Multigene Phylogeny and Morphology Reveal Unexpectedly High Number of New Species of Cantharellus Subgenus Parvocantharellus (Hydnaceae, Cantharellales) in China

Abstract

The genus Cantharellus, commonly known as chanterelles, has recently been divided into six subgenera; however, wider sampling approaches are needed to clarify the relationships within and between these groups. A phylogenetic overview of Cantharellus subgenus Parvocantharellus in China was inferred based on the large subunit nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nrLSU), the DNA-directed RNA polymerase II subunit 2 (rpb2), and the transcription elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1). A total of nine species from China were assigned to the subgenus, including seven novel species, namely Cantharellusaurantinus, C. austrosinensis, C. galbanus, C. luteolus, C. luteovirens, C. minioalbus, and C. sinominior, and two known species, namely C. albus and C. zangii. The detailed descriptions and illustrations were provided based on the newly obtained data, with the comparisons to closely related species. C. zangii was restudied based on the paratype specimens and multiple new collections from the type locality. Futhermore, the Indian species C. sikkimensis was identified as a synonym of C. zangii based on the morphological and molecular analyses. A key to the Chinese species belonging to the subg. Parvocantharellus is also provided.

Diversity of Cantharellus (Cantharellales, Basidiomycota) in China with Description of Some New Species and New Records

“…For phylogenetic analyses, a total of 152 sequences were newly produced in this study, containing 49 nrLSU, 51 tef1 and 52 rpb2 , and 185 reliable sequences were downloaded from the GenBank database based on previous studies [ 3 , 13 ]. The combined dataset (LSU + tef1 + rpb2 ) contained 2892 characters (1311, 707 and 874 for LSU, tef1 and rpb2, respectively), of which 2013 were conserved and 708 were parsimony-informative.…”

“…Li. However, C. galbanus , recently reported from tropical China, differs in its smaller basidiomata, relatively well-developed hymenophore, and smaller basidiospores (6–7.5 × 4.8–5.5 µm) [ 13 ]; C. luteovirens, recently reported from subtropical China, differs in its yellow to yellowish-orange pileus, yellowish white to pale yellow hymenophore and smaller basidiospores (6–7.5 × 4.5–6 µm) [ 13 ].…”

“…Cantharellus cibarius Fr. was selected as the outgroup based on recent studies [ 3 , 13 ]. The phylogenetic trees were visualized using FigTree v1.4.23.…”

“…Up to now, about 300 species of Cantharellus have been reported worldwide [ 7 ]. However, the species diversity is poorly known in Asia in the past decades, and many specimens were named after European or North American species [ 6 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. In recent years, some new species were reported from Asia based on the combination of morphological characters and DNA phylogenetic analyses [ 6 , 7 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ].…”

“…However, the species diversity is poorly known in Asia in the past decades, and many specimens were named after European or North American species [ 6 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. In recent years, some new species were reported from Asia based on the combination of morphological characters and DNA phylogenetic analyses [ 6 , 7 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Recent phylogenetic studies demonstrated that Cantharellus is monophyletic and forms a sister relationship with Craterellus Pers.…”