First Report of Occultibambusa jonesii on Para Grass (Brachiaria mutica) in Yunnan, China
Authors:   Research Center of Microbial Diversity and Sustainable Utilization, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand, Xu Sheng ,   Honghe Center for Mountain Futures, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Honghe County 654400, China,   Centre for Mountain Futures (CMF), Kunming Institute of Botany, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, China, Phookamsak Rungtiwa ,   Honghe Center for Mountain Futures, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Honghe County 654400, China,   Centre for Mountain Futures (CMF), Kunming Institute of Botany, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, China,   CIFOR-ICRAF China Program, World Agroforestry (ICRAF), Kunming 650201, China, Jiang Hong-Bo ,   Honghe Center for Mountain Futures, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Honghe County 654400, China,   Center of Excellence in Fungal Research, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand,   School of Science, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand, Tibpromma Saowaluck ,   Center for Yunnan Plateau Biological Resources Protection and Utilization, College of Biological Resource and Food Engineering, Qujing Normal University, Qujing, Yunnan 655011, China, Yang Jian-Bo ,   Honghe Center for Mountain Futures, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Honghe County 654400, China,   Centre for Mountain Futures (CMF), Kunming Institute of Botany, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, China,   CIFOR-ICRAF China Program, World Agroforestry (ICRAF), Kunming 650201, China, Xu Jian-Chu ,   Honghe Center for Mountain Futures, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Honghe County 654400, China,   Centre for Mountain Futures (CMF), Kunming Institute of Botany, Kunming 650201, Yunnan, China,   CIFOR-ICRAF China Program, World Agroforestry (ICRAF), Kunming 650201, China, Lumyong Saisamorn ,   Research Center of Microbial Diversity and Sustainable Utilization, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand,   Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand,   Academy of Science, The Royal Society of Thailand, Bangkok 10300, Thailand
Published: May 2022

During a survey of ascomycetes in Yunnan in the dry season (April 2021), an ascomycete was found on para grass [Brachiaria mutica (Forssk.) Stapf] submerged in a freshwater stream in Mengla County, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China. Multi-locus phylogenetic analyses of combined ITS, LSU, SSU, tef1-α and rpb2 gene regions demonstrated that the novel strain (KUMCC 21-0469) shared the same branch length with Occultibambusa jonesii [GZCC 16-0117, ex-type strain] (98% ML, 1.00 PP) and grouped with O. aquatica with signifi cant support (91% ML, 1.00 PP). Morphological characteristics were inadequate to distinguish species in Occultibambusa. We therefore identify our new collection (KUN-HKAS122243, strain KUMCC 21-0469) as O. jonesii based solely on phylogenetic evidence. The conspecifi c status of O. aquatica and O. jonesii is questionable in this study due to the lack of genetic information on O. aquatica. The ex-type stain of O. aquatica has been acquired to be re-sequenced for further evaluation of its phylogenetic status. Occultibambusa jonesii was isolated from dead culms of bamboo in terrestrial environments in Guizhou Province, China. In the present study, the species was isolated from para grass submerged in a freshwater stream in Yunnan Province, China. This discovery is a new record on host/habitats and geography for O. jonesii. Detailed description and illustration of O. jonesii as well as the updated phylogenetic relationships of taxa in Occultibambusaceae and geographical distribution map of Occultibambusa are provided.