Abstract
To investigate early-diverging fungi in soil from Yunnan Province, China, four novel species of the genus Absidia were discovered based on a combination of morphological characteristics, molecular evidence, and physiological features. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of SSU-ITS-LSU-Act-TEF1α sequences indicate that Absidiaarrhiza sp. nov., A.simplex sp. nov., A.sphaerica sp. nov., and A.viridis sp. nov. are closely related to A.chinensis, A.panacisoli, A.medulla, and A.varians, respectively. A.arrhiza is named for the sparse presence of rhizoids. A.simplex refers to the simple branching of its sporangiophores. A.sphaerica is characterized by its spherical columellae. A.viridis is distinctive for its light green colony. These four new species are described and illustrated herein, and their phenotypic and genotypic differences from allied species are discussed.