A new species of the genus Tubulicium collected from living Pieris japonica

Abstract

Tubulicium curvisporum sp. nov. frequently grows on the Japanese andromeda Pieris japonica on Honshu Island, Japan. Molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed that this species belongs to the genus Tubulicium, of the family Hydnodontaceae (Trechisporales). The present species is morphologically distinguishable from the other Tubulicium species, because of its strongly curved, sickle-shaped basidiospores, measuring 16.5–25.5 × 4.5–7 μm. In this study, the morphological descriptions, illustrations, and cultural characteristics of T. curvisporum are provided, as well as a key to the species of this genus.