Hantamomyces aloidendri Crous, sp. nov.

MycoBank number: MB 837841; Index Fungorum number: IF 837841; Facesoffungi number: FoF14519;

Etymology. Name refers to the host genus Aloidendron from which it was isolated.

Mycelium consists of hyaline, smooth, branched, septate, 2.5–3.5 µm diam hyphae. Conidiophores arising from superficial hyphae, erect, solitary, cylindrical, pale brown, smooth, branched, septate, up to 200 µm tall, 2.5 – 3 µm diam. Conidiogenous cells integrated, pale brown, smooth, subcylindrical; conidiophores with terminal conidiogenous region with 1– 2 denticulate loci, 1 × 1 µm, with separating cell leaving minute collarette; one locus in basal region above septum, and second locus if present below apical septum, 10 – 30 × 2.5 – 3 µm, but conidiogenous cells giving rise to next cell in zigzag fashion (sympodial), appearing like a drawn out rachis. Conidia hyaline, smooth, guttulate to Colour illustrations. Aloidendron dichotomum growing along the mountain ridge. Left column D. aloidendri. Conidiomata on SNA; conidiogenous cells giving rise to conidia; conidia. Right column Hantamomyces aloidendri. Conidiophores give rise to chains of conidia; conidia. Scale bars = 10 µm. granular, fusoid, not to slightly constricted at median septum, tapering towards both ends to truncate hilum with minute marginal frill, scar 1 µm diam, at times somewhat darkened, with conidia occurring in long, unbranched chains, forming a mucoid droplet with age; conidial chains with conidia attached to one another by minute separating cell, with collarette developing at each end, 1– 3-septate, (15 –)17–18(– 20) × (3.5 –)4(– 5) µm.

Culture characteristics — Colonies erumpent, spreading, with moderate aerial mycelium and smooth, even margin, reaching 20 mm diam after 2 wk at 25 °C. On MEA, PDA and OA surface dirty white, reverse buff.

Typus. SOUTH AFRICA, Western Cape Province, Nieuwoudtville, on leaves of Aloidendron dichotomum (Asphodelaceae), 2018, P.W. Crous, HPC 3020 (holotype CBS H-24432, culture ex-type CPC 38655 = CBS 146814, ITS and LSU sequences GenBank MW175348.1 and MW175388.1).