# Unveiling Species Diversity Within Early-Diverging Fungi from China XIII: Four New Species of Absidia (Cunninghamellaceae, Mucoromycota)

## TL;DR

Four new species of fungi in the genus Absidia were discovered in Chinese soil samples, increasing the known species count to 66.

## Contribution

The paper introduces four new Absidia species identified through morphological and molecular analyses in China.

## Key findings

- Four new Absidia species (A. brunneola, A. digitata, A. exilis, A. tumida) were identified in China.
- Molecular and morphological data confirmed the novelty of these species.
- The total number of recognized Absidia species now reaches 66.

## Abstract

The genus Absidia is predominantly distributed in soil habitats. During the fungal investigation of soil collected from China (Guangxi, Yunnan, and Chongqing), four novel species of Absidia were identified, namely Absidia brunneola sp. nov., A. digitata sp. nov., A. exilis sp. nov., and A. tumida sp. nov. This identification was based on morphological characteristics and molecular analyses of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), small subunit (SSU) and large subunit of ribosomal RNA gene (LSU rDNA), actin gene (ACT), and translation elongation factor 1-alpha gene (TEF1α). Absidia brunneola sp. nov. is sister to A. jiangxiensis, which is characterized by the production of light brown sporangia. Absidia digitata sp. nov. and A. tumida sp. nov. are sister to each other with the former species developing digitiform rhizoids and the latter swollen in sporangiophores. Absidia exilis sp. nov. is closely related to A. oblongispora, exhibiting poorly developed sporangiophores. To date, the total number of recognized species within the genus Absidia has increased to 66, including the four new ones herein.