Peroneutypa wanfenglinensis X. Y. Mao, K. Habib & Y. Q. Kang 2025, sp. nov.

Peroneutypa wanfenglinensis X. Y. Mao, K. Habib & Y. Q. Kang sp. nov. Fig. 4 Etymology. The epithet refers to the name of the location (Wan Feng Lin State Reserve), where the type specimen was collected. Type. China • Guizhou Province, Xingyi City, Wan Feng Lin State Reserve (104°55'28"E, 24°59'26"N), altitude 896.8 m, on dead branches of Betula platyphylla, 28 May 2022, Xin Y Mao & Y. Q. Kang, WFL 02 (Holotype GZAAS 24-0021; Isotype KUN-HKAS 133157, ex-type cultures GZCC 24-0196). GenBank accession numbers (ITS: PP 852356; tub 2: PQ 301419). Description. Saprobic on decaying branches of Betula platyphylla. Sexual morph: Stromata 1.90–2.5 mm in diameter, interior, solitary to gregarious, with 1–4 perithecia, immersed, erumpent by a long ostiolar canal, dark brown to black, surface glabrous, shape circular to irregular, arranged irregularly. Ascomata (excluding necks) 330–620 μm high, 280–520 µm diam. (x ̄ = 540 × 320 μm, n = 10), immersed in a stroma, black, monostichous to distichous, circular to oval, each has an individual ostiole with a short neck. Ostiolar canals erumpent, smooth, 120–140 μm (x ̄ = 135 μm, n = 10) long, arch-shaped, sulcate, and curved at the apex. Peridium 20–45 μm (x ̄ = 31.85 μm) thick, composed of two layers, outer layer brown to dark, cells thick-walled, texture angularis, inner layers hyaline, cells flattened, texture angularis. Paraphyses septate, slightly swollen at the septa, 3.5–6 μm (x ̄ = 5.4 μm, n = 20) wide. Asci 20–30.5 × 3–5 μm (x ̄ = 25 × 4 μm, n = 30), unitunicate, 8 - spored, clavate, with apically rounded to truncate ends, with a J- apical ring. Ascospore 3–4.2 × 1–2 μm (x ̄ = 3.6 × 1.4 μm, n = 30), overlapping, allantoid, subhyaline, smooth, aseptate, with 1–2 oil droplets. Asexual morph: undetermined. Culture characteristics. Colonies growing fast on PDA, reach 60 mm in 1 week at 28 ° C, effuse, velvety to hairy, nearly circular, dense towards the edge, fluffy aerial mycelium, appear white from above and pale from below. Mycelium is composed of branched, septate, smooth-walled, hyaline hyphae. Additional specimens examined. China • Guizhou Province, Zunyi City, Chishui Zhuhai National Forest Park (105°99'14"E, 28°47'19"N), altitude 838 m, on branches of an unidentified plant, 21 July 2023. Xin Y Mao, CSZH 01 (Paratype GZAAS 24-0022; KUN-HKAS 133156; ex-paratype cultures, GZCC 24-0197). GenBank accession numbers (ITS: PP 852353; tub 2: PQ 301420). Notes. BLAST results reveal that Peroneutypa wanfenglinensis is closely related to P. kochiana. However, P. wanfenglinensis differs morphologically from P. kochiana in having smaller ascospores (3–4.2 × 1.0–1.9 μm vs. 4.5–6 × 1.5–2 μm), larger ascomata (330–620 μm high, 280–520 μm diam. vs. 150 μm diam.), and asci with a J- (non-amyloid) apical ring, compared to the J + (amyloid) apical ring in P. kochiana (Carmarán et al. 2006). Sequence analysis also indicates a notable difference between P. wanfenglinensis and P. kochiana, showing a relatively low ITS similarity of 91 %. In terms of ascomata size and apical ring, Peroneutypa wanfenglinensis is more like P. indica. However, their ascus and ascospore dimensions can differentiate the two species. Peroneutypa indica has longer asci (35–47 μm vs. 20–30.5 μm) and ascospores (4–8 μm vs. 3–4.2 μm) compared to P. wanfenglinensis (Dayarathne et al. 2020). In terms of ascomata and ascospore dimensions, Peroneutypa wanfenglinensis is comparable to P. leucaenae. However, P. leucaenae can be distinguished by its significantly longer ostiolar neck (275–350 μm vs. 120–140 μm) and larger asci (average 33 × 4.2 μm vs. average 25 × 4 μm). Additionally, P. leucaenae is characterized by a J + (amyloid) apical ring, contrasting with the J- (non-amyloid) apical ring observed in P. wanfenglinensis (Du et al. 2022). These distinct morphological features (Table 2), together with their distinct phylogenetic position, support the recognition of P. wanfenglinensis as a new species.