Morphological and molecular characterization of a new succulenticolous Physarum (Myxomycetes, Amoebozoa) with unique polygonal spores linked in chains

Abstract

A new plasmodiocarpic and sporocarpic species of myxomycete in the genus Physarum is described and illustrated. This new species appeared on decayed leaves and remains of succulent plants (Agave, Opuntia, Yucca) growing in arid zones. It differs from all other species in the genus in having polyhedral spores linked in chains like a string of beads, a unique feature within all known myxomycetes. Apart from detailed morphological data, partial sequences of both the small-subunit ribosomal RNA and elongation factor 1-alpha genes, generated from four isolates collected in two distant regions, i.e., Mexico and Canary Islands, are also provided in this study. Combined evidence supports the identity of the specimens under study as a new species.

Phylogeny and evolution of morphological structures in a highly diverse lineage of fruiting-body-forming amoebae, order Trichiales (Myxomycetes, Amoebozoa)

“…The EF1A was amplified and sequenced as a single amplicon, including the intron present in every Myxomycetes species (Fiore-Donno et al 2005), and sequences ranged from 876 to 1453 bp. Forward primers for EF1A amplification were EF03 and EF04* (Ronikier et al 2020), and the reverse primer was KEF_R3 (García-Martín et al 2018). The mtSSU sequences comprised 334-667 bp, amplified as a single amplicon with the primers pair Kmit_F and Kmit_R ).…”