Cryptococcomyces undefined-2

Cryptococcomyces sp. 2 Cultures examined. CHINA, Yunnan Province, Lijiang, Laojunshan, 26.6315°N, 99.7249°E, alt. ca. 3900 m, isolated from Juniperus sp. (Cupressaceae), 16 Aug. 2023, C. L. Hou, L. Zhuo, and S. Y. Zhao, CNUCC 2031 A 31; 26.6316°N, 99.7253°E, alt. ca. 3855 m, isolated from Juniperus sp., 21 Jun. 2021, C. L. Hou, M. J. Guo and H. Zhou, CNUCC 17821; 26.6319°N, 99.7243°E, alt. ca. 3890 m, isolated from Juniperus sp., 17 Aug. 2023, C. L. Hou, L. Zhuo, and S. Y. Zhao, CNUCC 2061 B 31. Notes. In the multi-gene phylogenetic tree, the molecular sequences of this unnamed species cluster together with the molecular sequence of Cryptococcomyces crystallinus. The ITS rDNA similarity between these two species is 92 %. It is worth noting that while processing other ascomata from these specimens, we obtained isolates of this species. However, the observed ascomata did not match the morphological characteristics of this genus. Since multiple isolates of this species were obtained from different specimens, sequencing errors or other potential mistakes have been ruled out. We hypothesize the presence of an undiscovered cryptic species, although no corresponding ascomata have yet been found.