Phylogenetic analysis of the genus Taphrina: proposal of one new genus and seven new species (Taphrinales, Taphrinomycetes) from China

Abstract

Abstract Taphrina, a genus within the family Taphrinaceae and the order Taphrinales, is a globally distributed group of plant-associated fungi. However, only three species of this genus have been previously reported in China. To enhance the understanding of species diversity within the Taphrina genus in China, sixteen yeast strains, isolated from leaf surfaces across various locations in China and initially identified as members of Taphrina, were examined from both phylogenetic and phenotypic perspectives. From these isolates, one new genus, Srisukozyma, is described to accommodate two new species, Srisukozyma ovata and Sr. musae, along with five additional new species Taphrina aspidistrae, T. cunninghamiae, T. foliicola, T. fujianensis, and T. guizhouensis which we describe. The descriptions of these taxa are supplemented by illustrations and results from phylogenetic analyses. Additionally, phenotypic comparisons with related genus and species are provided. This study contributes to the broader understanding of ascomycetous yeast diversity in natural environments and sets the stage for future taxonomic and ecological investigations.