Mongabay · Climate & nature

16 New Fungal Species Discovered in Thai Flowers

Researchers in Thailand have identified 16 new species of black, yeast-like fungi belonging to the Aureobasidium genus, found living within various garden and wild flowers. The study also documented four fungal species previously unrecorded in Thailand.

The newly described fungi were discovered growing on 31 different flowering plants, including bougainvillea and vinca, by a research team from Chiang Mai University and Kasetsart University.

Many of the new species are named after their host flowers, such as A. bougainvilleae, or their collection locations, like A. chiangmaiense.

Two species were named in honor of prominent Thai mycologists: A. saisamorniae and A. savitreeae.

The researchers aimed for the names to reflect the fungi's origin or the people who have advanced mycological research in Thailand.

The Aureobasidium genus is frequently isolated from flower samples and is known for producing useful enzymes, controlling plant diseases, and breaking down plastics.

Some Aureobasidium species can be opportunistic human pathogens, making the establishment of accurate native fungal population baselines important for tracking ecological shifts.

The study highlights an unexpectedly high diversity of Aureobasidium species within flowers in northern Thailand.

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