Basidiodesertica Maharachch., Wanas. & Al-Sadi, gen. nov.

MycoBank  number: MB 837561; Index Fungorum number: IF 837561; Facesoffungi number: FoF 09489;

Etymology: The species epithet is from the combination of two words “Basidio” (belongs to Basidiomycetes) and “desertum” (desert). Saprobic on dead leaves of unknown plants.

Asexual morph: Synnemata arising from stromatic base, erect, cylindrical to subulate, solitary to scattered, brownish, wide and foot-like at the very base. Conidiophores of synnema parallelly compacted, flexuous, hyaline to brown, septate with or without clamp connections, branched. Conidiogenous cells holoblastic, integrated, terminal, cylindrical. Conidia dictyosporous bulbil-like, multicellular, oblong to fusiform, hyaline when young, brown grey to dark brown violet at maturity, with several (4–6) holoblastic conidiogenous cells contributing to development of the conidium.

Notes:—The majority of hyphomycete and coelomycetous fungi have sexual states in the Ascomycota (Kirk et al. 2008). Presently 13 basidiomycete genera are identified with coelomycetous asexual morphs (Rungjindamai et al. 2008). Some of these genera are phylogenetically linked to their respective basidiomycete groups. For example, based on the sequence data, Mycotribulus Nag Raj & W.B. Kendr. is phylogenetically affiliated with Physalacriaceae (Agaricales), Chaetospermum Sacc. to Sebacinaceae (Sebacinales) whereas monotypic Giulia Tassi is well-placed in the Corticiaceae (Corticiales) and Basidiopycnis Oberw. et al. and Proceropycnis M. Villarreal et al. are related to Hoehnelomycetaceae (Atractiellales) (Oberwinkler et al. 2006; Rungjindamai et al. 2008; Tangthirasunun et al. 2014). The order Corticiales is characterized by effused or discoid basidiomata, a smooth hymenophore, and a monomitic hyphal system with clamped, rarely single septate hyphae (Hibbett et al. 2007). However, the family Corticiaceae is linked to coelomycetous and huphomyceteous asexual morphs, which are not typical members for the Basidiomycetes. Here we introduce a new hyphomycetes genus, Basidiodesertica, based on molecular phylogenetic results and distinct morphological characters.

Type: Basidiodesertica hydei Maharachch., Wanas. &Al-Sadi.

Species