A molecular analysis reveals hidden species diversity within the current concept of Russula maculata (Russulaceae, Basidiomycota)

Abstract

The current generally accepted concept of Russula maculata defines the species by yellow-brownish spots on the basidiomata, an acrid taste, a yellow spore print and a red pileus. This concept was tested using collections originating from various geographical areas mainly in Europe. Analyses of the ITS region suggested that there were three species within this broad concept. One of them, R. maculata, was identified based on the sequence from the epitype. Two other species, R. nympharum and R. sp., are described here as newly identified species. The European species R. maculata and R. nympharum grow in deciduous forests, are similar in their field aspect and are distinctly different in micro-morphological characteristics of spores, pleurocystidia and pileipellis. An Asian species, R. sp., is associated with pine and has smaller basidiomata and spores. These three species form the R. maculata complex and represent the sister clade to the R. globispora complex. This clade consists of species also characterized by a yellow-brownish context discolouration but with a different type of spore ornamentation. All of the other tested species had an acrid taste and yellow spore print but did not have a conspicuous yellow-brownish context discolouration and were placed in various unrelated clades.

A phylogenetic and taxonomic revision of sequestrate Russulaceae in Mediterranean and temperate Europe

“…Maculatinae , and shows a significant relationship with R. maculata and R. nympharum , although it seems to represent an independent lineage not identified in previous studies of this clade (Adamčik et al 2016). The complex around R. maculata was found by Adamčik et al (2016) to be characterized by spores which are ornamented with low or medium-sized warts frequently connected and forming small ridges. However, R. candida has spiny spores not forming a reticulum or ridges, suggesting that this feature could be variable, or else restricted to the lineage formed by R. maculata and R. nympharum .…”

Integrative taxonomy reveals hidden species within a common fungal parasite of ladybirds

“…Many (or almost any 51 ) species studied using molecular, incompatibility, secondary metabolites have been shown to “mask” several biological species. Examples are found in diverse groups of fungi – among Ascomycota: Eurotiales ( Aspergillus 9 ), Helotiales ( Phialocephala 52 ), Lecanorales ( Protoparmelia 10 ); among Basidiomycota: Agaricales ( Cortinarius 53 ; Tricholomopsis 54 ), Polyporales ( Ganoderma 55 ), Russulales ( Lactifluus 56 , Russula 57 ), Ustilaginales ( Tranzscheliella 58 ). In this study, we have observed at a superficial level cryptic species.…”

Parasites of parasites of bats: Laboulbeniales (Fungi: Ascomycota) on bat flies (Diptera: Nycteribiidae) in central Europe

“…More generally, many fungal species are cryptic, with lineages “hidden” within morphological species complexes. This cryptic diversity is rapidly being uncovered by applying a molecular phylogenetic approach to taxonomic studies [ 44 – 46 ]. In Laboulbeniales, cryptic diversity is a subject of current research, although advances in this field have been hindered by the difficulties in working with and extracting DNA from these fungi [ 28 ].…”