Abstract

Clinoconidium lauracearum sp. nov. (Cryptobasidiaceae) is described and illustrated from infected fruits of Cinnamomum tamala (Lauraceae) collected from Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand State, India. The species shows characteristics of Clinoconidium and Drepanoconis, but differs from other species in these genera by the combination of shapes, sizes, and septation of basidiospores. Molecular data also indicate that the present taxon is distinct from the other known species of Clinoconidium and Drepanoconis. Analyses of combined ITS and LSU rDNA and separate LSU rDNA sequence data reveal a close association of the present taxon to the genus Clinoconidium, but also that it is distinct from the other known species in the genus.