Taxonomy and Phylogeny of Corticioid Fungi in Auriculariaceae (Auriculariales, Basidiomycota): A New Genus, Five New Species and Four New Combinations

Abstract

The Auriculariaceae accounts for most of the species in the Auriculariales, and all species in the family are wood-decaying fungi with gelatinous, crustaceous, or woody basidiomes. Many new taxa were published recently, but the taxonomy and phylogeny of the corticioid species in the Auriculariaceae are far from resolved. We undertook a comprehensive taxonomic and phylogenetic study of the family with emphasis on corticioid specimens collected from East and Southeast Asia. Phylogenetic analyses on concatenated ITS and 28S rDNA sequences of representative taxa of the Auriculariaceae and the genera Eichleriella and Heteroradulum were carried out that resolved five new lineages. Heterocorticium gen. nov. is established for two species with resupinate coriaceous basidiomes with smooth, pigmented hymenophores. Five new species, H. bambusicola (generic type), H. latisporum, Eichleriella alpina, E. bambusicola, and Heteroradulum maolanense, are described and illustrated. In addition, Heterochaete delicata, H. discolor, and H. sinensis are transferred to Eichleriella, whereas H. roseola is regarded as a synonym of Kneiffia discolor (= H. discolor). Eichleriella aculeobasidiata is treated as a synonym of Heterochaete sinensis (= E. sinensis). Heterochaete mussooriensis is transferred to Heteroradulum with Heteroradulum semis as a heterotypic synonym. The present study contributes to the understanding of species diversity, taxonomy, and phylogeny of corticioid fungi in Asia.

Notes of Five Wood-Decaying Fungi from Juwangsan National Park in Korea

“…In addition, four-celled basidia was described in the original description [ 23 ], which differs from our specimen. But two-celled basidia was observed in E. aculeobasidiata [ 24 ], which is currently treated as synonym of E. sinensis [ 23 ]. This indicates that E. sinensis has two types of basidia: two-celled and four-celled.…”

“…Eichleriella sinensis is characterized by a ceraceous and odontoid hymenial surface, cylindrical to narrowly cylindrical basidiospores, and a dimitic hyphal system with brownish, thick-walled skeletal hyphae [ 23 ], which matches KUC20181101-43. However, numerous and larger cystidia were observed in the original description (15–50(–70) × 7.5–9(–12.5) µm) [ 23 ]. In addition, four-celled basidia was described in the original description [ 23 ], which differs from our specimen.…”

“…However, numerous and larger cystidia were observed in the original description (15–50(–70) × 7.5–9(–12.5) µm) [ 23 ]. In addition, four-celled basidia was described in the original description [ 23 ], which differs from our specimen. But two-celled basidia was observed in E. aculeobasidiata [ 24 ], which is currently treated as synonym of E. sinensis [ 23 ].…”