Helminthosporium camelliae-sinensis sp. nov., a novel species from dead tea twigs in Sichuan Province, China

Saprobic hyphomycetes are highly diverse on plant debris. During an investigation of tea fungi in Sichuan province, China, two hyphomycetous taxa were collected and morphologically they were recognized as members of Helminthosporium. Helminthosporium is a polyphyletic genus in Massarinaceae (Pleosporales), characterized by having septate and erected conidiophores, acro‐pleurogenous and distoseptate conidia with a ring‐shaped scar at the base. Based on morphological comparison and multi-locus phylogenetic analysis of ITS, SSU, LSU, rpb2, and tef1-α gene regions, our collection was identified as Helminthosporium camelliae-sinensis sp. nov. and another known species of Helminthosporium velutinum as a new host record. This study provides descriptions and illustrations for the new species and provide an updated phylogenetic tree for Helminthosporium.