ten endophytic fungal strains have been isolated from healthy leaves, roots, and rhizomes of Enhalus acoroides. A surface sterilization method was used for the isolation of fungi. Pure cultures obtained were induced to sporulate.

Phylogenetic analyses based on multi-gene regions (ITS, LSU, SSU, rpb 2, and tef 1 - α) were carried out for species identification. Neodevriesia zeylanica Wijayaw. et al. and Neooccultibambusa zeylanica Wijayaw. et al. are introduced as novel species, along with two new country and host records, i. e., Neodevriesia saximollicula D. S. Paiva and Thalassodendromyces purpureus Vohník & Réblová. Two strains have been confirmed as Halophilomyces hongkongensis Xiao Wang et al. (nom. invalid), the type species of Halophilomyces Xiao Wang et al. (nom. invalid).

Halophilomyces hongkongensis (based on the newly isolated strains) has been validated and provided with a new name, Halophilomyces zeylanica Wijayaw. et al., along with the designation of a new holotype and ex-type, respectively.