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Morphological and Phylogenetic Appraisal of Ophioceras (Ophioceraceae, Magnaporthales)

Summary

This research describes a new species of fungus found growing on submerged bamboo in China and reorganizes the classification of related fungi based on DNA analysis. The findings help scientists better understand the diversity and relationships of fungi that live in freshwater environments. Impacts on everyday life: • Helps track and monitor fungal biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems • Contributes to understanding decomposition processes in freshwater environments • Advances scientific knowledge of fungal taxonomy and classification • Provides baseline data for potential future applications in biotechnology • Aids in assessing environmental health through fungal biodiversity studies

Background

Ophioceras is accommodated in the monotypic family Ophioceraceae (Magnaporthales, Sordariomycetes), and the genus is delimited based on molecular data. The family is recognized by black, immersed to superficial, globose to subglobose, perithecial ascomata with long, periphysate necks, 8-spored, unitunicate, subcylindrical to narrowly fusoid asci with a J-, apical ring, and filiform, hyaline to olivaceous, septate ascospores without sheaths. Species occur as saprobes on wood and herbaceous plants in aquatic or terrestrial habitats.

Objective

To introduce a novel Ophioceras taxon found on a submerged bamboo branch in Sichuan Province, China and resolve the congeneric status of Ceratosphaerella and Ophioceras in Ophioceraceae based on morpho-molecular approaches.

Results

A new species, Ophioceras sichuanense, was identified and described based on morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic analyses. The species formed a well-supported clade basal to Ophioceras. Based on phylogenetic evidence, Ceratosphaerella was found to cluster within Ophioceras and was therefore synonymized under Ophioceras. Two new combinations were proposed: Ophioceras castillensis and O. rhizomorpha.

Conclusion

The study expanded the known diversity of Ophioceras by describing a new species from bamboo in freshwater habitats. The generic circumscription of Ophioceras was emended to include Ceratosphaerella based on molecular phylogenetic evidence and morphological similarities. This taxonomic revision helps clarify relationships within the Ophioceraceae family.
  • Published in:PLOS One,
  • Study Type:Taxonomic Study,
  • Source: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253853
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