New fungus genus found growing on wood in China
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
Researchers in China identified a new genus and species of freshwater fungus, Hyalosympodium aquaticum, growing on decaying wood in Guizhou Province.
The scientists examined the fungus using microscopes and analyzed four regions of its genetic material to determine its place in the tree of life. Their work showed that Hyalosympodium is closely related to another fungus, Tenebrosynnematica obclavata, but distinct enough to warrant classification as a new genus.
The team collected specimens from Changpo Ling National Forest Park on October 12, 2025, and grew the fungus in a laboratory to study its characteristics. They documented its color, shape, and size, and preserved samples in the Herbarium of the Guizhou Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the Guizhou Culture Collection. The fungus produces pale colonies with masses of clear, oval-shaped spores.
By comparing the fungus’s DNA to that of other known species, the researchers confirmed its unique position within the fungal order Pararamichloridiales. They found differences in its genetic code and physical structure compared to similar fungi, such as Brunneoloconidia, reinforcing their conclusion that Hyalosympodium aquaticum represents a new genus. The scientists noted that more research is needed to fully understand the relationships within the Pararamichloridiales order, as some related species lack sufficient genetic data.
