is known worldwide as biocontrol agents of plant diseases, producers of enzymes and antibiotics, and competitive contaminants of edible fungi. In this investigation of contaminated substrates of edible fungi from North China, 39 strains belonging to 10 species isolated from four kinds of edible fungi were obtained, and three novel species belonging to the Harzianum clade were isolated from the contaminated substrates of and . They were recognized based on integrated studies of phenotypic features, culture characteristics, and molecular analyses of RNA polymerase II subunit B and translation elongation factor 1-α genes. was strongly supported as a separate lineage and differed from due to its larger conidia. was closely related to but differed due to its smaller conidia and higher optimum mycelial growth temperature. As a separate lineage, was distinct from and due to its higher optimum mycelial growth temperature and larger conidia. This study extends the understanding of spp. contaminating substrates of edible fungi and updates knowledge of species diversity in the group.
