Molecular analyses reveal a new species in Melanoderma from tropical China

A new wood-decaying polypore, Melanoderma disciforme, is described from tropical China based on morphological characteristics and rDNA ITS sequences. The new species is characterized by perennial effuse-reflexed basidiocarps, a narrow pileus with a thin black crust on the pileal surface, a dimitic hyphal system with dextrinoid and cyanophilous skeletal hyphae, and the presence of fusiform cystidioles and cylindrical basidiospores. Molecular analyses indicate that the new species and M. microcarpum cluster together with full support.