Lijiangomyces laojunensis gen. et sp. nov. (Mytilinidiaceae), and Sclerococcum stictae (Dactylosporaceae), a new lichenicolous species from Yunnan, China

Lijiangomyces laojunensisgen. et sp. nov. and Sclerococcum stictaesp. nov. are reported from China and identified through DNA sequence analyses (LSU, ITS, and tef1-α) and morphological characteristics. Phylogenetic analysis showed that L. laojunensis forms a distinct lineage within Mytilinidiaceae, closely related to the Mytilinidion subclade, leading to the establishment of a new genus within this family. This saprotrophic species grows on the bark of Abies fabri, often surrounded by the thallus of Pertusaria species. Lijiangomyces laojunensis is characterized by broadly open, black hysterothecia, clavate asci, and uniseriate, hyaline muriform ascospores. Sclerococcum stictae, a new lichenicolous species, forms a sister clade relationship to a lichenicolous fungus, S. ricasoliae. It was found on the thallus of Sticta, and is characterized by black apothecia, elongate, cylindrical asci, and brown, elliptical, and 1-septate ascospores. Descriptions, illustrations, and phylogenetic analysis results of the new taxa are provided.