The First Morpho-Molecular Study of Shimizuomyces paradoxus in Vietnam: Insights into Fungal Biodiversity in Bidoup National Park

A fungal specimen, designated as DL0035, was found to parasitize the seed of <i>Smilax</i> sp. in the area of Bidoup National Park, Nui Ba, in Lam Dong Province, Vietnam. The identification of the species was typically identified both by morphological and molecular phylogenetic analysis. Total genomic DNA was isolated by the method of Phenol/chloroform. The target gene <i>ITS</i> and <i>nrLSU</i> were amplified and sequenced by PCR and the Sanger method. Then, the sequence of the sample was subjected to molecular phylogenetic analysis to assist with species identification. The results of morphological analysis confirmed that the sample of DL0035 is <i>Shimizuomyces paradoxus</i> Kobayashi and Shimizu. Moreover, based on the phylogenetic analysis, the DL0035 was formed with the referent sequence of <i>Shimizuomyces paradoxus</i> with the high bootstrap value. Therefore, based on morphology and phylogenetic analysis, the sample of DL0035 was identified as <i>Shimizuomyces paradoxus</i>. Notably, this was the first record of <i>Shimizuomyces paradoxus</i> species in Vietnam.