Unveiling species diversity within early-diverging fungi from China V: Five new species of Absidia (Cunninghamellaceae, Mucoromycota)

Absidia is widely distributed in soil, koji, and various types of feces. A multi-locus phylogeny covering the small subunit (SSU), internal transcribed spacer (ITS), and large subunit of ribosomal RNA gene (LSU rDNA), translation elongation factor 1 - alpha (TEF 1 α), and actin (Act), combined with morphological characteristics, revealed five new species in this genus. This study provides their descriptions and illustrations and discusses their differences from morphological allies and phylogenetic relatives.

Absidia collariata sp. nov. is distinguished from other species in terms of the length of collars. A. hainanensis sp. nov. is named after the geographical location Hainan, distinctive with a higher maximum growing temperature. A. pyriformis sp. nov. is different from other species in terms of sporangial shape.

A. tardiva sp. nov. is characterized by slow growth. And A. tibetensis sp. nov. is named after the geographical location Tibet and differentiated by more ampulliform swellings. This study further enriches the species diversity of Absidia as the latest discovery of early-diverging fungi in China.