Akanthomyces zaquensis Y. H. Wang, W. J. Wang, Ke Wang, C. H. Dong, J. R. Hao, P. M. Kirk & Y. J. Yao, sp. nov

Akanthomyces zaquensis Y.H. Wang, W.J. Wang, Ke Wang, C.H. Dong, J.R. Hao, P.M. Kirk & Y.J. Yao, sp. nov. (Figs. 2–4) Fungal Names registration: FN570746. Etymology:— zaquensis, referring to the collecting site near the Za Qu River. Colonies on PDA were rapidly growing, attaining a diameter of 25–28 mm and 30–34 mm within 10 days at 20 and 25 ºC, respectively, round, flat, white. Reverse primrose to pale yellow. Colonies on MEA and PCA attained a diameter of 23–28 mm and 28–31 mm within 10 days at 20 and 25ºC, respectively, round, flat, white. Reverse pale yellow (FIGURE 2). The vegetative hyphae on PDA medium were delicate, hyaline, smooth-walled, 0.4–2.0 μm wide. Phialides occurring directly on the aerial hyphae; simple, 8.0–40.0 µm long, rarely over 100 µm, 0.6–1.2 µm at the base, tapering to about 0.4 µm at the tips. The conidia produced on the three media were one-celled, smooth-walled, hyaline; (1.5–)3.0–6.0(–7.0) × 0.5–1.2(–1.5) µm; adhering in heads at the apex of the phialides, long-ellipsoidal to almost cylindrical (FIGURE 3). The optimum temperature for growth was 5–37 ºC on three media (17–34 mm diameter in 10 d at 15–30 ºC), little growth (usually less than 10 mm diameter) at ≤10 ºC, no growth at ≥ 33 ºC (FIGURE 4). Notes: Akanthomyces zaquensis was isolated from O. sinensis. The species differed from A. lecanii by having bigger conidia. Furthermore, A. zaquensis produced single and lanceolate or narrowly lageniform phialides directly from the aerial hypha. Sexual state:—Unknown. Holotype:— CHINA. Qinghai Province: Yushu Prefecture, Zadoi County, Sulu Country, Duoxiao Village beside the Za Qu River, isolated from both the stroma and the sclerotium of O. sinensis on the ground, 20 May 2002, J.J. Li (holotype HMAS 246915, ex-holotype living culture CGMCC 19934). Other material examined:— CHINA. Qinghai Province: Yushu Prefecture, Zadoi County, Sulu Country, Duoxiao Village beside the Za Qu River, from both the stroma and the sclerotium of O. sinensis on the ground, 20 May 2002, J.J. Li (isotype HMAS 246914, isotype HMAS 246916, isotype HMAS 246917).
Published as part of Wang, Yong-Hui, Wang, Wen-Jing, Wang, Ke, Dong, Cai-Hong, Hao, Ji-Rong, Kirk, Paul M. & Yao, Yi-Jian, 2023, Akanthomyces zaquensis (Cordycipitaceae, Hypocreales), a new species isolated from both the stroma and the sclerotium of Ophiocordyceps sinensis in Qinghai, China, pp. 198-208 in Phytotaxa 579 (3) on pages 203-204, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.579.3.5, http://zenodo.org/record/7550391