Morpho-phylogenetic evidence reveals novel species and new records of Torula (Torulaceae, Pleosporales) from medicinal plants in China
- Author: mycolabadmin
- 9/11/2025
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Summary
Researchers discovered two new species of fungi (Torula dispora and Torula strychnicola) living on medicinal plants in China. These fungi, which break down dead plant material, were identified using both physical characteristics and genetic analysis. The study also documented three additional species of Torula fungi on medicinal plants for the first time, suggesting that medicinal plants harbor greater fungal diversity than previously known.
Background
Medicinal plants are valuable resources for drug discovery and development. Microfungi, including saprobes, are crucial factors affecting the quality of medicinal herbs. This study focuses on hyphomycetous fungi of Torula discovered during a saprobic fungi survey in China from medicinal plant substrates.
Objective
To characterize and identify five hyphomycetous fungi of Torula (Torulaceae, Pleosporales) based on morphology, culture characteristics, and phylogenetic analysis. To introduce novel species and report new host records associated with medicinal plants in China.
Results
Two novel species, Torula dispora and T. strychnicola, were introduced based on distinct morphological characteristics including spinulose conidial substrate and conidial size differences. Three new host records of T. chinensis, T. fici, and T. masonii were reported. T. phytolaccae was synonymized under T. chinensis based on phylogenetic and morphological evidence.
Conclusion
This study describes two new Torula species and three new host records from medicinal plants in China, highlighting the diversity of Torula species in terrestrial habitats. The findings emphasize the importance of molecular data for accurate species delimitation in the genus Torula and suggest potential bioactive properties of Torula members.
- Published in:MycoKeys,
- Study Type:Taxonomic Study,
- Source: 10.3897/mycokeys.122.161816