Abstract
Three new species of Clonostachys are introduced based on specimens collected from China. Clonostachys chongqingensis sp. nov. is distinguished by pale yellow to pale orange-yellow perithecia with a very low papilla, clavate to subcylindrical asci possessing ellipsoidal to elongate-ellipsoidal spinulose ascospores 13-16 × 4.5-5.5 μm; it has acremonium- to verticillium-like conidiophores and ellipsoidal to rod-shaped conidia. Clonostachys leptoderma sp. nov. has pinkish-white subglobose to globose perithecia on a well-developed stroma and with a thin perithecial wall, clavate to subcylindrical asci with ellipsoidal to elongate-ellipsoidal spinulose ascospores 7.5-11 × 2.5-3.5 μm; it produces verticillium-like conidiophores and ellipsoidal to subellipsoidal conidia. Clonostachys oligospora sp. nov. features solitary to gregarious perithecia with a papilla, clavate asci containing 6-8 smooth-walled ascospores 9-17 × 3-5.5 μm; it forms verticillium-like conidiophores and sparse, subfusiform conidia. The morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses of combined nuclear ribosomal DNA ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and beta-tubulin sequences support their placement in Clonostachys and their classification as new to science. Distinctions between the novel taxa and their close relatives are compared herein.