A New Bambusicolous Species of Spirodecospora (Spirodecosporaceae) from Yunnan, China, with a Key to Known Species

A new species of the genus Spirodecospora (Spirodecosporaceae, Xylariales) from Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated here under the name of Spirodecospora brevifissurata. It is characterized by deeply immersed, large ascomata, a square-shaped ascal apical apparatus, and relatively large ascospores with a single median linear striation, half the length of the ascospore, surrounded by a mucilaginous sheath. Phylogenetic analysis based on combined ITS, LSU and rpb2 sequences places the new taxon relative to S. jichuanenii, from which it differs in having larger ascomata and larger ascospores.

Descriptions and illustrations of the new species are provided, as well as a key to the species of Spirodecospora known to the world.