Microsporomyces ellipsoideus Q.M. Wang, F.Y. Bai & A.H. Li sp. nov. MycoBank MB828818. Fig. 15F.

Etymology: the specific epithet ellipsoideus refers to the ellipsoidal vegetative cells of the type strain.

Culture characteristics: In YM broth, after 7 d at 17 °C, cells are ellipsoidal or cylindrical, 6.0–7.5 × 9.0–14.5 μm and single, budding is polar (Fig. 15F), a sediment is formed. After 1 mo at 17 °C, a ring and sediment are present. On YM agar, after 1 mo at 17 °C, the streak culture is brownish-orange, butyrous, smooth. The margin is entire. In Dalmau plate culture on corn meal agar, pseudohyphae are not formed. Sexual structures are not observed on YM, PDA, V8 and CM agar. Ballistoconidia are not produced.

Physiological and biochemical characteristics: Glucose fermentation is absent. Glucose, galactose, sucrose, maltose, trehalose, melibiose (weak), raffinose, soluble starch, glycerol, D-glucitol, Methyl-α- D-glucoside, salicin and succinate (delayed and weak) are assimilated as sole carbon sources. L-sorbose, cellobiose, lactose, melezitose, inulin, D-xylose, L-arabinose, D-arabinose, D-ribose, L-rhamnose, D-glucosamine, methanol, ethanol, erythritol, ribitol, galactitol, D-mannitol, DL-lactate, citrate, myo-inositol and hexadecane are not assimilated. Ammonium sulfate, potassium nitrate and L-lysine (weak) are assimilated as sole nitrogen sources. Sodium nitrite, ethylamine hydrochloride and cadaverine dihydrochloride are not assimilated. Maximum growth temperature is 26–27 °C. Growth in vitamin-free medium is negative. Starch-like substances are not produced. Growth on 50 % (w/w) glucose-yeast extract agar is negative. Urease activity is positive. Diazonium Blue B reaction is positive.

Physiologically, Mi. ellipsoideus differs from its closely related species Mi. rubellus in its inability to assimilate melezitose, ribitol and galactitol and its ability to soluble starch and Methyl-α- Dglucoside (Table S1.24).

Typus: China, Motuo county, Tibet, obtained from a leaf of an unidentified plant, Sep. 2014, Q.-M. Wang (holotype CGMCC 2.5664 T preserved in a metabolically inactive state, ex-type CBS 16020 = XZ137E4).