Unveiling species diversity within early-diverging fungi from China XVI: Five new Absidia and a new Gongronella species (Cunninghamellaceae, Mucoromycota)

The family Cunninghamellaceae demonstrates considerable species diversity among early-diverging fungi. Within this family, the genera Absidia and Gongronella are notably diverse and exhibit global distribution. Morphological and molecular analyses identified six new species from six provinces in China.

Phylogenetic analyses using SSU, ITS, LSU, TEF 1 α, and act gene sequences indicate that A. guangxiensis sp. nov. and A. heilongjiangensis sp. nov. form a distinct clade; A. hubeiensis sp. nov. is closely related to A. cylindrospora; and A. longisporangiophora sp. nov. is sister to A. myceliosa sp. nov. Morphologically, Absidia guangxiensis is defined by broad apophyses, A. heilongjiangensis by large projections, A. hubeiensis by large sporangia, A. longisporangiophora by elongated sporangiophores, and A. myceliosa by abundant mycelia.

Phylogenetic analyses based on ITS, LSU, TEF 1 α, and act sequences demonstrate that Gongronella globospora sp. nov. is closely related to G. chlamydospora, but is morphologically distinguished by globose sporangia. These findings expand the known biodiversity of Cunninghamellaceae in China and increase the global species count of Absidia and Gongronella to 71 and 34, respectively.