Diversity of the genus Sugiyamaella and description of two new species from rotting wood in China

Abstract

Species of the genus <i>Sugiyamaella</i> (Trichomonascaceae, Saccharomycetales), found in rotting wood in China, were investigated using morphology and the molecular phylogeny of a combined ITS and nrLSU dataset. Nine taxa were collected in China: two were new species (viz. <i>Sugiyamaella chuxiong</i> <b>sp. nov.</b> and <i>S. yunanensis</i> <b>sp. nov.</b>) and seven were known species, <i>S. americana</i>, <i>S. ayubii</i>, <i>S. novakii</i>, <i>S. paludigena</i>, <i>S. valenteae</i>, <i>S. valdiviana</i> and <i>S. xiaguanensis</i>. The two new species are illustrated and their morphology and phylogenetic relationships with other <i>Sugiyamaella</i> species are discussed. Our results indicate a potentially great diversity of <i>Sugiyamaella</i> spp. inhabiting rotting wood in China just waiting to be discovered.