Abstract

The genusAbsidiais predominantly distributed in soil habitats. During the fungal investigation of soil collected from China (Guangxi, Yunnan, and Chongqing), four novel species ofAbsidiawere identified, namelyAbsidia brunneolasp. nov.,A. digitatasp. nov.,A. exilissp. nov., andA. tumidasp. 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 brunneolasp. nov. is sister toA. jiangxiensis, which is characterized by the production of light brown sporangia.Absidia digitatasp. nov. andA. tumidasp. nov. are sister to each other with the former species developing digitiform rhizoids and the latter swollen in sporangiophores.Absidia exilissp. nov. is closely related toA. oblongispora, exhibiting poorly developed sporangiophores. To date, the total number of recognized species within the genusAbsidiahas increased to 66, including the four new ones herein.