Three new endophytic Microdochium species (Microdochiaceae, Xylariales) associated with Poaceae plants in China

Microdochium, a genus in the family Microdochiaceae, typically produces small, falcate to subpyriform conidia. Species of Microdochium exhibit diverse lifestyles with a wide host range, functioning as plant pathogens, saprobes, and endophytes. This study presents the discovery of three novel Microdochium species, namely M. gongcheniae, M. graminis, and M. hongkuii, isolated from Poaceae plants in Yunnan and Zhejiang, China. These three proposed new species are identified through multi-locus phylogenies derived from a combined dataset of ITS, LSU, RPB2, and TUB2, along with detailed morphological characteristics. Detailed comparisons of the newly discovered species with closely related species are provided as well to enhance our understanding of the genus Microdochium.